Play Their Way Podcast

Join host Laura-Jane Jones and award-winning coach Pete Sturgess for the first episode of season 2 of the Play Their Way podcast.

Reflect on a lifetime of coaching, and how Pete’s coaching philosophy evolved over the years to focus squarely on children’s voices, rights and experiences in sport.
 
Pete shares the pivotal moments which changed his coaching philosophy, the highlights of a legendary career at the Football Association and beyond, and why he believes that child-first coaching leaves a legacy spanning entire lifetimes.

If you’re a coach looking to build a meaningful career like Pete, this episode is for you.

On the first ever International Day of Play - and every day – let’s #PlayTheirWay!

Sit down for a chat with host Laura-Jane Jones and Ryan Miskovics, a brilliant young coach and disability advocate.

Ryan shares his lived experiences of being a young disabled athlete, his journey into coaching and why listening to young people should be at the heart of your sessions. This episode provides plenty of food for thought for any coach seeking to be more inclusive and child-first in their practice.

If you’re wondering how to #PlayTheirWay for every child, this episode is for you!

Dive deep into the theory behind child-first coaching with a conversation between host Laura-Jane Jones and this week’s guest, Professor Adam Nicholls.

Professor Nicholls is a leading voice in sports psychology, having published over 90 papers and written four books, including Psychology for Coaches: Theory and Practice. In this week’s episode, we discuss the psychology behind sports coaching, why child-first coaching is important for children’s physical and mental health, as well as Professor Nicholls’ first-hand experience of the impact of negative coaching behaviours.

If you’re looking to uncover the psychology behind child-first coaching, this episode is for you.

Join host Laura-Jane Jones in conversation with two incredible sisters, Siham and Sagal Abdullahi, about creating safe spaces for Muslim girls in sport.

Siham and Sagal are the founders of Barakah LDN, a grassroots community space for women and girls to play football for free every Saturday in Fulham. These sisters reflect on their experiences from growing up loving football, to feeling excluded and dropping out, to coming full circle to create a new inclusive space for Muslim girls in their community to play football.

We can’t #PlayTheirWay unless every child is included. If you're a coach who wants to learn how to decrease the barriers facing girls from ethnic minority backgrounds in sport, this is for you.

This week, join Laura-Jane Jones in conversation with Rashan McDonald about the possibilities which arise when we encourage children and young people to be leaders in sporting environments – and the implications that has for society as a whole.

Rashan is a Sport for Good Development Manager for StreetGames, which are one of 17 partners which make up the Children’s Coaching Collaborative, the driving force behind the Play Their Way movement. Rashan’s passion for youth advocacy in sport was borne out of the encouragement and leadership opportunities he himself received at a young age from the TNG Youth and Community Centre.

If you’re a coach looking to uplift the next generation to #PlayTheirWay, this episode is for you!

Join host Laura-Jane Jones in conversation with Dr Alex Twitchen about his coaching philosophy and why children’s rights are central to everything he does.

Dr Alex Twitchen is Senior Lecturer in Sport Coaching Practice and Learning at the Open University, and has worked alongside FIFA, UNICEF and our team at Play Their Way on embedding children’s rights in practice.

If you’re a coach looking to embed child-first coaching theory into practice, this is for you!

This week, sit down with host Laura-Jane Jones and Jack Rolfe, Founder of The Coaching Lab, for a conversation about coaching with dyslexia, the opportunities of halftime, and the transformative impact of child-first coaching.
 
Jack discusses his personal journey which led him to develop his 'dyslexia-proof' matchplay cards which are often image-based and easy for children to understand, adapt and run with.

If you’re a coach looking to expand the ways you engage with the children you coach, this episode is for you!

Join Laura-Jane Jones in conversation with the inspirational, multi-medal winning age group England and GB rower, Scarlett Dewar.
 
Scarlett joins the Play Their Way podcast ‘crew’ (excuse the pun!) to talk about her journey in the sport, the lessons she’s learnt along the way and the challenges she has faced, including her experiences with relative energy deficiency in sport (REDs).

If you’re a coach who wants to learn more about REDs and is up for an inspiring and thought-provoking listen, then this episode is for you.

This week, we speak to Twickenham Swans and Signets FC Chairman and Founder, Eamonn Newell, about how their club’s inspirational journey from using jumpers for goalposts to taking over Wembley Stadium with 400 Swans members!

