Pablo is the Mental Skills and Skills Coach for the Yacare XV who play in the Super Rugby Americas League. He also coaches the Paraguay Women's 7's team on their quest to make the HSBC World Series. We have connected over the past few years, after first meeting in New Zealand. He has an exceptional thirst for knowledge and amazing growth mindset. He puts his 'heart on the plate' in a truly authentic manner to connect with people around him. I particularly loved his take on 'brain friendly sessions' and how our survival instinct relies on connection with other people. It's a timely reminder to invest time into environments that foster human connection, especially in a world where connection is often digitalised. We chatted about: Brain Friendly Sessions - safe, curiosity, humour, surprise, emotions. The power of humour / laughing. Building identity.Authenticity, vulnerability.And more...Find or connect with Pablo on instagram HEREIntaSport AppAnd now to highlight a key partner of The Coaching Gig -  IntaSport. IntaSport have created the FREE coaching App to help the volunteer coaches out there survive and thrive. Click HERE to download it for FREE. 

Russell (Rusty) Earnshaw is a world leader in the coaching / coach development space. He is a former professional rugby player, representing many clubs and teams including Bath and England 7's. He later went on to coach the England 7's, England U18's and U20's rugby teams.He is the co-founder of The Magic Academy (www.themagicacademy.co.uk) and currently consults for a number of teams and sporting organisations. He is deeply passionate about coaching, people and sport and is doing hit bit to move things forward. "Help people to help themselves."A quote from his website - "I like Russell Earnshaw, he treads a fine line between genius and nutcase." He is an innovative thinker who thrives on changing the game and predicting the future. The backs of my ears and stomach muscles hurt after talking with Rusty, due to all the laughing. It was so much fun. We chatted about: How to foster an environment of ownership (and why).How to develop 'skillful, adaptable players.' Gamification / Video Game Design in the sporting context. Much more...Find Rusty at The Magic Academy or on Twitter.IntaSport AppAnd now to highlight a key partner of The Coaching Gig -  IntaSport. IntaSport have created the FREE coaching App to help the volunteer coaches out there survive and thrive. Click HERE to download it for FREE. 

Charissa Barham (affectionally known as Reecy) has approximately 30 years coaching experience across many levels, including the New Zealand Secondary Schools Netball team. She is deeply passionate about youth sport and enabling youth / player voice to help frame their experience. A lot of coaches value player-centered approaches, where Reecy has a tangible and sustainable way of bringing this approach to life to become the heart-beat of teams she coaches. Reecy is currently a Sport Consultant for Sport New Zealand, where she works with Regional and National sporting organisations to help foster quality sporting experiences that meet the needs and motivations of young people. It's always a pleasure connecting with Reecy, where there are plenty of laughs, D&M's and poems / raps. We yarned about...A life of service through coaching.The joys and complexities of coaching teenagers. How to use player voice to frame a season - tangible examples of engaging and implementing.Building leadership in young people.Her role as a Sport Consultant for Sport NZ.And more...

Nigel Hotham has been the mastermind behind Hamilton Boys High School Rugby, Touch and 7s programmes for the past 20 years. There is not likely a school or coach in the country (maybe the world) who has tasted as much success as in the Secondary School space. To list the number of National titles would fill this entire blurb. He is a humble man who has given a good 3 decades of service to young men, not only in sport, but with his role as Deputy Principal. It was great talking with Nigel to unpack why there has been so much success at Hamilton Boys and how he has managed to stay motivated and excited to coach young men over that time. We chatted about: His coaching journeyIdeas to bring successful on-field resultsHow his coaching approach has changed over the yearsWhat he is currently seeing with teenagers of this eraHow he connects with individuals within a team sportWhen to give 10 jabs v a slap in the face (FYI - this is a metaphor)And more