Create space. Reconnect with yourself. Choose what comes next.
You know something needs to change.
You may not yet know what comes next.
Men Behind Sport gives you space to understand what’s keeping you stuck, reconnect with what matters and take practical steps towards work and life that feel like your own.
Let’s talk about what’s next →
Here’s what I can already tell about you.
Work that feels meaningful. A life you have space to be present for.
Do any of these feel familiar?
-
You’re home with your family, but your mind is still replaying something that happened at work.
-
You’ve said yes to something you wanted to say no to, because disappointing someone felt harder than losing the time.
-
You know your current environment no longer fits, but you can’t yet see what you would move towards.
-
You’re weighing up an opportunity and finding it difficult to separate what you want from what looks like the right career move.
-
You’ve spent years building your professional identity, and now you’re wondering who you are beyond the role.
Start with what’s happening for you.
The demands of high-performance sport are real. Alongside them, we develop ways of coping: pushing through, keeping people happy, anticipating problems or proving our value through what we achieve.
Those responses may have helped you build your career. They may also be taking more from you than you want to keep giving.
At Men Behind Sport, we begin by understanding your experience: what’s difficult, what keeps repeating, what matters and what you would like to change.
We create enough space to explore the expectations, fears and protective stories influencing your choices. Then we reconnect with your values, needs and the life you want your work to support.
From there, we explore possibilities and turn what you discover into practical decisions, conversations and steps forward.
That might mean changing direction. It might mean clearer boundaries or a different way of leading within your current role.
You don’t need to arrive with the answer. We begin with where you are.
Let’s talk about what’s next - Book a callTrusted by coaches & support professionals from:
“At the time of reaching out to Richard I was feeling lost and anxious in my work. I was experiencing high levels of anxiety facing into my everyday tasks and burnout in managing a significant workload. This led to a loss of passion, a loss of self confidence and doubt over my future in the profession
Richard presents a genuine, caring and adaptable style within the sessions. At all times I felt truly heard and sessions were adapted to meet acute needs and evolved in parallel to my evolution dealing with the issues we highlighted to address.
Working with Richard was the catalyst for me finding new structure in my work. Anxiety and burnout are no longer part of my daily routine and in times where I can sense them building I now have the warning signs in place to sense them, the tools in place to address them and the confidence to not feel threatened by these things. Following my work with Richard I have gone from doubting my future in the industry to once reigniting my passion and receiving plaudits for my work from my coworkers.“
In simple terms I am now operating, as a coach and a leader, with a renewed passion; at a level above what I have done previously. I would recommend this program to all coaches in high performance sport, whether they are struggling or thriving!"
Ed Slattery
(Head of Athletic Performance, Womens Pathway and National Team at Irish Rugby Football Union (IRFU))
"I've spent a lot of time and money in the past on CPD, but this is one of the best investments I've made in myself, the benefits of which will also impact those closest to me."
Adam Sullivan PhD (Sports Scientist)
“The struggle in high-performance sport is real.
And at some point, you realise—you can’t keep resisting it. You have to face it.
For me, talking to someone was the best way to move through the pressure and find my mojo again. Richard helped me a lot with that.
Working with Richard was a turning point in reconnecting with myself—not just as a practitioner in high-performance sport, but as a person.
He was always very supportive and intentional in his listening. That, I think, was the key, because when I felt truly heard, I could open up more.
And the more I opened up, the more I could explore myself—and find the answers I was looking for.
And that space—of calm, trust, and depth—is what made this experience powerful.
I’d definitely recommend Richard.
Not just for those who are struggling.
But for any practitioner in high-performance who wants to stay connected to who they are, not just what they do.”
Alexandros Stefanakis
(Academy Physiotherapist, Tottenham Hotspur Football Club)
How do I know if this is for me?
