The Beacon Hockey Podcast

Want to build a thriving co-coaching dynamic without letting team standards slip? Co-coaching can completely transform a team's performance, but navigating equal leadership, assistant roles, and game-day communication requires clear strategies. Experienced coach Kate Porter breaks down her real-world insights on building authentic co-coaching relationships, stepping out of isolated decision-making, and setting demanding expectations while maintaining strong player trust. 00:00 - Intro & From Parent Helper to Lead Coach 04:58 - The Non-Negotiables: Competition, Progression & Clean Bibs 08:45 - High Standards & Setting Demanding Expectations 12:38 - Standout Career Highlights & Winning Tier 1 Gold 20:56 - Navigating Co-Coaching Dynamics & Final Decisions 27:51 - Division of Labour & Complementary Coaching Roles 34:50 - Tactical Pitch Positioning & Seeing the Whole Game 42:34 - Quickfire Round & Closing Insights Kate currently heads up the Womens 1s Programme at Marlow Hockey Club, who play in the West Conference. She has previously coached at the England Hockey Futures Cup and was Head Coach at Northwood Performance Centre, alongside years of junior hockey coaching and leadership at Marlow. Kate has also been manager for Buckingham HC women in the indoor Premier League and is current manager of the England U18 Girls. Kate is a graduate of the GB Hockey Advanced Coach Programme, graduating in 2020. In this episode you'll hear: • An epic example of the accretive impact on teamship – and results – that regular bits of fun team-building can have. • The key to delivering high-level challenge without alienating developing players. • Why the highest-performing coaching duos lean on complementary personal strengths rather than identical skill sets. • How strategic positioning on the pitch changes what you observe and drastically improves real-time adjustments. • Why openness and self-awareness are the two most vital behaviours to make a co-coaching relationship work. Enjoying the show? Please leave a 5-star rating on Spotify or Apple Podcasts, or subscribe on YouTube to help more coaches find these conversations!

Whether you're coaching grassroots or high performance, how do you manage the mental load and avoid coaching burnout? Former Clifton and Southgate coach Steve Bryant joins host Kiran to unpack his coaching journey – from running FA football sessions as a teenager to managing elite hockey environments. Drawing on personal experience with emotional overload and squad fatigue, Steve offers candid reflections on how coaches can set boundaries, focus on core skills, and protect their energy. 00:00 - Intro & Steve’s Journey Into Coaching 04:28 - Core Coaching Principles & Gamification Over Drills 08:37 - Session Design & Favorite Coaching Memories 14:39 - Unpacking Coaching Burnout, Energy & Overload 19:54 - The "Superhero Complex" & Player Responsibility 25:45 - Setting Boundaries, Decompression & Preventing Fatigue 33:48 - Making Coaching Sustainable: Contracts & Reducing Noise 43:34 - Quickfire Round & Closing Thoughts Steve's most recent coaching role was at Bristol University. He also coached in the player pathway at the Bristol Performance Centre, having built up his skills and experience in previous roles at Clifton Robinsons HC and Southgate HC. He is another graduate of the GB Hockey Advanced Coach Programme, having graduated in 2020. In this episode you’ll hear: • The core principles behind "gamification" in hockey and why modern players reject drills. • The "superhero complex" in coaching and how taking on every team problem leads to severe burnout. • Practical boundaries for coaches, including fixed "office hours" for selection feedback and mandatory fallow weeks. • Why clubs need long-term multi-year contracts instead of relying on "gig economy" arrangements. • How cutting out tactical "noise" and focusing on execution yields better results than shiny tech. If you found these coaching insights useful, please leave a five-star rating on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or subscribe on YouTube to help other coaches find the show!

How do you build a winning team culture while navigating constant squad turnover? Former University of Nottingham Men’s 2nd Team head coach Christian joins host Kiran to analyse his journey from local club hockey to high-performance university sport. The discussion explores how to manage constantly evolving squad turnover, bridge technical skill gaps in young athletes, and navigate the unique cultural dynamics of elite BUCS competition. 00:00 - Intro & The Journey From Player to Coach 02:40 - The "Big 5" Questions: Leadership & Motivation 06:02 - Non-Negotiables: Purpose, Competition & Small Unit Play 13:04 - Winning BUCS Gold & Defining Career Highlights 17:49 - Inside a High-Performance University Hockey Programme 30:27 - Off-Field Challenges: Navigating Welfare, Exams & Burnout 35:48 - Tactical Breakdown: Low Blocks, Counter-Attacks & Skill Gaps 45:51 - Quickfire Round & Closing Insights Christian is now back leading the Mens Performance Programme at Chesterfield HC, his home club. He previously headed a Performance Centre prior to the system changing and spent many years coaching junior hockey in the pathway and at Chesterfield. He is a graduate of the GB Hockey Advanced Coach Programme, which he completed in 2020. In this episode you'll hear: How and why ego helped motivate a transition from player to coach. Why dominant university sides are uniquely vulnerable to counter-attacks, and how to fix it. The surprising core technical skill modern 18-to-21-year-olds lack compared to previous generations. Off-field strategies for navigating student welfare, exam stress, and squad burnout. Knowing "when to catch the wave" with a graduating squad before success fades. If you found these coaching insights useful, please leave a five-star review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify to help other coaches find the show!

Welcome to the official trailer for The Beacon Hockey Podcast - conversations with hockey coaches from grassroots to the elite. Hosted by Kiran Raichura, this show dives into the practical realities of coaching. Whether you’re running junior sessions on a Sunday morning or managing a senior squad in the National League, we break down session design, co-coaching dynamics, and high-performance culture with top level coaches and players. Season 1 launches in early September! New full-length episodes (c. 45 mins) will drop weekly. Hit SUBSCRIBE or FOLLOW now so you don't miss Episode 1 when it goes live!