This week, we speak to Twickenham Swans and Signets FC Chairman and Founder, Eamonn Newell, about how their club’s inspirational journey from using jumpers for goalposts to taking over Wembley Stadium with 400 Swans members! Eamonn talks about how his own daughter’s interest in football sparked the idea to build a girls’ football team based on the values of inclusivity and child-first practice. Their website reads: “Never played before? Now's you chance. Used to play? Welcome back. Just keen to know more about the game your child may play? That's great too. Twickenham Swans FC is open to everyone with no age limits.”

If you want to be inspired by the impact child-first coaching can have on an entire community, this episode is for you.

In the last episode of season 2 of the Play Their Way podcast, we speak to the one and only Russell Earnshaw (better known as Rusty)!

Rusty is a Rugby coach and Founder of the Magic Academy, and says his favourite feedback he's received is, 'I like Russell Earnshaw, he treads a fine line between genius and nutcase.’ In this episode, we talk about why Rusty is so passionate about child-first coaching, how humour can help deliver a message and how young people will challenge themselves more when they're in charge of the challenge.

If you want to reflect on what 'stick' and 'carrot' really mean, this episode is for you

Join host Laura-Jane Jones and guest Eugene Minogue, the visionary behind 'Know Ball Games' and a stalwart advocate for children's play.

Dive deep into the shift in play culture over generations and discover as a coach how you can champion free play.

From his days at Parkour UK to his impactful leadership at Play England, Eugene shares invaluable insights on nurturing children and young people’s love for sport and physical activity, and how YOU can be the change.

Tune in, inspire, and let children #PlayTheirWay!

Danielle 'Nolli' Waterman, an icon of England Rugby, invites listeners on a nostalgic journey back to the essence of child-driven play. 

Reflecting on her own childhood, the guidance of pivotal mentors, her storied sporting journey, and coaching experiences, Nolli emphasises the profound role of free play, exploration, and creativity. Chatting with host Laura-Jane Jones, delve into the lessons and memories that shaped Nolli's unique perspective. Listen as this seasoned player-turned-coach unveils insights on nurturing natural passion in young people and guiding them to authentically #PlayTheirWay!

Journey into the heart of children's rights with Laura-Jane Jones and Professor Laura Lundy, celebrated for her internationally acclaimed Lundy Model and her work with organisations like the UN and UNICEF. 

Tune in for practical tips and strategies every coach needs to truly empower and engage young people. Learn how, by respecting their rights – from giving them a voice and seeking their opinions to allowing them to lead sessions – you can enhance the sporting experience. Through Laura’s insights, discover the power of genuinely letting every child #PlayTheirWay!

Tune in to a must-listen episode with Nick Levett, a grassroots football coach who understands that coaching is more than just shaping athletes – it's about nurturing better individuals. Boasting over 25 years of experience with roles such as 'National Manager for Youth Football' at the FA, Head of Coaching at UK Coaching, and positions at a Premier League club, Nick's journey is rich with insights.

Join Laura-Jane Jones in this captivating episode as Nick delves into co-creating with children, involving parents, and the magic of rolling out engaging games. Invaluable for children's coaches from all sports, it’s packed with practical tips to make sessions more enjoyable and ensure children can't wait to come back for more. Coaches, immerse yourself in a mix of hands-on experience and strategies, ensuring every child gets to #PlayTheirWay!

Join Laura-Jane Jones in conversation with Sion Kitson, a pivotal figure at England Hockey and a driving force at England Futsal.

As one of the most passionate grassroots supporters of our campaign, Sion shares his coaching tales of what happens when you embrace children’s creativity, the profound impact of the child-first philosophy, and the importance of the Play Their Way community.

For coaches keen to amplify their impact, this episode offers a lens into a world where children lead, learn, and passionately #PlayTheirWay!

Join Laura-Jane Jones in conversation with Jemima Browning, an inspirational young coach and disability advocate. Jemima has served on the Youth Sport Trust’s Youth Board and received the Diana Award.

Jemima shares her story of founding the Tadcaster Stingrays, having seen the lack of opportunities for her brother Will, who has Downs Syndrome. This episode is packed with personal experience and thought-provoking advice on how to champion every young person’s needs and experiences in sport and physical activity by respecting them as the experts on themselves.

For coaches who are keen to create truly inclusive environments for children, this episode offers a roadmap to help you #PlayTheirWay!

Tune into a heartfelt discussion between host Laura-Jane Jones and Justyn Price, a passionate advocate for the power of sport as well as the rights and needs of children, about how kindness and community is at the heart of grassroots sport.

Justyn discusses how he came to the realisation that “we can’t be in a world where children can’t play if they want to” after his son couldn’t find a football club to join, and about his journey to setting up an inclusive, child-first club for his son and other children in the local community, The Hawks. If you want to be reminded why you got into coaching in the first place, this is for you!

