In this episode of the Game Plan Coaching Podcast, I am joined by Paul Bodin. Former Wales international, Swindon Town icon, and respected coach who made more than 450 senior appearances in his professional career spent more than a decade developing young talent for the Welsh national teams.
From scoring one of Wembley’s most high-pressure penalties to guiding future stars into international football, Paul brings a unique perspective on playing, coaching and developing people.
In the conversation we explore:
1. Simplicity Beats Complexity
Paul shares how football is often overcomplicated and why even elite players learn best through simple, purposeful practices.
2. Coaching Environments that Help Players Thrive
With Wales youth teams, Paul prioritised enjoyable, simple and motivating sessions, where players explore, express themselves and learn through doing.
3. Parents, Roles and Real Support
Reflecting on raising a professional footballer, Paul shares why fairness, encouragement, and understanding your role are crucial for helping young players progress.
If you enjoyed this episode, follow the show and share it with a coach who’d find it useful. Thanks for listening!
Follow me here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tomhartleycoaching/
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42:05
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42:05
Joe Baker: The Messy Middle
In this episode of the Game Plan Coaching podcast, our guest is Professor Joe Baker, Tannenbaum Research Chair in Sport Science, Data Modelling and Sport Analytics at the University of Toronto and author of The Tyranny of Talent.
Together we explore why talent is much more complex than most systems assume, how early selection and deselection can shape the arc of a young person’s life, and what coaches can do to create environments that keep athletes engaged and developing over the long term.
In this episode, we explore:
Cringey clichés and myths in talent ID - Why phrases like “natural talent” and “10,000 hours” can be unhelpful.
Can we really identify talent early? - Joe’s take on why early prediction is so unreliable, and why the “messy middle” of a squad is where the hardest.
Challenge, safety and ethics - How to balance high challenge with high support, why “feeling unsafe” is not the same as “being unsafe”.
Long-term commitment and the training environment - Joe’s simple framework: long-term success needs extended commitment from the athlete and a high-quality learning environment.
Selection, deselection and “not yet” - How language like “not yet” can soften the landing, keep doors open, and better reflect the error built into selection decisions.
Parents as part of the ecosystem - Reframing parents from “problem” or “taxi and bank” to a crucial part of the developmental ecosystem, with a clear role around safety, security and support.
And so much more!
Follow us:
Tom: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tomhartleycoaching/
Joe: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joe-baker-320b9a32/
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40:28
Mark Blundell: Coaching Bodyguard
This episode of the Game Plan Coaching Podcast features someone who’s lived the full racing dream: Mark Blundell. From a council estate and motocross, to Formula One, IndyCar, World Rally and a Le Mans 24 Hours victory, Mark’s story is anything but ordinary.
After nearly 20 years at the top of global motorsport, a BAFTA-winning stint as an F1 pundit, and now CEO of MBP, he brings a rare inside view of what real performance looks like, and what it costs.
Mark takes us into life at 200+ mph - from the iconic Corkscrew at Laguna Seca to threading an IndyCar around an oval at 253 miles an hour - and why the ultimate difference-maker isn’t horsepower, it’s processing power. He shares lessons learned alongside teammates like Martin Brundle and Ayrton Senna and explains why the most important tuning tool for any athlete sits right between their ears.
We talk about motorsport as a team sport disguised as an individual one, with his Le Mans win as the perfect example of elite preparation, clear roles and total accountability. And from 20+ years managing top drivers, Mark is honest about what keeps people at the sharp end: integrity, transparency, respect, humility and trust, plus the confidence to say “no” when the fit isn’t right.
Whether you coach racing drivers, footballers or any athlete trying to reach their best, this conversation is full of gold: handling pressure, placing risk wisely, embracing mistakes, and holding onto self-belief when the road gets bumpy.
Follow us:
Tom: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tomhartleycoaching/
Mark: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-blundell-655a86b/
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41:25
Daniel Lycett: Coachability or Compliance
This week, we’re joined by Dan Lycett, Head of PE & Sport at St David’s College in Llandudno. A coach who describes his current practice in three words: energised, confused, focused. Energised by the challenge of doing things differently, confused by the expectations that still cling to youth sport, and focused on making movement joyful and meaningful for every child.
Dan has built a coaching environment grounded in curiosity and intentionality, always asking why behaviours show up and how to best meet the needs of the young people in front of him. We explore his work with neurodivergent athletes and why strategies designed for inclusion often end up helping everyone play, learn and belong.
He introduces practical tools like the right to disengage, pauses and replays. Simple ideas that give children agency, confidence and a sense of safety within the session. We dig into the myth of “coachability,” the bravery of coaching as your authentic self, and why winning is a pretty unhelpful metric if it’s the only one that matters.
We delve in to why long-term development beats short-term results every single time, and much more.
Connect with us:
• Tom on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tomhartleycoaching/
• Dan on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/daniel-lycett-647773179/
If you enjoyed the episode, please follow, share, and pass it on to a coach who would love it.
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41:51
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41:51
Nicky Harverson: Soulful Coaching
In this episode, I’m joined by Nicky Harverson a brilliant child-first coach who helps young riders build confidence, connection and joy through cycling.At Cheltenham Town Wheelers, play, curiosity and voice are at the centre of every session.We talk about what it really means to coach the child, not the drill. How stepping back can help young people step forward. And how Nicky’s SOUL approach - Silently Observing, Understanding and Learning - can help coaches stay present to the person in front of them.Whether you coach in a club, a school or a park on a Saturday morning, there’s something here you can use straight away.You’ll Take Away:How to step back so children can take ownership of learningHow to use voice, choice and small wins to build confidenceHow SOUL can help you see more and say lessConnect with us:• Tom on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tomhartleycoaching/• Nicky on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nickyharverson/If you enjoyed the episode, please follow, share, and pass it on to a coach who would love it.
Too many coaching podcasts waffle. We don’t.This is The Game Plan Coaching Podcast – short, sharp, and full of real coaching stories. Each episode is about the length of a car journey, or lunchtime walk, full of tangible ideas and coaching advice.In every episode, our guest adds something new to the 'Game Plan'. A shared playbook of ideas, stories, and moments that have shaped their coaching journey, and may rub off on you.Each episode ends with a piece of 'Game Changing' advice from our guest. Something that you might want to apply, adapt, or reflect on.Follow the podcast, share it with your coaching friends, and be part of a community that’s about being better at what we do.Real stories, practical tools, and coaching that makes a difference.You can follow me on LinkedIn here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tomhartleycoaching/
UK