I walked into the 1-1 mentorship as a seasoned gym owner, operator, and coach at my own facility called Asphodel.  I was not too sure what to expect, but I knew that I wanted to learn from one of the best S&C coaches in the world.  Before starting the mentorship, I had plenty of ideas, courses, and influences, but I was in the middle of redeveloping a framework to tie them together and would find myself feeling stuck. I was often second-guessing decisions and at times, felt like I was reacting instead of leading.

I was definitely nervous prior to our first meeting.  It’s kind of like meeting S&C royalty and I was nervous of the questions he would ask, and particularly the questions I would need to answer.  Gilly is system and big picture focused (as well as super friendly) and gives a huge amount of encouragement along the way.  Looking back, that discomfort was exactly what I needed.

The biggest standout has been clarity and reflection.  Gilly asked me how often I think about everything that I have managed to do and just bask in the moment as part of a regular reflection. I honestly do not think I have ever done that. Every conversation with Gilly has intent. Yes, he is well-versed in the theory, but everything is also grounded in real coaching, functional teams, athletes, and environments.  What surprised me most was how much the mentorship helped me think better, not just coach better. He never hands you the answers, but he does ask questions that make you think. I was challenged to build my own reasoning, articulate my standards, and defend my decisions. That level of accountability has been huge.

Since starting the mentorship I’ve developed a much clearer coaching framework technically, philosophically, and operationally. I’m far more confident in my decision-making and I’ve improved my ability to communicate, whether that’s cueing athletes, educating members, or leading other coaches.

In my day-day coaching I’m more intentional, more consistent, and more effective.  The coaching group offers a degree of positive accountability from peers as well. My coaching is clearer, standards are higher, and the athletes I am fortunate enough to work with better understand expectations.

This mentorship is for coaches who genuinely care about their craft and are willing to be challenged.  It’s not for someone looking for shortcuts or validation.  If you’re on the fence, I’d say this: if you feel like you could be a better coach but aren’t sure how to close that gap, this is worth it. The return is confidence, clarity, and long-term development. This mentorship has raised my standards both as a coach and a professional.  I genuinely see coaching differently now, and that’s something I’ll carry for as long as I can.

As a rugby coach, the importance of strength and conditioning has become increasingly prioritised in improving both performance and recovery. Prior to joining Coaches Corner, I understood its value but lacked the deeper knowledge required to confidently engage in meaningful discussions. When speaking with trainers and S&C coaches, I often felt apprehensive about voicing ideas or opinions without the same level of expertise, and I was concerned about being “exposed” when joining the program. I expected to feel overwhelmed and well outside my skill set.

Working with Gilly and Bucky has had a profound impact on my coaching and has exceeded all expectations. One of the most valuable aspects of the program was interacting with coaches from a wide range of sports and roles, gaining insight into their challenges and the solutions they’ve implemented. The level of support within the group is immense.

As a result, I now listen more closely to my players and place a greater emphasis on managing recovery and training load. Developing a stronger level of emotional intelligence has transformed how I plan and deliver sessions, allowing me to get more out of both the athletes and the environment. This shift has led to stronger connections with the players, a noticeable reduction in match-related injuries, and improved on-field results.

Most importantly, the athletes are loving it. They feel genuinely cared for as individuals and supported in improving their performance.

I would highly recommend Coaches Corner to any coach looking to maximise performance and build resilience in their athletes, regardless of sport or level of competition.

Before I joined Coaches Corner I had doubts about the simplicity or complexity required for great athletic programme design. I also had some confusion around which tools and processes are useful for coaching athletes particularly for sports I haven’t played before.

The experience within Coaches Corner has been great! Bucky and Gilly are great at facilitating group discussions on our zoom calls, and the knowledge and experience they have means we can bring specific questions to the table and they can help us unpack them. 

I’ve learnt I know a lot more than I thought and I just need to back myself to apply what I know and adjust as needed! It’s also been reinforced how important the soft skills are when training athletes. 

My performance as a coach have gotten better in the sense of gaining more confidence in my own abilities!

I would say Coaches Corner is for anyone working with athletes in an S&C capacity. Whether that be individually or a team setting. I would highly recommend to anyone who wants to understand what it takes to coach to their highest ability!

The Coaches Corner mentorship program helped me boost my confidence in my coaching skills and methodology. The lectures and especially Q&A calls are precious for our job.

Having a group of competent people in your corner gives you confidence and knowledge. Learning from other coaches experiences and helping other coaches it’s not only a way to upskill, but also to build a network.

⁠I was a little apprehensive about starting because of the time difference with Europe. I am a morning person and I have a very dense schedule working with athletes and PhD at the moment, so getting to the evening I am absolutely cooked. But it has been better than I expected. I still arrive on the calls very tired, sometimes brain is functioning a little slow, but as the calls are stimulating it quickly pulls me in.

⁠I have enjoyed the experience incredibly. I feel like I am critically thinking about my performance as an S&C coach much more than I would previously while at the same time being guided in my thought by arguably one of the best in the business. It’s helping me see different ways of improving myself and develop towards the career I would like. The main thing that stands out is the quality of the group. Not only do S&C coaches not have many outlets, but to have one of such high caliber is great.

I have got to personally know someone who I have admired for a long time. Someone who has a job that would be an absolute dream. And through this I have understood the dedication needed to arrive there. Secondly I have opened up much more to other coaches and become much more open to exchange and learn from all of my peers. ⁠Thirdly I have rekindled the passion for my work that I had at the beginning of my career. Which is very important in the motivation to improve. 

This mentorship has simply opened my mind to a higher level of understanding of performance. And has given me more confidence to pursue performance, while understanding mistakes are all part of learning.

⁠Coaches Corner is for anyone who is interested in working with professional or elite athletes. It’s a space where the context of high level competition and performance is discussed at a level deserving of the best athletes.

⁠I am just grateful to have the chance to exchange with Gilly regularly. It’s a big motivation exchanging with someone of his experience and I do not plan to stop any time soon.