🎙 Episode 362 - Professor Andy Abraham | The Art of Professional Judgement in Coaching

In this follow-up episode, Coach Yas reconnects with Professor Andy Abraham to dig deeper into the nuanced world of coaching, professional judgement, and decision-making.

Andy expands on the idea of coaches making "bets"—calculated decisions based on their perceptions, prior experiences, and contextual understanding. Together, they explore how these decisions are not just intuitive but informed by a blend of tacit knowledge and professional reasoning.

💡 Key Talking Points

• The meaning of professional judgement and decision-making in coaching.
• Coaches as cognitive apprentices, modelling their thought processes for others.
• The tension between topic-based coaching and game-realistic scenarios.
• The importance of creating curiosity in coaches by highlighting what they don’t yet know.
• How experienced practitioners often hold "folk theories" that align with academic ones.
• Why working with both experienced and novice coaches requires a flexible coach development mindset.

🧠 “You’ve created a sense of deprivation… people get curious, and they start going on a journey with it.” – Andy Abraham

📣 Whether you’re an emerging coach or a seasoned practitioner, this episode will challenge how you view planning, reflection, and the development of coaching expertise.

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💬 Drop a comment on LinkedIn and tag us with your biggest takeaway — we’d love to hear how it’s shaping your coaching practice.

🎙️ Episode 361: Andy Abraham | Evolving Coach Education, Judgement, and Trust in Development

In this episode, Coach Yas sits down with Professor Andy Abraham, Head of Subject for Physical Education & Sports Coaching at Leeds Beckett University, to explore the shifting landscape of coach education, professional judgement, and what it really takes to support coaching excellence.

🧠 With over 27 years in education, Andy brings a unique lens to how coach development is facilitated across contexts—from universities to elite sport, including his work with PGMOL and the FA. This conversation digs deep into the evolution of coaching standards, balancing structure with adaptability, and how we move beyond "skilled robots" to develop “knowledgeable doers.”

🔍 What You’ll Learn:

• Why coach education must move beyond standardisation
• The power of embedded coach developers
• What “good” looks like—and who gets to decide
• Trust, judgement, and the real-world complexity of assessing coaching
• How coaching frameworks can unintentionally hinder creativity
• The concept of espoused vs. enacted theory in coaching practice

💡 Quote of the Episode:

🎓 Guest Bio:

Professor Andy Abraham leads one of the UK’s most recognised coaching departments at Leeds Beckett University. His research and practice sit at the intersection of coach education, professional judgement and decision making, and applied learning. He has collaborated with major organisations such as The FA, Premier League, and PGMOL to reshape coach development pathways in elite sport.

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🎙️ Episode 360 – Fishbowling & Unlocking Coaching Potential with Russell Earnshaw

Welcome back to The Coaches Network Podcast! In this special episode, Coach Yas is joined once again by the ever-insightful Russell Earnshaw – known to many as Rusty – for a rich conversation exploring what it truly means to coach with purpose, flexibility, and curiosity.

🔑 What’s Inside This Episode?

Rusty and Yas dive into:

• 🧠 The lock and key analogy for coaching – why no coach holds all the keys and how collaboration opens more doors for players.
• 📋 The critical importance of intentional session planning – and what happens when coaches aren’t aligned.
• 🔄 How self-awareness and honesty about your coaching preferences (e.g., not enjoying 1:1 coaching) can enhance player outcomes.
• 🧩 The value of understanding your own coaching strengths and blind spots – and when to hand the reins to someone better suited.
• 🗺️ Why identifying team values (like confidence, decision-making, or self-organisation) must shape your planning.
• 🤝 How involving players in the planning process can foster autonomy and resilience.

This episode is packed with golden takeaways for coaches at all levels who are keen to reflect on:

• Their intention behind planning
• How to design environments that reflect core values
• And how to collaborate better with co-coaches to unlock collective potential.

📌 Whether you’re a coach developer, grassroots leader or elite performance coach, this episode will get you thinking differently about how and why you plan.

🔗 Connect with Rusty:

Twitter/X: @_RustyEarnshaw

Website: The Magic Academy

🗣️ Let us know your thoughts and biggest takeaways by tagging us on social media or using the hashtag #TheCoachesNetwork.