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© 2025 The Constraints Collective
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Our mission is to transform practice environments in sport by equipping coaches with the knowledge, understanding and skills to bridge the gap between skill acquisition theory and practice.
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If you're getting value from our podcast check out our membership options and coaching community at www.theconstraintscollective.com where you can access podcast summaries, narrated presentations, early release podcasts and monthly online meet ups with experts from the Constraints Collective. Support the running of the podcast at patreon.com/TheConstraintsCollective Link to Ian's book https://www.amazon.co.uk/Dynamic-Coaching-Playbook-Cricket-Coaches/dp/B0FMNYQFBV In this episode we introduce...
If you're getting value from our podcast check out our membership options and coaching community at theconstraintscollective.com where you can access podcast summaries, narrated presentations, early release podcasts and monthly online meet ups with experts from the Constraints Collective. Support the running of the podcast at patreon.com/TheConstraintsCollective In this episode we explore Eric’s views on fear, risk, and why people actively seek out challenging or uncertain environments, not f...
In this episode, we dive into one of coaching’s most persistent debates: Should athletes learn through unopposed drills or through messy, opponent-driven, game-like action? A new paper entitled "The value of opposed and unopposed practice: An ecological dynamics rationale for skill development" argues that if we want athletes to develop skills that actually transfer to competition, we need to rethink traditional ideas about “technique first, game later.” We discuss how movement isn’t so...
Stuart Armstrong is a workforce development system builder, learning innovation architect, skill acquisition specialist, and ecological dynamicist, and host of the Talent Equation Podcast. Enjoy!
In this episode we discuss an article from The Athletic entitled “What is the CLA? Inside the revolutionary coaching method quietly fuelling the world’s best athletes.” We reflect on the Constraints-Led Approach (CLA) in coaching challenging the notion that it’s a “revolution,” since the foundational work by Carl Newell is nearly 40 years old. The discussion explores: How CLA is rooted in motor learning and ecological dynamics.The contrast between individualistic coaching cultures (like...
Dr Jonathon Headrick is a lecturer and researcher in the field of exercise and sports science. He is also an accredited Exercise (AES) and Sports (ASpS) Scientist recognised by ESSA. Dr Headrick's expertise lies in skill-acqusition and learning design in sport, with applications spanning junior development through to elite level performance contexts. Jonathon's research is founded on theoretical frameworks including Ecological Dynamics and the Constraints-Led Approach to provide princip...
If you're getting value from our podcast check out our Patreon site at patreon.com/TheConstraintsCollective where you can access member only podcasts and monthly meet ups, a range of resources and an online coaching community. In this episode we ask the question 'Do sport organisations need skill acquisition specialists?'. We explore how a skill acquisition specialist (SAS) could help coaches create learning environments that balance structure with adaptability, foster athlete autonomy,...
If you're getting value from our podcast check out our Patreon site at patreon.com/TheConstraintsCollective where you can access member only podcasts and monthly meet ups, a range of resources and an online coaching community. Matt Miller-Dicks is an Associate Professor in Skill Acquisition in the School of Psychology, Sport and Health Sciences at the University of Portsmouth. Matt has published over 50 peer-reviewed publications in outlets that primarily span the disciplines of sport and exe...
If you're getting value from our podcast check out our Patreon site at patreon.com/TheConstraintsCollective where you can access member only podcasts and monthly meet ups, a range of resources and an online coaching community. In this episode we reflect on a busy September, with a spotlight on Ian’s recent work in Bangladesh cricket. Invited by the Bangladesh Cricket Board, he and colleagues ran a three-day workshop focused on player development through constraint-led coaching, emphasising pr...
In this episode, we summarise our conversation with football coach and thinker, Jamie Hamilton. Jamie’s unique blend of practical coaching experience and deep theoretical exploration has shaped his insights into positional and relational approaches in football. We explore how culture, adaptability, and authenticity influence coaching, and why football must be seen as a human game beyond just data and analytics. From South American influences to the modern evolution of tactics, Jamie’s perspec...
If you're getting value from our podcast check out our Patreon site at patreon.com/TheConstraintsCollective where you can access member only podcasts and monthly meet ups, a range of resources and an online coaching community. In this episode we explore the longstanding debate between cognitive and ecological approaches to skill acquisition and coaching. The discussion traces the history from behaviorism through cognitive psychology to the rise of ecological dynamics, highlighting differences...
If you're getting value from our podcast check out our Patreon site at patreon.com/TheConstraintsCollective where you can access member only podcasts and monthly meet ups, a range of resources and an online coaching community. Liam Bromilow is an educator, leader, learning designer, and skill acquisition specialist. With over 20 years of experience teaching in primary, secondary, and tertiary institutions. His career has been driven by a passion for empowering learners and creating transforma...
If you're getting value from our podcast check out our Patreon site at patreon.com/TheConstraintsCollective where you can access member only podcasts and monthly meet ups, a range of resources and an online community. In this episode we discus recent projects and developments in coaching and skill acquisition. Key topics included contributions to a forthcoming Routledge book on the Elite Player Performance Plan, exploring relationalism, positionalism, and practical applications for academy an...
If you're getting value from our podcast check out our Patreon site at patreon.com/TheConstraintsCollective where you can access member only podcasts and monthly meet ups, a range of resources and an online coaching community. In this episode we summarise the Ross Pinder podcast, a thought-provoking conversation that has sparked plenty of debate in our community. We explore powerful ideas such as reverse engineering from competition, design thinking in practice design, and the crucial role of...
If you're getting value from our podcast check out our Patreon site at patreon.com/TheConstraintsCollective where you can access member only podcasts and monthly meet ups, a range of resources and an online community. In this episode we discuss a paper entitled 'Reconceptualising Constructive Alignment within the epistemological distinction of ways of knowing in a higher education coach development course module'. Link to paper: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/17408989.2024...
Ian McCall is a Scottish football coach who currently owns Corinthian Creative, a company focused on providing coaching resources and workshops. He is also involved in delivering workshops for clubs looking to improve coaching and player development. If you're getting value from our podcast check our Patreon site at patreon.com/TheConstraintsCollective
In this episode, Martyn and Ian reflect on a busy month of work and sport, discussing recent projects in PhD supervision and applied coaching research. Topics include early specialization in ballet, creativity in team sports, remote coaching, and representative practice in rugby sevens. They also explore the cultural and environmental influences on player development and performance, using examples from cricket, rugby, and cycling. Key themes include learning through play, adaptin...
In this episode we summarise our chat, and discuss key learning, with Ed Coughlan, Alan Dutton & Sam Jermyn.
In this theory to practice episode we discuss a recent paper entitled 'The ecological dynamics of cognizant action in sport'. Link to paper https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1469029225001347
Ed, Alan and Sam are skill acquisition specialists who work to bridge the research practice gap in applied settings. They work in individual and team sports across the performance pathway.
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