This episode is a rebroadcast of episode #25 of The Crafted Conversation with Marcus Sharrad.

Enjoy.

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In this expansive conversation, Dr Craig Harrison invites us to rethink the purpose and practice of youth development. It’s not about designing perfect athletes, but about crafting safe, playful, expressive environments where young people can explore who they are, not just what they can do.

Marcus and Craig explore the ecological complexity of performance, the importance of letting go of control, and the centrality of coaching the person before the plan.

From storytelling and psychological safety to mentorship and emotional literacy, this episode is a masterclass in compassionate, curious leadership.

Key Concepts:

• Environments shape behaviour – Coaching doesn’t happen in a vacuum. We must understand the child’s world, not just their session.
• Performance is personal – Narrative identity, not outcome identity, should guide the athlete journey.
• Belonging matters as much as skill – Every athlete needs to feel safe to explore, question, and grow.
• Mentorship is not a programme — it’s a culture – It lives in every conversation, check-in, and reflective pause.
• Freedom and structure are not opposites – The best coaching holds both gently, in balance.
• Reflection over reaction – True development invites athletes to think, not just comply.

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Professor Holly Thorpe, a leading voice in the sociology of sport from the University of Waikato, is an action sports advocate and someone who’s spent years studying the social dynamics of movement and play.

In this episode, Holly shares her journey growing up in Gisborne’s tight-knit windsurfing and skateboarding community, where the learning came from peers, not coaches, and where the natural environment played as big a role as the people did. We discuss the idea of “stoke” — that deep sense of joy and freedom that lives at the heart of action sports — and explore how we might protect and promote that same feeling in more traditional sporting spaces.

We also dive into the challenges girls and women still face in these environments, the impact of family and community, and what happens when sports like snowboarding and skateboarding become Olympic disciplines.

Enjoy!

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Josh Wall is the Director of Performance and Athletic Wellbeing at Wycombe Abbey in the UK, and lead S&C coach for England Women’s Lacrosse. Josh brings a wealth of experience from across the school landscape — from boarding to day schools — and is currently completing a Doctorate in Professional Practice at Leeds Beckett University, where his research focuses on supporting student-athletes in independent girls’ schools.

In this episode, we explore Josh’s journey from football-mad Manchester United fan to a dynamic coach shaping youth athletic development. We dive into the principles behind his coaching philosophy, including the use of movement skill frameworks, strength progression, and educational tools like SOLO taxonomy. Josh also shares insights into designing gym environments that educate and inspire, the power of cultural architects in sport, and the balance needed to support the dual lives of student-athletes.

Enjoy!

Sign up for Craig's newsletter (Beyond the Game) at http://www.drcraigharrison.com/

Get Craig to speak at your club or school here.

Connect with Craig:

Instagram: instagram.com/drcraigharrison/
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Twitter: twitter.com/drcraigharrison

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This is a rebroadcast of episode #2 of The Game Changer podcast, featuring Dr Craig Harrison.

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"What does it really take for young athletes to succeed? In this episode of The Game Changer podcast, we sit down with Dr. Craig Harrison, expert in youth athlete development, founder of the Athlete Development Project, and host of The Athlete Development Show to challenge common beliefs about training, success, and the role of parents in sports.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

• Youth Athlete Development – The biggest misconceptions parents & coaches have.
• What Separates Elite Athletes – The key qualities needed for long-term success.
• The Parent’s Role in Sports – How to support without adding pressure.
• The Power of Environment – How the right setting shapes an athlete’s future.
• Goal Setting & Motivation – Habits that drive young athletes to achieve success.

Whether you're a parent, coach, or young athlete, this episode is packed with valuable insights and practical advice to help navigate the complex world of youth sports development."

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What if talent development wasn’t just about creating better athletes but better people?

In this conversation, I sit down with Barnaby Sargent Megicks, a researcher who spent weeks inside a cricket academy, not just watching but truly understanding what makes a talent system work. His focus isn’t just on performance but on how young athletes grow as people, how they balance their sport with school and life, and how the environments they’re in shape their future, both in and out of the game.

We dig into the tension between chasing peak performance and developing life skills, the power of relationships in coaching, and what it really takes to create a system that prepares athletes for success - not just on the field, but in life.

Barnaby’s insights are built on real experiences, deep research, and countless hours spent with young cricketers navigating the demands of elite sport.

Enjoy!

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On the show this week, Dave Wright rejoins me for another episode of The Curious Mind. Our conversation focuses on the skills you need to develop great young leaders.

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Suzie Muirhead is the creator of Raise My Game, a tool designed to help athletes and their coaches navigate performance planning, personal growth, and decision-making. Suzie’s journey—from New Zealand hockey player to mentor and innovator—has shaped her belief that true development starts with ownership, trust, and the right conversations.

Whether you're a coach, parent, or athlete, this episode is packed with insights to help you level up. Enjoy!

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There are two ways to affect learning and development. Direct contact with the individuals and teams in front of you, or by influencing the system of which they are part of. My guest on today’s show has spent time doing both, first as a youth team coach at Sydney Football Club and then as Academy Manager. His name is Nick Susko and he played a pivotal role in shaping one of the most successful talent development programs in Australian sport, with over 60 graduates signing professional contracts and dozens representing Australia at every level of the game.

In this conversation, we explore the evolving landscape of youth football, including how systems thinking revolutionised Nick’s coaching philosophy and transformed the way he nurtured talent.

Together, Nick and I dig deeper into:

• How collaboration with local schools reshaped player support networks at Sydney FC
• Building sustainable success through quality coaching practices
• Creating psychological safety within the academy environment
• The complexities and challenges of player selection
• Breaking away from traditional youth sport narratives
• Understanding the key elements that help players reach their potential
• The growing role of technology and AI in football development
• Finding balance in youth development
• Making the learning process both meaningful and enjoyable

I love the way Nick thinks about development and I’m super excited to share it with you.

Enjoy!

For more on creating EPIC learning environments that bring out the best in your athletes and yourself, sign up for Craig's free newsletter Beyond the Game here.

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