Josh Wall is the Director of Performance and Athletic Wellbeing at Wycombe Abbey in the UK, and lead S&C coach for England Women’s Lacrosse. Josh brings a wealth of experience from across the school landscape — from boarding to day schools — and is currently completing a Doctorate in Professional Practice at Leeds Beckett University, where his research focuses on supporting student-athletes in independent girls’ schools.

In this episode, we explore Josh’s journey from football-mad Manchester United fan to a dynamic coach shaping youth athletic development. We dive into the principles behind his coaching philosophy, including the use of movement skill frameworks, strength progression, and educational tools like SOLO taxonomy. Josh also shares insights into designing gym environments that educate and inspire, the power of cultural architects in sport, and the balance needed to support the dual lives of student-athletes.

Enjoy!

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This is a rebroadcast of episode #2 of The Game Changer podcast, featuring Dr Craig Harrison.

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"What does it really take for young athletes to succeed? In this episode of The Game Changer podcast, we sit down with Dr. Craig Harrison, expert in youth athlete development, founder of the Athlete Development Project, and host of The Athlete Development Show to challenge common beliefs about training, success, and the role of parents in sports.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

• Youth Athlete Development – The biggest misconceptions parents & coaches have.
• What Separates Elite Athletes – The key qualities needed for long-term success.
• The Parent’s Role in Sports – How to support without adding pressure.
• The Power of Environment – How the right setting shapes an athlete’s future.
• Goal Setting & Motivation – Habits that drive young athletes to achieve success.

Whether you're a parent, coach, or young athlete, this episode is packed with valuable insights and practical advice to help navigate the complex world of youth sports development."

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For more on creating game changing environments that unlock meaningful progress, sign up for Craig's free newsletter Beyond the Game here.

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What if talent development wasn’t just about creating better athletes but better people?

In this conversation, I sit down with Barnaby Sargent Megicks, a researcher who spent weeks inside a cricket academy, not just watching but truly understanding what makes a talent system work. His focus isn’t just on performance but on how young athletes grow as people, how they balance their sport with school and life, and how the environments they’re in shape their future, both in and out of the game.

We dig into the tension between chasing peak performance and developing life skills, the power of relationships in coaching, and what it really takes to create a system that prepares athletes for success - not just on the field, but in life.

Barnaby’s insights are built on real experiences, deep research, and countless hours spent with young cricketers navigating the demands of elite sport.

Enjoy!

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For more on creating game changing environments that unlock meaningful progress, sign up for Craig's free newsletter Beyond the Game here.

Connect with Craig on Social:

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Instagram
Facebook
Twitter

Support the show