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

Dr Mark James Carroll
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Labours of Sport Coaching helps coaches develop Herculean strength in knowledge. I mostly discuss self-determination theory as applied to coaching, but occasionally explore pedagogy, philosophy, and under discussed or little known areas of coaching research and practice. This podcast is for information purposes only. My views and those of my guests are not the same, nor do my views reflect my employers. Sign up for newsletter: https://laboursofsportcoaching.beehiiv.com/subscribe Get in touch: laboursofsportcoaching@mail.com Visit website: https://markjcarrollcoaching.wordpress.com/

  1. 12/05/2025

    Why sport coaches should read novels

    ACCESS MY NEW PUBLICATION: Challenges-and-opportunities-for-community-sport-coach-development-1.pdf When we talk about coach development, most roads lead to the same familiar places: NGB awards, scientific theory, and on the job learning. These are of course valuable, but they're also predictable (or 'samey-samey' as I like to put it), and keep coaches learning within the same narrow corridors of knowledge. Enter fiction and novel reading as a creative, fun and enriching alternative for unlocking new learning for coaching. In this episode I break down how novels can: 1) sharpen emotional intelligence (both for understanding and managing ourselves as well as others) through complex characters and nuanced relationship told with rich vocabulary; 2) widen our perspective by transporting us to different culture, contexts, and ways of thinking; and 3) offer escapism from the 24/7 mental load of coaching. I also offer practical tried-and-tested tips for how to pick your first novel and create a habit of benefiting from this overlooked resource. Learn more about your host and access services and added resources: Consultancy – Mark J Carroll

    24 min

  2. 10/17/2025

    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 Symposium In 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

    33 min

  3. 10/03/2025

    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/

    1h 2m

  4. 09/19/2025

    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 philosophy Coaching as a science, with John Lyle Learn more about your host and access services and added resources: https://markjcarrollcoaching.wordpress.com/consultancy/

    37 min

  5. 09/05/2025

    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/

    36 min

  6. 08/22/2025

    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 coaching Ancelotti's half-time team talk coach, Eamon Devlin Kevin Nicol - Providing structure within tactics   Learn more about your host and access services and added resources: https://markjcarrollcoaching.wordpress.com/consultancy/

    43 min

  7. 08/08/2025

    Impact of athlete group size on need supportive sport coaching

    CALL TO ACTION: Follow, rate, and share the show! Welcome to the third installment of episodes zooming in on practical challenges associated with delivering coaching that asks questions of our capacity and desire to support athletes' sense of autonomy, competence, and relatedness. In this episode I discuss the trick topic of managing group size. Tune in to learn why we may act differently depending on how many athletes we're leading, coupled with our experience, confidence, man power, and underlying beliefs about priorities within our practice. You'll also receive potential solutions to mitigate these concerns. My PhD thesis influenced this work: STORRE: A qualitative multiple case study exploration of the antecedents of the interpersonal behaviours of youth football coaches in Scotland based on a self-determination theory framework If you like this episode I recommend checking out these previous episodes too: The time and place for athlete need support, and control Managing athletes' ego involvement in youth sport coaching Learn more about your host and access services and added resources: https://markjcarrollcoaching.wordpress.com/consultancy/

    36 min

  8. 08/01/2025

    Creative and storied approaches to coach education

    Read my new THE Campus article!: Why academics should adopt a podcaster’s mindset | THE Campus Learn, Share, Connect Traditional coach education can often feel stale and predictable in its delivery, which limits its effectiveness. Research evidence from myself and others is making a case for coach educator to diversify their methods. In this episode I provide some creative devices to cultivate fresh intrigue and engagement, deepen reflection, and bring about individualised learning with coaches. Novel style short stories, poems, films, podcasts, and even stage plays are all discussed for their unique potential as learning tools for coaches. Papers and materials discussed in this episode: Roberts, S. J., Baker, M., Reeves, M. J., Jones, G., & Cronin, C. (2019). Lifting the veil of depression and alcoholism in sport coaching: how do we care for carers?. Qualitative Research in Sport, Exercise and Health, 11(4), 510-526. Douglas, K., & Carless, D. (2008). Using stories in coach education. International Journal of Sports Science & Coaching, 3(1), 33-49. 'Where is the Line?' Film Exploring Duty to Care in Coaching - UK Coaching If you like this episode I recommend checking out this one too: The contemporary coach developer, with Timothy Jones Learn more about your host and access services and addedresources: https://markjcarrollcoaching.wordpress.com/consultancy/

    46 min
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Labours of Sport Coaching helps coaches develop Herculean strength in knowledge. I mostly discuss self-determination theory as applied to coaching, but occasionally explore pedagogy, philosophy, and under discussed or little known areas of coaching research and practice. This podcast is for information purposes only. My views and those of my guests are not the same, nor do my views reflect my employers. Sign up for newsletter: https://laboursofsportcoaching.beehiiv.com/subscribe Get in touch: laboursofsportcoaching@mail.com Visit website: https://markjcarrollcoaching.wordpress.com/

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