On todays episode we chat to sport psychology consultant, S&C coach and sport diversity leader David Smith. David has been using his platform as an openly gay coach to support athletes from the LGBTQ+ community in recent years. He shares with us some significant challenges he experiences as a young gay athlete, competing in the gay games and how this has ultimately shaped his career today. We also chat about how to deal with homophobia in the workplace and why it is essential that we use inclusive language.
David is in an interesting position where he is hybridising strength and condition and psychology work by combining cognitive training and physical conditioning, something that practitioners may be interested to hear more about. We also talk about a motivation climate and what this looks like in a football team and how we can create it.
+ much more
We hope you enjoy the episode!
IG: @stonewallperformance
Website: www.stonewallperformance.com
Podcast: ‘Drag Race Psychology’ coming soon
Talking Points
1. Intro and welcome to episode (00:00)
2. David’s experience in sport growing up (4:04)
3. Experiences of well-being / psychology as an athlete (7:41)
4. From resenting sport as an athlete to working in sport as a practitioner (19:00)
5. Impact of the gay games in David’s career today (22:41)
6. Barriers that gay athletes experience and what we can do to be more inclusive in sport (28:38)
7. Competing in individual sport but working in team sport (34:32)
8. Hybridising S&C and psychology support (40:05)
9. A motivational climate in football (50:32)
10. Moving to Germany (1:00:52)
11. Looking after wellbeing (1:05:38)
12. Tips for young players (1:07:16)
13. Closing thoughts (1:07:59)
