RU Sport Psych Podcast

RU Sport Psych Podcast: Mark O’Sullivan, Martin Camiré and Siubhéan Crowne

In this episode, Daði Rafnsson from Reykjavík University discusses the professionalization of children’s and youth sports with internationally renowned experts. It was recorded in connection with the Reykjavik International Games in January 2026. Guests are Mark O’Sullivan, Martin Camiré and Siubhéan Crowne.  Professionalization in youth sport refers to the increasing adoption of adult professional sport structures, practices, and expectations within youth and junior sport environments, including early specialization, intensive training regimes, competitive selection systems, and the commodification of young athletes' development. Academics are concerned because this shift prioritizes performance outcomes and elite pathway progression over holistic development, often at the expense of children's physical health, psychological well-being, and enjoyment of sport.  Research highlights risks such as burnout, overuse injuries, dropout, and the erosion of intrinsic motivation when young athletes are subjected to adult-oriented demands before they are developmentally ready. The broader critique is that professionalization serves the interests of clubs, coaches, and commercial stakeholders rather than the child, fundamentally misaligning youth sport with its developmental and educational purposes. Mark O’Sullivan is an associate professor of sport and coaching science at the Norwegian School of Sport Sciences in Oslo. He holds a PhD in coaching science and a UEFA A Licence in football, combining academic research with high-level coaching experience. His work focuses on skill acquisition, athlete development, and ecological dynamics, with an emphasis on applying theory to real-world coaching. Martin Camiré is a professor at the School of Human Kinetics at the University of Ottawa, specializing in sport and youth development. He holds a PhD in human kinetics and is a leading researcher on life skills, mental health, and positive youth development through sport. His work focuses on how coaches and sport environments can promote personal growth, well-being, and social responsibility in young athletes. Siubhéan Crowne is a UK-based sport psychologist and PhD researcher working with elite football academies. She combines academic research with applied practice, supporting players, coaches, and staff in managing performance demands and psychological challenges. Her work focuses on athlete well-being, stress management, and using sport to support personal development. Further material on professionalization in youth sports: Mark’s talk from the conference in 2026 can be seen here:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vw9DZb2hBQA&t=2151s [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vw9DZb2hBQA&t=2151s] Martin’s talk from the conference in 2026 can be seen here:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j9FlzeHwZQ8&t=90s [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j9FlzeHwZQ8&t=90s] Daði’s talk from the conference in 2025 can be seen here:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dJzZQtP1Ozo&t=1868s [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dJzZQtP1Ozo&t=1868s] /// Í þessum þætti ræðir Daði Rafnsson frá íþróttadeild HR, afreksvæðingu barna- og unglingaíþrótta við alþjóðlega viðurkennda sérfræðinga. Þátturinn var tekinn upp í tengslum við Reykjavik International Games í janúar 2026. Gestir þáttarins eru þau Mark O’Sullivan, Martin Camiré og Siubhéan Crowne. UM ÍÞRÓTTARABBIÐ Íþróttarabb HR er þáttasyrpa innan HR hlaðvarpsins. Það er íþróttafræðideild Háskólans í Reykjavík sem heldur syrpunni úti. Í þáttunum er spjallað um hreyfingu, íþróttir, keppni, kennslu og þjálfun við gesti og gangandi í faginu.  Samskiptateymi HR  hefur umsjón með HR hlaðvarpinu (samskipti@ru.is).  HR hlaðvarpið er aðgengilegt á öllum helstu streymisveitum.

