Nick Susko on Systems Thinking, Psychological Safety, a Rewriting the Youth Sport Narrative

There are two ways to affect learning and development. Direct contact with the individuals and teams in front of you, or by influencing the system of which they are part of. My guest on today’s show has spent time doing both, first as a youth team coach at Sydney Football Club and then as Academy Manager. His name is Nick Susko and he played a pivotal role in shaping one of the most successful talent development programs in Australian sport, with over 60 graduates signing professional contracts and dozens representing Australia at every level of the game. 

In this conversation, we explore the evolving landscape of youth football, including how systems thinking revolutionised Nick’s coaching philosophy and transformed the way he nurtured talent.

Together, Nick and I dig deeper into:

• How collaboration with local schools reshaped player support networks at Sydney FC
• Building sustainable success through quality coaching practices
• Creating psychological safety within the academy environment
• The complexities and challenges of player selection
• Breaking away from traditional youth sport narratives
• Understanding the key elements that help players reach their potential
• The growing role of technology and AI in football development
• Finding balance in youth development
• Making the learning process both meaningful and enjoyable

 I love the way Nick thinks about development and I’m super excited to share it with you. 

Enjoy!

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