Join Laura-Jane Jones in conversation with Michael Pusey MBE (CK Flash), Head Coach at Peckham BMX Club who was awarded by the Queen of England in 2018 a MBE for his contribution to youth sport.

CK talks about the importance of free play in sporting environments, of treating each young person as an individual and connecting with young people through fun and playfulness. 

For coaches keen to connect with diverse groups of young people, this episode offers a rousing call to build bridges and #PlayTheirWay.

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Join host Laura-Jane Jones and coach David Baird for a passionate discussion about children’s creativity and how coaches can work with young people to foster an environment of innovation and fun.

David is an experienced coach who is passionate about children’s growth and participation, so much so that he created a concept and penned a book called Scoreboard Soccer, which is a way to engage children in football through games which can be co-created or invented by children and young people. 

If you’re looking for new ways to encourage children to take the lead in their own play, this is a great place to start.

Dive into a conversation on inclusivity and intersectionality in children’s sport with Zoya Zia and host Laura-Jane Jones. Zoya discusses how to listen to young people’s voices and act on their wishes in meaningful ways, how to start when it comes to understanding and embedding children’s rights in coaching, and the long-term impact of positive (and negative) early experiences in sport and physical exercise – including her personal story.

Zoya is the Senior Impact and Evaluation Officer at Chance to Shine, one of the members of the Children’s Coaching Collaborative (17 organisations which drive the Play Their Way movement). Originally from Pakistan and Texas, Zoya has found her place in between. She has an MSc Human Rights and Politics from the London School of Economics, and is interested in the relationship between sport and children's rights worldwide.

If you want to #PlayTheirWay for every child, this episode offers a glimpse into a more inclusive, hopeful future for children’s coaching.

Join Poppy and Samuela (known as Sam) in conversation with host Laura-Jane Jones about serving on UNICEF UK’s Youth Advisory Board, as well as the potential and power of championing young people’s voices in sport and physical activity.

Poppy is a 16-year-old from Fife, with a passion for young people’s mental and physical health and education, as well as upholding the best interests of children. Samuela is 18 years old, with a focus on social issues from mental health to homelessness, and a drive to be the change she wants to see in the world.

If you’re a coach curious about what young people want and need from you in sport, this episode will help you #PlayTheirWay.

Two hosts come together in this episode of the Play Their Way Podcast, as our host Laura-Jane Jones is joined by host of the Talent Equation Podcast, Stuart Armstrong!

Join them for a discussion on how the perception of children’s play has transformed in our society over the past few generations, the role of the coach in child-first coaching and the creation of the Children’s Coaching Collaborative, 17 charities and organisations driving the Play Their Way movement.  

Stuart is the Strategic Lead for Coaching and Workforce Transformation, who still finds time to coach at a grassroots level and host The Talent Equation. He is a vocal advocate for child-first coaching and has been a crucial driver of the Play Their Way campaign.

If you want to understand both the origin and the future of the #PlayTheirWay movement, this episode is for you!

Join host Laura-Jane Jones and this week’s guest, Nicky Harverson for an impassioned conversation about the joy of play and how to help children and young people find their voice in sport and physical activity. 

Nicky is a Physical Activity Specialist (Strategic Lead for Children and Young People) at Active Lives Gloucestershire as well as a cycling coach and Coach Developer. Nicky is passionate about play and has recently been supporting us to launch a pilot programme to support grassroots coaches – stay tuned for more on this!

If you’re looking to up your game, this episode is packed with practical tips to help you #PlayTheirWay!

Join us on this week's podcast with upcoming charity League Leaders and host Laura-Jane Jones as we dive into what it means to champion every child's voice, choice and journey in sport and physical activity.

We're joined by Founder and CEO of League Leaders, Paul Jenkins, as well as young leaders Adbul-Razak Rakhis and Lereece Patrick. They talk about how their positive and negative experiences of sport growing up has shaped their attitudes now, the art of working with young people and the balance of competition and play.

If you want to get inspired on how to build young leaders in sport, this episode is for you!

Join us for the last episode of season 1 of the Play Their Way podcast, where host Laura-Jane Jones talks to Luke Carpenter about holistic coaching, keeping a positive and open attitude and coaching in deprived communities. 

Luke Carpenter is a grassroots coach at Valleys Gymnastics, which have been brilliant advocates for the Play Their Way movement. Luke also won the 2023 Community Coach of the Year for Children and Young People at the UK Coaching Awards a couple of weeks ago for his child-first approach to coaching. 

If you’re looking for first-hand experience of how to #PlayTheirWay in a holistic way, this episode is for you!