These are the consistent, predictable and repeated patterns that you experience:
- Feeling undervalued / unseen / not listened to
- Constant firefighting / reactivity / lack of control
- Emotional exhaustion (e.g., burnout, overwhelm, fatigue)
- Identity confusion (e.g., “I’m not sure who I am anymore without this role”)
- Trapped in a role that no longer fits (but afraid to leave or pivot)
- Fear of failure / imposter syndrome
- Lack of clarity about future direction
- No safe or external space to reflect or reset
- Pressure to hold it all together while feeling disconnected
- Emotionally exhausted (pressure to keep delivering)
- Stuck in your head (anxious)
- Unable to detach from work (skewed loyalty)
- Chronic fatigue (self-preservation eg keep justifying role, prove impact, compete for roles)
- Feel your job is 24/7
- Feel you need to say you'll do whatever is asked of you
- You can't switch off even when you try
- Always aware of who you are being and what you are saying
- Feel you're being constantly judged
- Your motivations are based in fear and lack e.g. sustaining identity, fear of failure, people pleasing, comparison with peers, following other people’s definition of success, low self-esteem, proving impact, justifying role, peer competition (job insecurity)
- Feeling unmotivated and unfocused at work
- Struggle to maintain enthusiasm and feel constantly under pressure in your role
These are the outcomes you deeply crave:
- Clarity about who you are and what you want next
- Confidence in your decisions, boundaries, and leadership
- Control over how you work and live (ownership of time, energy, focus)
- Recognition for your value — internally and externally
- Balance between your work and family life
- Freedom to define success on your own terms
- Authenticity in how you show up at work and at home
- Fulfilment through meaningful impact, not just outcomes or titles
- Understand yourself beyond your superficial CV and qualifications
- Have a better understanding of who you are as a man, partner, parent and leader
- At peace because the dissonance in your mind has gone
Robert Morledge
(Lead Physical Preparation Coach)
“Richard was great, he has helped me realise what I want and how I value my self. He has also helped me in becoming a better leader and how to understand how I’m feeling or how others are feeling. Richard spent time getting to know me and we went further than surface level feelings and thoughts. He helped me understand why I was feeling certain ways and how to manage these feelings. He helped me find solutions to a mixture of issues around day to day problem solving to long term career and my own needs and values.“
The Men Behind Sport Method
Create space. Reconnect with yourself. Choose what comes next.
You can be good at your work and still feel that something needs to change.
Perhaps you can’t switch off. The pressure and politics are following you home. You’re questioning your next move, or wondering who you are beyond the role you’ve spent years building.
You may know what you don’t want anymore, while feeling unsure about what comes next.
I help coaches, practitioners and leaders in high-performance sport understand what’s happening, reconnect with what matters and turn that understanding into practical choices at work and home.
The Men Behind Sport Method brings together honest conversation, awareness of thoughts and feelings, identity and values work, and practical experimentation.
It starts with space to hear yourself.
Where we begin: your starting point
We begin with your life as it is.
What’s happening at work? What are you carrying home? Where do you feel stuck? What would you like to be different—and what do you need to protect as you explore change?
Together, we establish what deserves attention and what meaningful progress would look like for you.
From there, five connected phases guide our work.
01 — Create Space
From being caught in the noise → to having room to respond.
When your mind is constantly analysing, anticipating or replaying, it can be difficult to hear what you actually need.
We slow things down. Through conversation, reflection and, where useful, breathing or meditation, you begin noticing your thoughts and feelings without immediately being pulled along by them.
Space before strategy: enough room to consider your next step.
Key Shift:
Create Space: Move from being caught in overthinking and reaction to having room to notice what you feel and choose your response.
02 — Understand the Pattern
From repeating familiar reactions → to seeing what’s influencing them.
We explore the expectations, fears and stories shaping your choices.
Perhaps you feel responsible for keeping everyone safe. Perhaps saying no feels disloyal, or your sense of worth has become tied to the badge.
Understanding what these patterns protect—and what they cost—helps you begin choosing a different response.
Key Shift:
Understand the Pattern: Move from being driven by familiar fears and expectations to understanding what they protect, what they cost and what you can change.
03 — Reconnect with What Matters
From meeting expectations → to recognising your own priorities.
What does success mean to you now? What is enough? What kind of parent, partner, colleague or leader do you want to be?
We clarify your values, needs and the conditions in which you thrive. These become a practical compass for decisions about work, relationships and the life you want to create.
Key Shift:
Reconnect with What Matters: Move from following what you think you should want to recognising what genuinely matters to you.
04 — Explore Possibilities
From waiting for certainty → to discovering what fits.
You can begin exploring before the whole picture is clear.
We identify possibilities that connect with your interests, experience and priorities. Then we find manageable ways to learn more: a conversation, a small project, a different working arrangement or a new approach within your current role.
Clarity develops through experience as well as reflection.
Key Shift:
Explore Possibilities: Move from waiting for certainty to discovering what fits through curiosity, conversations and small practical steps.
05 — Live the Change
From understanding yourself → to responding differently in daily life.
We turn what you discover into decisions, boundaries, conversations and practical steps.
Then we review what happens when work gets demanding, uncertainty returns or a familiar reaction takes over.
You learn what helps, adjust what needs adjusting and build greater trust in your ability to navigate what comes next.
Key Shift:
Live the Change: Move from understanding yourself in a session to making different choices when everyday life puts you under pressure.
Paul Marks
(Head Coach Snowboard Race Team, Snowboard Germany)
"What I am seeing now is how it has impacted my coaching. I didn't make this step to become a better coach, it was to find myself, but in doing so there have been so many positive aspects on my coaching style and how I work with my athletes and fellow staff. Finding and understanding yourself feels almost selfish at the beginning, but in the end, it's the most unselfish thing you can do as everyone around you benefits. The blueprint is exactly that, a blueprint. The plan is in place now and I need to continue doing the work. I look forward to continuing my journey with Richard and Men Behind Sport."
A process shaped around you
These phases give us direction. We move between them according to what you need.
