Inner Game Academy Podcast

Luke O'Nien & Rob Blackburne
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Luke O'Nien, a professional footballer for Sunderland, and Elite Performance Coach for Pro Footballers Rob Blackburne collaborate to create weekly podcasts aimed at young players who want to improve their performance, build confidence, and increase their chances of becoming professional footballers.

  1. 03/07/2025

    The Top 5 Mistakes Parents Make In Their Football Journey

    In this episode, Luke, Martin, and Rob dive deep into the parent-child dynamic in sports, exploring how post-game conversations, expectations, and communication shape young athletes' experiences. 🔥 Topics covered: 🚗 The "Car Ride Home" Dilemma – How post-game conversations can impact a child’s confidence and love for the game.🧠 Managing Expectations – Why high parental expectations can lead to pressure, disappointment, and performance anxiety.🎤 Parenting Styles in Sports – Lessons from Luke and Martin’s experiences with their fathers and how it shaped their approach.🏆 Academy Pressure vs. Joy of the Game – The dangers of putting status over development in youth football.💬 Effective Communication – Small language shifts can make a huge difference in supporting young athletes.🎭 Role-Playing Parent Responses – Practical scenarios on how to handle post-game emotions and conversations.⚖️ Balancing Coaching & Parenting – How to avoid over-coaching while still being a supportive parent.📖 Future Plans – Luke’s vision for a children’s book series on life lessons in football and an upcoming masterclass at Sunderland’s training ground.Your words as a parent or coach can fuel confidence or create pressure—learning how to communicate effectively makes all the difference. Listen now and if you want to take your child's journey to the next level, apply for them to be mentored by Luke & Rob inside the Inner Game Academy by clicking the link below. https://rob294920.typeform.com/innergameapply

    1h 43m

  2. 07/28/2023

    How To Be Your True Self Even In New Environments

    In today's episode, Luke & Rob discuss how hard it is to be your true self in and around new environments. We discuss: The importance of staying true to oneselfLuke's personal story about maintaining authenticity despite teasing from teammatesNot changing or losing oneself to fit inLuke's experience of losing authenticity on the football pitchA valuable lesson learned from the experienceThe importance of self-discovery Luke's journey of questioning his identity and rebuilding himselfOur Brand new 6 Week Pro Accelerator program has now started and we'd love to help you give you the best chance of becoming a professional footballer, all you need to do is to go to: www.innergameprocourse.com To see the details and apply, limited spaces are available. If you liked this podcast please, subscribe, review, and share this with your friends.

    20 min

  3. 07/10/2023

    How To Deal With High Expectations

    In today's episode, we talk about expectations. One of Rob's favorite sayings is "Expectations will screw you" so how do we get a handle on our expectations are they a good or a bad thing? We discuss: Are expectations good or badWhat were Luke's expectations and how they made his performance sufferWhy Luke thought he had to perfectWhy you need to change your language Our Brand new 6 Week Pro Accelerator program has now started and we'd love to help you give you the best chance of becoming a professional footballer, all you need to do is to go to: www.innergameprocourse.com To see the details and apply, limited spaces are available. If you liked this podcast please, subscribe, review, and share this with your friends.

    33 min

  4. 07/01/2023

    How To Fuel For Better Performances With Richard Allison

    In today's episode, we have performance nutritionist Richard Allison. Richard worked for Arsenal under Arsene Wenger and Mikel Arteta. We discuss: Where do footballers go wrong with their foods How to get the basics right when it comes to fueling for performance Should you be having supplements if so what ones?How much water do you need to drink, and what happens if you're dehydrated Our Brand new 6 Week Pro Accelerator program has now started and we'd love to help you give you the best chance of becoming a professional footballer, all you need to do is to go to: www.innergameprocourse.com To see the details and apply, limited spaces are available. If you liked this podcast please, subscribe, review, and share this with your friends.

    33 min

  5. 06/11/2023

    My Football Journey With Jordan Hugill

    In today's episode, we have Rotherham's Jordan Hugill, we love Jordan's mindset and how he deals with adversity so we discuss: Jordan's journey and how he made it into professional football Why Jordan worked behind a bar and was on jobseekers before he got his chance at Preston How Jordan deals with judgment and adversity Our Brand new 6 Week Pro Accelerator program has now started and we'd love to help you give you the best chance of becoming a professional footballer, all you need to do is to go to: www.innergameprocourse.com To see the details and apply, limited spaces are available. If you liked this podcast please, subscribe, review, and share this with your friends.

    24 min

  6. 06/01/2023

    How to Be A World Class Captain

    In today's episode, Luke & Rob discuss what it takes to be a great leader and captain. we discuss: The best captains Luke's played under and whyWhat it takes to be a great captainDo you need to change if you do have the captain's armband on?Why captains need energy Our Brand new 6 Week Pro Accelerator program has now started and we'd love to help you give you the best chance of becoming a professional footballer, all you need to do is to go to: www.innergameprocourse.com To see the details and apply, limited spaces are available. If you liked this podcast please, subscribe, review, and share this with your friends.

    45 min

  7. 05/25/2023

    What Should You Do In Pre-Season Rest Or Train?

    In this episode, Luke discusses his pre-season does he keep training or does he rest? We discuss: Luke's past experience of being fear-driven and not finding a balance between rest and trainingWhy you should be taking a break for the body and mind after a long football seasonLuke's recommendation of a 10-day to 2-week break before gradually starting a pre-pre-season training programDiscussing the challenge of determining when to start training again after a breakThe importance of being in touch with one's body and allowing time to assess readiness before resuming trainingLuke's advice to prioritize rest, recovery, and listening to one's mind and bodyHighlighting the need for a structured program leading up to the start of the seasonAcknowledging the pressure some players feel to do more than their teammates and encouraging focus on individual needs rather than comparisonStressing the importance of finding a balance between pushing oneself and listening to one's bodyOur Brand new 6 Week Pro Accelerator program has now started and we'd love to help you give you the best chance of becoming a professional footballer, all you need to do is to go to: www.innergameprocourse.com To see the details and apply, limited spaces are available. If you liked this podcast please, subscribe, review, and share this with your friends.

    17 min

  8. 05/22/2023

    How To Build Confidence For Performance

    In today's episode, we talk about confidence for performance. Is it the most component of performance? We discuss? Is your confidence outcome orientated?Why Luke bases his game on intentionsWhere does Luke get his confidence from?We have a BRAND NEW 6-week pro accelerator program starting soon and we'd love to help you give you the best chance of becoming a professional footballer, all you need to do is to go to: www.innergameprocourse.com To see the details and apply, limited spaces are available. If you liked this podcast please, subscribe, review, and share this with your friends.

    23 min
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About

Luke O'Nien, a professional footballer for Sunderland, and Elite Performance Coach for Pro Footballers Rob Blackburne collaborate to create weekly podcasts aimed at young players who want to improve their performance, build confidence, and increase their chances of becoming professional footballers.

Information

  • Creator
    Luke O'Nien & Rob Blackburne
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2025
  • Episodes
    16
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2025 Inner Game Academy Podcast
  • Show Website
    Inner Game Academy Podcast