#022 Off the Pitch with Active: Interview with Gordon MacLelland WWPIS & Darren Wensor Little Athletics NSW

Gordon MacLelland set up ‘Working with Parents in Sport’ after 20
years as a teacher and as a coach for all age levels from
7-year olds to Adults. He has a BA/Hons degree in Sports
Science from University College Chester and a PGCE from
Lancaster University.


He is the author of two books, ‘Great Sports Parenting’ – A
pocket guide for parents of children in sport and ‘Engage’ –
A coaches guide to building positive relationships with
parents.


His organisation currently works with 7 National Governing Bodies
across a wide range of sports, clubs and schools of all sizes and
the Little Athletics Franchise in NSW, Australia.


Darren Wensor, Head of Coach & Volunteer Development with
Little Athletics NSW. Darren has twenty-five years of experience
working full-time in sports development and coach education, and
he is in his 30th year of coaching/teaching experience.


Darren has authored/contributed to numerous sports-related
articles, books, journals, manuals, support resources and coach
education course outlines. I regularly present at coach education
courses and conferences and I have appeared as an on-camera
presenter or coach on a number of instructional videos.


59:12   min episode Overview:


02:00   Introduction to Gordon MacLelland & Darren
Wensor. Who are they?


04:35   A bit of history from Gordon & Darren


09:35   Discussing issues in youth sport highlighted in
public media


15:30   What can we learn from kids?


Darren, “I ask the children what they enjoy and create top 10 fun
factors which I incorporate into the coaching sessions.”


23:15   What are some of the approaches we can use when
we speak to our children after a game? Gordon tells a great
personal story.


25:40   Some “Golden Nuggets” from 2019 Go! Chase
Excellence Think Tank to improve youth sport with Reed Maltbie
and Ruth Nicholson.


37:20   What are some of the future challenges?


41:20   WWPIS growth in Europe and creation of culture


49:00   Wrapping up our conversation


Contact:


Gordon MacLelland


www.parentsinsport.co.uk


Twitter: @WWPIS


Facebook:@wwpis


Darren Wensor


www.lansw.com.au


www.coachingyoungathletes.com


Facebook: @Darren Wensor


Twitter: @DarrenWensor