RU Sport Psych Podcast: Dr. Geir Jordet

In this episode, we welcome Dr. Geir Jordet, a leading international expert in the psychology of football, focusing on decision-making, leadership, and performance under pressure. He is a professor at the Norwegian School of Sport Sciences, where his research has explored topics such as pre-performance routines, penalty shootouts, and the role of visual perception and body language in elite-level play. Jordet has worked closely with top football clubs, national teams, and organisations worldwide, translating cutting-edge psychological insights into practical strategies for high performance. His work bridges the gap between science and sport in a way that continues to influence coaching practices and athlete development at the highest level. RU Sport Psych Podcast is a series within RU Sports Chat (Íþróttarabb HR), hosted by the Department of Sports Science at Reykjavík University. This series explores sports psychology from various perspectives, delving into theoretical and practical aspects. /// Gestur þáttarins er Dr. Geir Jordet, leiðandi alþjóðlegur sérfræðingur í fótboltasálfræði knattspyrnu. Hann hefur í rannsóknum sínum einblínt sérstaklega á ákvarðanatöku, forystu og frammistöðu undir álagi. Hann er prófessor við Íþróttaháskólann í Noregi og hafa rannsóknir hans m.a. snúið að hlutverki sjónrænnar skynjunar og líkamstjáningar í leikjum á afreksstigi. RU Sport Psych Podcast er þáttasería innan Íþróttarabbs HR, sem er haldið úti af íþróttafræðideild Háskólans í Reykjavík. Í þessari syrpu er íþróttasálfræði skoðuð frá ýmsum sjónarhornum, þar sem kafað er bæði í fræðilega og hagnýta þætti greinarinnar. Markmið þáttarins er að dýpka skilning á íþróttasálfræði og miðla bæði fræðilegri og hagnýtri þekkingu.

RU Sport Psych Podcast: Daði Rafnsson

Peter O’Donoghue talks to Daði Rafnsson about a newly published study that aimed to develop a method based on Chris Harwood’s 5Cs framework to help coaches articulate how football players should demonstrate psychological skills through behaviours on the field. Eight professional coaches and one academic expert collaborated with the researchers in a focus group to design psychological role descriptions for seven playing positions.  The method and the role descriptions can be valuable tools to enhance coaching efficacy by helping coaches frame, communicate, and deliver their expectations more efficiently through a shared framework. Peter and Daði also talk about how the 5Cs can help coaches strategically implement psychological skills into training sessions.   RU Sport Psych Podcast is a series within RU Sports Chat (Íþróttarabb HR), hosted by the Department of Sports Science at Reykjavík University. This series explores sports psychology from various perspectives, delving into theoretical and practical aspects. Guests are experts in sports psychology, and most collaborate with the Department of Sports Science at RU, whether in teaching or research. The podcast aims to deepen the understanding of sports psychology and share scientific and applied knowledge that benefits the sports environment. Whether you are an athlete, coach, researcher, or simply an enthusiast of sports psychology, the RU Sport Psych Podcast is the platform for you.

RU Sport Psych Podcast: Dr. Peter Haberl and Dr. Göran Kenttä

In this episode, we are joined by two internationally renowned sport psychology experts: Dr. Peter Haberl and Dr. Göran Kenttä.  Dr. Peter Haberl, former senior sport psychologist with the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee, shares his insights into attention, mindfulness, and performance under pressure. Drawing on decades of experience supporting Olympic athletes, Peter discusses how athletes can train their awareness and develop psychological flexibility to perform at their best when it matters most. Dr. Göran Kenttä, researcher and lecturer at the Swedish School of Sport and Health Sciences (GIH), brings a unique perspective on coach and athlete well-being. His academic and applied work emphasises the importance of mental health, burnout prevention, and sustainable high-performance environments. Göran discusses the role of self-compassion and mental health in fostering sustainable careers within the demanding world of high-performance sports.  Our host in this episode is Richard Taehtinen, Associate Professor at the University of Akureyri and one of the organisers of the micro-credential studies in sport psychology at RU. Richard works closely with researchers at Reykjavik University Whether you're an athlete, coach, or simply interested in the mental side of performance, this episode offers powerful takeaways from two of the field’s leading minds. RU Sport Psych Podcast is a series within RU Sports Chat (Íþróttarabb HR), hosted by the Department of Sports Science at Reykjavík University. This series explores sports psychology from various perspectives, delving into theoretical and practical aspects.