Your work might lead towards a new role, an independent business or a different relationship with the work you already do. It might mean clearer boundaries, more thoughtful leadership or being more present at home.
Throughout, you have a trusted space to reflect, be challenged and put what you discover into practice.
Robert Francis
(Lead Physical Preparation Coach / Founder Move Mojo)
"It struck me how lost I was in terms of working in performance sport. The more I’ve been involved with Rich, the clearer I've become with what I want, why I’m not feeling happy with what I’m doing, where I want to be heading and how to start putting change in place."
Who is Men Behind Sport coaching for?
Coaches, practitioners and leaders in high-performance sport who sense that something needs to change.
You might be a head coach, strength and conditioning coach, physiotherapist, nutritionist, analyst, psychologist, sports scientist or performance leader.
You spend much of your working life supporting others. This is space to focus on you.
Working together may be right for you if:
-
Work follows you home. You’re physically there, but find it difficult to switch off and be present with the people you care about.
-
You know your current environment no longer fits. You’re unsure what comes next or how to explore change while protecting your responsibilities.
-
You feel caught between career and life. The next professional opportunity may ask more of you than you want to give.
-
You’re questioning who you are beyond the role. Your confidence or sense of worth has become closely tied to the badge, results or recognition.
-
You keep pushing through. Saying no, resting or asking for support feels difficult—even when you’re exhausted.
-
You want to lead differently. You want to respond to pressure with greater awareness, communicate honestly and hold clearer boundaries.
You don’t need to know whether you want to stay, leave or change direction. We begin with where you are and what matters to you.
Adam Sullivan PhD
(Performance Coach, Sports Science Consultant, Researcher)
Richard has helped me achieve greater clarity about my broader purpose, values, and boundaries, most of which extend beyond my professional life. He has also provided me with useful frameworks and exercises for challenging my assumptions and thoughts. I've spent a lot of time and money in the past on CPD, but this is one of the best investments I've made in myself, the benefits of which will also impact those closest to me. Well worth considering.“
Peter Gascoigne
(Team Bahrain Victorius, Strength & Conditioning Coach specialising in endurance sport disciplines)
“When I first reached out, I was at a crossroads in my life. My work and personal life were deeply interconnected, but I’d always favoured the professional at the expense of the personal. I felt stuck and unsettled, like I was constantly in a transient state. I knew I’d outgrown my role, but I couldn’t see a way forward that aligned with the life I wanted—one that allowed me to stay rooted in my personal circumstances while finding fulfillment in my career. I needed clarity, guidance, and someone to help me untangle the internal conflicts that were holding me back.
Working with Richard was exactly what I needed. He listened and helped me make sense of the feelings and thoughts I couldn’t organize on my own. Even when I raised doubts or put up barriers, his experience and insights shifted my perspective. He guided me through understanding what I truly wanted and needed, all while considering the risks and benefits of making a change.
The turning point came during our fourth session. That conversation gave me the clarity and push I needed to move forward. As a result, I’ve left behind a chapter of my life that left me feeling stuck. I’ve changed full-time roles, started my own business, and even begun collaborating on another project. These steps have reignited my passion for personal and professional growth. I’m now developing myself not only as a coach and a business owner but also as a family man.“
Ian Braid
(MD, DOCIA Sport)
"There are people you meet in life and there are people you meet in life for a reason. Richard is the latter. We crossed paths a couple of years ago but I wasn't ready for what Richard had to offer to be honest. But last year I was ready and needed help and Richard was my go to man. Richard walked with me for the last quarter of last year and I will always be grateful.
Richard is unique especially in sport. You have to be prepared to 'let go' to the process though to maximise the benefit of working with him.
As a result of our work together I now have a better understanding of who I am having literally done some soul searching. Align this with a better understanding of my purpose and my values and the end result is Ian Braid 2024 - At peace because the dissonance in my mind has gone. I am up for whatever is my destiny, free from my mistakes of the past and have let go of being in control. I am the best version of me and know I will continue to grow. Thank you my friend."
Dan Cluett
(First team Physiotherapist Oxford FC)
"I can't believe I doubted signing up to start with because it has had a massive positive effect on my professional and personal life. More people need to know about this. I wish someone had told me earlier."
Vaughn Arthur
(MAG Gymnastics Coach, Team Canada)
“You've helped to change my life. You've helped me learn how to direct my life and let go of things that don't serve me through continual awareness! People keep asking me things like, "What is new?" I keep answering that I'm just so proud of myself. I'm proud of where I've been able to get to today, but you really were a HUGE catalyst.”
Federico Pizzuto
(Director of Performance, Boston Revolution)
"Working with Richard has helped me to have a clear idea of navigating through difficult situations, busy periods of my life, with the discipline to take care of myself. To anyone that is considering this program, reach out, reach out, reach out! Richard has been amazing and the group is a safe space to talk about everything."
