CoachCraft with Alf Gracombe
CoachCraft with Alf Gracombe
Podcast Description
CoachCraft explores the art and impact of coaching youth sports through in-depth conversations with renowned coaches from grassroots to professional levels, revealing how exceptional mentors use athletics to shape character, build confidence, and positively impact young lives.
Podcast Insights
Content Themes
The podcast covers a range of themes related to youth sports coaching, including player development, effective communication, and inclusivity in sports programs. Episodes highlight topics such as the emotional dynamics of coaching, training methodologies, and community engagement, with examples like the transition to small-sided games by Rick Fenoglio and the importance of patience shared by Mike Smith.
CoachCraft explores the art and impact of coaching youth sports through in-depth conversations with renowned coaches from grassroots to professional levels, revealing how exceptional mentors use athletics to shape character, build confidence, and positively impact young lives.
Paul Barry is a UEFA A licensed coach developer and the current Head of Coaching for the Foundation Phase at Crystal Palace FC — and in this conversation, he brings the principles that shape one of England's top academy programmes directly to grassroots coaches.
We talk about one of the most common mistakes coaches make: judging players on outcomes rather than decisions. Paul explains why praising a young player's intention — even when the execution falls short — is the foundation of developing real game intelligence. We also get into what ”winning” actually looks like at the foundation phase, how to create the conditions where young players feel safe to try things and fail, and what Paul has learned from writing children's books about growth mindset and emotional resilience.
If you coach young players at any level and want to think differently about how you give feedback and measure progress, this episode is for you.
Hit play and enjoy the conversation.
For more information about CoachCraft, visit https://coachcraft.info.
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