Coaching for Creativity: What Sport Teaches Us About Thinking

Is creativity only about coming up with lots of ideas? Or does it also involve choosing the right idea in the right moment? What can sport teach us about thinking under pressure?

In this episode of the Fueling Creativity in Education Podcast, Dr. Matthew Worwood and Dr. Cyndi Burnett welcome sports psychologist Dr. Daniel Memmert to explore how creativity shows up on the field.

Listen in as the conversation explores tactical creativity, which combines generating many possible plays with selecting the most effective one. Daniel explains why creativity in sport is not about being flashy, but about making decisions that are both unexpected and appropriate.

In this thoughtful conversation, they explore:

– The difference between generating options and choosing the best one
– Why young athletes need freedom to experiment
– How fear of mistakes can shut down creativity
– Why coaches should be mindful of when and how they give feedback
– How early training should focus more on exploration than rigid systems

Daniel also shares research showing that at elite levels, physical skills often level out. What makes the difference is how players think, notice patterns, and respond in the moment.

If you are a coach, educator, or parent involved in youth sports, this episode offers practical insights on nurturing creative thinking while still supporting strong performance.

 

About the Guest

Dr. Daniel Memmert is a professor at the German Sport University Cologne. He has published more than 300 research articles and over 40 books on creativity, attention, and performance in sport. He also holds coaching licenses in several sports, bringing both research and real world experience to his work.

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