Labours of Sport Coaching: The Science and Art of Coaching, Motivation, and Self-Determination

• Maslow's hierarchy of needs meets SDT and the modern athlete

  WATCH ME PRESENT AT UNIVERSITY OF STIRLING & SPORTSCOTLANDCOACHING SYMPOSIUM 18TH NOVEMBER 2025.REGISTER FOR FREE BELOW.| University of Stirling & sportscotland Coaching SymposiumIn the small corner of motivational psychology for coaching, self-determination theory reigns supreme for its modern and empirically backed view of athlete behaviour and environmental supports. So much so that alternative view points have been largely cast aside and rarely discussed. Maslow's hierarchy of needs is one such model. While not without its faults and increasing datedness, Maslow's worldview still holds relevant and useful insights that - when combined synergistically with a more modern outlook - can aid coaches in problem solving athlete motivation and supporting long term athlete development. Tune into this episode to learn how balancing hierarchy and universality can help coaches meet athletes' needs across ages and stages - from - in Maslow's words - building safety and belonging to inspiring purpose and self-actualisation. Sound familiar?Learn more about your host and access services and added resources:Consultancy – Mark J Carroll

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• How gender, race/ethnicity, and sport level affects perceptions of coach behaviour

  WATCH ME PRESENT AT UNIVERSITY OF STIRLING & SPORTSCOTLANDCOACHING SYMPOSIUM 18TH NOVEMBER 2025. REGISTER FOR FREE BELOW.| Universityof Stirling & sportscotland Coaching Symposium In this episode I’m joined by Professor Alan Chu to discusshis recent paper looking at the intersectionality of race, gender, and skill level as potential determinants for the way individuals experience the coach-created motivation environment. It turns out that athletes’ identity characteristics can have unique effects not only on how they see coaches’ motivational behaviours, but also how they feel about the level of psychological needs support we offer. This conversation offers a nuanced insight into the collectiveeffects of identity characteristics on athletes’ perceived empowerment vs disempowerment in sport, and led to interesting speculation on potential causes to ponder,including the influence of culture on coach behaviour and athlete motivation. Paper discussed in this episode:Chu, T. L. A., Treacy, A., Moore, E. W. G., Petrie, T. A.,Albert, E., & Zhang, T. (2024). Intersectionality matters: Gender, race/ethnicity, and sport level differentiate perceived coach-created motivational climates and psychological needs. Sport, Exercise, and Performance Psychology, 13(1), 59-75. Learn more about your host and access services and addedresources:https://markjcarrollcoaching.wordpress.com/consultancy/

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• Coaching paradigms influencing our beliefs and behaviours

  CALL TO ACTION: Follow, rate, and share the show!When you plan, deliver, and reflect on your coaching practice, you may not recognise that your beliefs and behaviours can be traced back to higher order paradigms of thought, playing out at the various metaphysical levels. In this episode I seek to increase your awareness by offering examples of some (not all) coaching paradigms, breaking each one down according to their ontological, epistemological, methodological, and axiological positionings for cohesive understanding. The paradigms discussed - and in some cases combined - include behaviourism, constructivism, embodiment, pragmatism, and ecological dynamics, to spark your curiosity. Listen in to unlock deeper and more focused thinking and subsequent practice as a coach.If you like this episode, I recommend these other episodes too:Rethinking coaching philosophyCoaching as a science, with John LyleLearn more about your host and access services and added resources:https://markjcarrollcoaching.wordpress.com/consultancy/

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• How to coach if free will does not exist! Coaching in a determined world

  CALL TO ACTION: Follow, rate, and share the show!In this episode I play with the notion of free will being an illusion in a fully deterministic world, and what this would mean for how coaches treat athletes and themselves. My thoughts are based on neurobiological and cultural arguments presented in Robert Sapolsky's fascinating book 'Determined: A Science of Life Without Free Will', which I recently read. I take the book's central themes and consider the overlap with my own research on influences on coach behaviour, to help it make sense for sport coaches. The jury is still out on the arguments for and against free will, but playing along in this episode can help unlock new learning about luck, empathy, and patience in sport. While still providing a pathway for changing your own or others' behaviour through leaning into our 'machine-ness'!If you like this episode, I recommend these other episodes too:Don't change coach behaviour, control it. A salutogenic approach to talent development, with Andrew Kirkland.Learn more about your host and access services and added resources:https://markjcarrollcoaching.wordpress.com/consultancy/

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• Supporting athletes' psychological needs at competition

  CALL TO ACTION: Follow, rate, and share the show! In this episode I offer strategies for supporting players’ three basic psychological needs during each part of a matchday, from when they first arrive to pregame preparations to half time talks to side line behaviour in itself. Opportunities for heightened autonomy, competence, and relatedness are everywhere during competitions, as are restrictions if we’re not thinking proactively as coaches. So tune in to find out more. If you like this episode, I recommend these other episodes too:Managing athletes’ ego involvement in youth sport coachingAncelotti's half-time team talk coach, Eamon DevlinKevin Nicol - Providing structure within tactics Learn more about your host and access services and added resources:https://markjcarrollcoaching.wordpress.com/consultancy/

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