Going Upstairs

After a long break we are back with a look at supporting team mates in our sport. Joining Mark is Sussex batter Tom Alsop who reflects on what he has learned across his career so far.Support the show

Kate offers her insight on how she proactively considers her mental health in the demanding world of international cricket.Support the show

Change can be exciting, it can be daunting. Ethan and Tom share their reflections on their experiences of transitions such as moving clubs, new roles and fluctuations in form.Support the show

We're glad to have our one hundredth episode on the pleasure of playing cricket. In the case of our guest Chris Laker, this happens to have been at the top of the club game in England. The positives discussed can be applied to anyone playing the game, whatever the standard.If this is your first listen or you've taken in all episodes so far, thank you.Support the show

Cricket gives us a vital chance to take time away from our screens and properly connect with others. Mark gives his view on this increasingly important issue in this episode.---------Jonathan Haidt was mentioned in this episode. You can read about his work on youth phone use here and in a similar vein there is a perspective from the US surgeon general here Support the show

The second episode on this theme has Opening Up Cricket trustee & Sunday Times Football Correspondent Jon Northcroft sharing from another sport. We hear a range from Fergie to Guardiola on how wellbeing and team bonds are forged at the top level of football.It's fascinating to think about what we can learn from these examples.Support the show

This pre season, we have a focus on how team environments can best support their members. To start with, Ethan Bamber draws on his experiences in the professional games, as we aim to find the ways we can all look out for those around us.Support the show

Ethan and Tom shared their reflections on how the close season changes how they see themselves. This was recorded just before their return to pre season training at Middlesex and Sussex.Support the show

Henry returns with his second guest, Matty Jackson of Liverpool CC, for a chat focused on captaincy in the club game.Support the show

Thanks to Henry Eccles of Southport & Birkdale CC for this chat with his club's former overseas player Will Affleck, reflecting on the realities and pressures that can feature in the weekend game.Support the show

Clevedon CC in Somerset have seen success with their own scheme to promote mental wellbeing through cricket at their club.Dan, the lead for this,  joined Mark to share the background and strategies used.Support the show

Mark considers what is left unsaid during Mental Health Awareness WeekSupport the show

The second Coaches Conversation focuses on passion and how far it can take you. We got a look at this from a rugby union perspective with guest Adam Canning of Old Leamingtonians RFC joining Mark to share his thoughts.Support the show

Our first Coaches Conversation was recorded last night (26.03) with burnout being the topic. Chris Laker, who works with Lancashire CCC pathway and in club cricket, joined Mark to share his thoughts.Support the show

Ethan spoke with friend and current team mate down under Miles Hammond, of Gloucestershire CCC. Topics included...- Life as an overseas player- Finding the balance between cricket and the rest of life- How talking therapy made the differenceSupport the show

Identity,  particularly how much we define ourselves by our job, is a topic of almost endless discussion. Sussex keeper/batter Tom Alsop gave his insight to Mark during this episode.The focus was on how over the course of his career, he has come to see himself as more than just a cricketer.Support the show

Mark reflects on a personal experience of going beyond what was healthy to commit to.The books mentioned in this episode were:Mike Yardy- The Hard YardsBrene Brown- Daring GreatlyTim Cantopher- Depressive Illness: The Curse Of The Strong Support the show

Josh Sivier, known across social media as 'The WK Coach' shared with Mark his passion for wicket keeping, as a player and coach.Topics include:Technical fundamentalsResilienceThe love of the gameSupport the show

Sean chatted with Mark about the reality of playing Grade, or as it is now known, Premier Cricket in Australia.Having played at first class and international level, it was interesting to hear his perspective on the club game.Topic discussed include:* Creating the ideal environment* The intensity compared to the professional game* Adapting from other levels of cricketSupport the show

Tara Norris of Sussex, Southern Vipers, Southern Brave and the USA joined Mark to discuss:Her transition into professional cricketRoutine and structureSelf motivation Support the show

What is your coaching philosophy?Mark shares how Carl Rogers, more familiar in the counselling world, has helped shape his.The blog post mentioned in the episode can be found here Support the show

Ex England, Yorkshire and Notts bowler Ryan Sidebottom joined us for the final Pre Season Series session. Topics discussed included:Stepping up to playing for EnglandResponding to difficulties in cricketBeing open about mental ill healthSupport the show

Gloucestershire & England keeper James Bracey was the fifth guest for the Pre Season Series earlier this year. We're glad to share it here now after a delay.Topics discussed included:Adapting to new environmentsSupporting team matesWork/life balanceSupport the show

Much delayed but here is the fourth of the 2022 Pre Season Series sessions with Glamorgan batter Sam Northeast.Topics discussed included:Making runs for a livingThe role of a team mateLife away from the gameSupport the show

Middlesex bowler Ethan and former Lancashire & Leicestershire batter discuss opening the innings, dealing with setbacks and the identity of a professional cricketer.Support the show

Warwickshire's Eve Jones was the guest for the second of the 2022 Pre Season Series sessions.Topics discussed included:- Routines for batting- The challenges of The Hundred- Switching off from the gameSupport the show

