#022 Off the Pitch with Active: Interview with Gordon MacLelland WWPIS & Darren Wensor Little Athletics NSW

Off the Pitch with Active

Gordon MacLelland set up ‘Working with Parents in Sport’ after 20 years as a teacher and as a coach for all age levels from 7-year olds to Adults. He has a BA/Hons degree in Sports Science from University College Chester and a PGCE from Lancaster University.

He is the author of two books, ‘Great Sports Parenting’ – A pocket guide for parents of children in sport and ‘Engage’ – A coaches guide to building positive relationships with parents.

His organisation currently works with 7 National Governing Bodies across a wide range of sports, clubs and schools of all sizes and the Little Athletics Franchise in NSW, Australia.

Darren Wensor, Head of Coach & Volunteer Development with Little Athletics NSW. Darren has twenty-five years of experience working full-time in sports development and coach education, and he is in his 30th year of coaching/teaching experience.

Darren has authored/contributed to numerous sports-related articles, books, journals, manuals, support resources and coach education course outlines. I regularly present at coach education courses and conferences and I have appeared as an on-camera presenter or coach on a number of instructional videos.

59:12 min episode Overview:

02:00 Introduction to Gordon MacLelland & Darren Wensor. Who are they?

04:35 A bit of history from Gordon & Darren

09:35 Discussing issues in youth sport highlighted in public media

15:30 What can we learn from kids?

Darren, “I ask the children what they enjoy and create top 10 fun factors which I incorporate into the coaching sessions.”

23:15 What are some of the approaches we can use when we speak to our children after a game? Gordon tells a great personal story.

25:40 Some “Golden Nuggets” from 2019 Go! Chase Excellence Think Tank to improve youth sport with Reed Maltbie and Ruth Nicholson.

37:20 What are some of the future challenges?

41:20 WWPIS growth in Europe and creation of culture

49:00 Wrapping up our conversation

Contact:

Gordon MacLelland

www.parentsinsport.co.uk

Twitter: @WWPIS

Facebook:@wwpis

Darren Wensor

www.lansw.com.au

www.coachingyoungathletes.com

Facebook: @Darren Wensor

Twitter: @DarrenWensor