RU Sport Psych Podcast: Kristoffer Henriksen

Kristoffer Henriksen er íþróttasálfræðingur og prófessor við Háskólann í Suður-Danmörku (SDU). Hann er einnig yfirmaður rannsóknardeildar í íþróttavísindum og er jafnframt þróttasálfræðingur hjá Team Danmark, stofnuninni sem ber ábyrgð á afreksíþróttum í Danmörku. Áhugasvið hans snýr að hæfileikamótun, frammistöðuþáttum og sálfélagslegum þáttum íþrótta. Henriksen hefur lagt mikið af mörkum til fræðigreinarinnar með rannsóknum sínum á faglegri nálgun í íþróttasálfræðiþjónustu hjá Team Danmark. Hann hefur einnig sett fram áhrifamiklar kenningar um heildræna nálgun í hæfileikamótun þar sem áherslan er á umhverfið sem íþróttafólk elst upp í.  Daði Rafnsson ræðir við Henriksen í þessum þætti um rannsóknir hans og störf. Daði er doktorsnemi við sálfræðideild Háskólans í Reykjavík og fagstjóri Afreskssviðs Menntaskólans í Kópavogi. Hann hefur víðtæka reynslu af því að starfa með þjálfurum, foreldrum og íþróttafólki á öllum stigum. Doktorsrannsókn hans snýr um markvissa þjálfun sálrænna þátta í knattspyrnu, en hann og Harwood ásamt samstarfsfólki þeirra hafa unnið í því að rannsaka og þróa aðferðir til að gera hana aðgengilega fyrir þjálfara, foreldra og íþróttafélög. Í þessum þætti ræða þeir um hvers vegna það gengur oft illa að koma sálrænni færniþjálfun að í íþróttafélögum og hvernig stjórnendur íþróttafélaga ættu að líta á hana sem hluta af heildrænni færniþjálfun á borð við styrktarþjálfun. RU Sport Psych Podcast er þáttasería innan Íþróttarabbs HR, sem er haldið úti af íþróttafræðideild Háskólans í Reykjavík. Í þessari syrpu er íþróttasálfræði skoðuð frá ýmsum sjónarhornum, þar sem kafað er bæði í fræðilega og hagnýta þætti greinarinnar. Markmið þáttarins er að dýpka skilning á íþróttasálfræði og miðla bæði fræðilegri og hagnýtri þekkingu. Tvær námsleiðir eru í boði í íþróttasálfræði við Íþróttafræðideild HR. * 120 ECTS MSC í íþróttavísindum með áherslu á frammistöðugreiningu [https://vimeo.com/936235566]  * 30 ECTS Diplóma í styrk- og þrekþjálfun [https://vimeo.com/936235128]  /// Kristoffer Henriksen is a sports psychologist and professor at the University of Southern Denmark (SDU). He is also the head of the research department in sports sciences and a sports psychologist at Team Denmark, the institute responsible for elite sports in Denmark. His areas of interest are skill development, performance factors, and the psychosocial aspects of sports. Henriksen has made significant contributions to the discipline with his research on the professional approach to sports psychology services at Team Denmark. He has also put forward influential theories for a holistic approach to talent development, emphasising the environment in which athletes grow up.  Daði Rafnsson talks to Henriksen about his research and work in this episode. RU Sport Psych Podcast is a series within RU Sports Chat (Íþróttarabb HR). This series explores sports psychology from various perspectives, delving into theoretical and practical aspects. All the interviews are in English, though some include a brief introduction in Icelandic. RU offers two types of programmes in sport psychology: * 120 ECTS MSc in Sport Sciences with a focus on Sport Psychology [https://vimeo.com/936235566] * 30 ECTS Microcredentials in Sport Psychology, available both on-campus and online [https://vimeo.com/936235128]