Kent keeper/batter Ollie joined us for the first of the 2022 Pre Season Series sessions.We discussed:Managing the demands of professional cricketPreparation as a keeper/batterStaying mentally healthySupport the show

Derbyshire pace bowler Dustin opened up on the realities of dealing with injuries. He spoke about the impact at the time, through rehab to the longer term mental challenges.An important insight to a topic that needs more discussion.Support the show

Jon Northcroft is an Opening Up Cricket trustee and football writer. In this episode he talks us the art of ghost writing, something he has done most recently for Peter Schmeichel, including:What it actually is and the process involvedStaying true to what the person is sayingListening skillsThe parallels with counselling and therapyLessons learned from hearing the inner thoughts of someone elseSupport the show

Primary school teacher Peter has a mission to increase physical activity in young people to the benefit of their mind and body.We discussed the impact of covid, barriers to promoting activity, teacher wellbeing and his initiative Prime Fitness & Education.You can find out more hereSupport the show

Middlesex bowler Ethan chatted with Mark about how he has managed performance anxiety during his career so far.Support the show

The term 'coaching' is subject to lots of different interpretations, especially in the world outside of sport.Mark spoke with Jim Hughes about what he sees it as in his work coaching high performers. It was thought provoking to consider how we consider the role of someone who is there to help... Find out more about Untamed here Support the show

Mark gives his perspective on what he has learned from the experience of depressive illness.Support the show

Paul Smith played for Warwickshire from 1982 and 1996, featuring as a key member of the famous treble winning side of 1994. Here he spoke about the influence of Bob Woolmer, how mental health was looked after in his career as well as the challenges post retirement. Support the show

Northern Diamonds bowler Phoebe joined us for the eight Pre Season Series session back in March.We discussed her unusual journey to being a professional athlete via themes of embracing challenges, perseverance and finding your own way.Support the show

Hampshire's Tom Alsop chatted with Mark about the reasons behind him joining our team to host sessions. The insight to the personal and professional contexts of mental health and wellbeing are well worth a listen...Support the show

West Indies Director of Cricket Jimmy joined us in March for the seventh Pre Season Series session.The main themes discussed were managing stress, dealing with burnout and fatigue and adapting to different conditions.Support the show

Abi joined Mark to share his thoughts on the importance of being truly listened to. He reflects on his personal experience of being supported following the loss of his Mum as well as communication in cricket, drawing on his time as a professional player with Sussex.Support the show

Northamptonshire bowling coach Chris  joined us live in February for the sixth of our 'Pre Season Series' sessions so here it is for you to catch up on.The theme we explored was meditation in cricket. Support the show

Kent batter Daniel  joined us live in February for the fifth of our 'Pre Season Series' sessions so here it is for you to catch up on.The themes discussed were:Mental strategies to bat longOvercoming adversityMaintaining good mental healthSupport the show

Southern Vipers bowler Tara  joined us live in January for the fourth of our 'Pre Season Series' sessions so here it is for you to catch up on.The themes discussed were:Sport/life balanceMindful cricketLooking out for team mates.Support the show

Surrey all-rounder Rikki  joined us live in January for the third of our 'Pre Season Series' sessions so here it is for you to catch up on.The themes discussed were:Fielding focusMotivation to keep improvingOvercoming setbacksSupport the show

Derbyshire all-rounder Luis joined us live in January for the second of our 'Pre Season Series' sessions so here it is for you to catch up on.The themes discussed were:Mindset as an all rounderManaging anxietyPositive team environmentsSupport the show

Derbyshire all-rounder Fynn joined us live in January for the first of our 'Pre Season Series' sessions so here it is for you to catch up on.The themes discussed were:Dealing with setbacksFocus in gamesSupporting team matesSupport the show

Kate shared her experiences of how the measures in place to facilitate international cricket during the pandemic have impacted her wellbeing.She provides an honest, balanced account of the realities of such an unusual situation. Well worth a listen!Support the show

Rich Hudson, managing director of Buckinghamshire Cricket and author of 'Perform Beyond Pressure' discussed some key themes from his book with Mark.Key topics include:How pressure as a concept is inhibitingConnecting with why we play the gameThe natural ebb and flow of how we feelMoving beyond the labels we give ourselvesYou can buy the book here  and find Rich on twitter @rdhudson00 Support the show

The importance of talking to maintaining good mental health is well established. What about how we listen to enable those conversations? Mark has a think about this in the final episode of the year.Support the show

Former Jamaica spinner Ryan Cunningham chatted with Mark about mindfulness, particularly using coffee to refine his practice. Alongside this we covered the mental approaches to cricket in the West Indies, dealing with setbacks as a bowler and adapting to life playing in English leagues.Check out his coffee here Support the show

Former Scotland batsman turned podcast host Qasim Sheikh was our guest as we talked about:* His experiences in international cricket* The differences between playing in the UK and Pakistan* Dealing with mental ill health* The power of talking for wellbeingCheck out his show- Sheikys Sports Journeys- on YouTube or wherever you find your podcasts.Support the show

We look at the power of vulnerability and how this term can be looked at differently to benefit sport and life.Links from the episode:How vulnerability became sport's winning weaponBrene Brown: The power of vulnerabilityHeadfirst- Wellbeing & RugbySupport the show