Deputy Director Courts and Tribunals Joint Unit at Ministry of Justice

Phil excels at getting people to perform at their best. His calm and friendly style immediately puts you at ease, and his open, empathetic approach allows him to ask questions that break down mental barriers and genuinely transform ways of thinking. My time working with Phil significantly increased my confidence, self-belief, understanding of my own strengths, and ability to communicate with impact. It also made me think differently about my approach to leading people and teams, particularly in high-pressure situations and in the recovery phase afterwards - something I have carried with me throughout my Civil Service career. I would have no hesitation in recommending Phil as a coach to anyone wanting to work on their leadership, personal resilience, or personal impact.

‘The Wheelie pickleballer’

First disability pickleball coach in UK

GB Athlete

I first met Phil in 2003 when I joined the Men’s GB Sitting Volleyball team, he has helped me develop since then physically within the sport and mentally within myself.

I am also a Level 1 IPTA pickleball coach and play pickleball in a sports wheelchair. Phil is an inspiration to me as a coach and I regularly communicate with him to ensure I develop as a coach and to get guidance on coaching related matters. He is always able to put things in perpective and help guide me to a solution or way forward.

I had an operation in 2024 and reached out to Phil when I was given the all clear to return to sport. I was in desperate need of ohysical and mental preparation after the frustrating lay off and worked with him to prepare for the Pickleball English Open - without his support and guidance I would not have been in a position to take part.

Phil is an outstanding coach and is also an amazing person, he takes time to listen and understand what I need and tailers his coaching (both physically and mentally) around that. I would highly recommend Phil as a coach, coach developer and trainer.

JP MInstLM

Global Diversity & Inclusion Manger at BAE Systems

Phil's gentle yet encouraging demeanour made an immediate positive impact during our first meeting at the Armed Forces Snowsports Training camp at Castleford. His approachable nature set a comfortable tone for our interactions.

I found his coaching style to be highly engaging. His feedback was both insightful and valuable, offering a fresh perspective on thought process and sports performance that I appreciated greatly.

As someone who typically struggles with confidence and trust generally, I found my experience with Phil to be refreshingly different. His approach helped me feel at ease and open to guidance, which significantly enhanced my learning experience.

Phil's coaching style and personality created an environment where I felt comfortable and motivated to improve. This positive experience has increased my enthusiasm for future training sessions and overall performance.

Based on this excellent initial experience, I would be very eager to work with Phil again in the near future. His coaching has left a lasting positive impression, and I look forward to working with him again in the near future

3 x Olympic Games Commentator

FIS & FISU World Cup Commentator

Team GB Head Coach Baku European Games

International Coach

Having worked with Phil and seen him develop as a passionate and experienced coach, I have been impressed with his dogged commitment to learning and growth. He is always willing to step out of his comfort zone to achieve and experience new things and this has seen him blossom.

What is most evident is Phil's passion for developing people, regardless of the topic, sport or skill, using his extensive knowledge and experience to help them achieve their goals. This is shown in whatever environment he creates whether it is in a classroom, in the gym, on the slopes or in a coffee shop!!

Having personally worked with Phil his commitment dedication and work ethic is second to none and he would benefit any environment or organisation that he steps into.

GB & England Beach volleyball Senior International 25+ international events

Bronze Medal @ World FISU Beach Volleyball Championships

European EUSA Beach Volleyball Championships

Operations manager @ Deep Dish

I couldn’t praise and recommend Phil Crawford enough for his time and influence as a coach. His drive and passion is extremely infectious, his ability to motivate a team and bring them together is something I admired hugely. He was able to create a great team atmosphere, having us play sometimes beyond our capabilities, making us better than just the sum of our parts.

Phil’s commitment to learning and improving his own knowledge is a great example to all those he coaches. Setting a great example to his players, which in my experience made me want to play for him.

Most importantly no matter the situation, Phil was able to make it fun for the team. He has a great ability to read the room and just ease any pressure that I or the team was felling, if that be in the build up to important matches or in pressure situations in matches. I haven’t enjoyed my volleyball and laughed as much as I have will Phil as coach in a long time all whilst improving as a player.

I couldn’t recommend Phil enough and if the opportunity came about to play for him again, I would welcome it.

Scottish International Athlete

Professional Athlete with Karhulan Veikot (FIN D1)

Training Sessions

Phil always made sure that each session led on to each other, and that sessions where evolutionary. Each drill then progressed onto the next drill to ensure a fluid and each movement onto the next activity.

Phil is always clear on the objectives and takes the time to clearly indicate his thoughts on drills if anyways asks ‘why are we doing this?’

Phil ensures that drills are fluid and can quickly identify if there is an issue and always ready with a solution to ensure that the team gets most out of the training.

Game Situations

Extremely passionate but tactical and aware of how to ‘Manage’ Phil is able to lead a team in difficult situations against tough teams, identifying weaknesses in our game and strengths that we are able to exploit. Phil is always not fearful and daring, an example of this would be to move players out of position for the better of the team as well as to allow better connections to be exploited in rotations or against certain teams. He knows exactly how to relay information, where others may get caught in ‘the moment’ he can always make a tense situation on of pleasure and enjoyment – regardless of the on the day result.

Personal (1-to-1) Session

Phil’s interpersonal skills are one that I must compliment most. He is able to talk to, encourage and relay information to a multitude of personalities; shy, confident, frustrated or any others. I believe that Phil would be able to man manage any team extremely well and would be a great individual as well as a coach to any team for this skillset alone. He is able to micro manage movements which can make large changes to an individual’s performance and therefore effect the game and result through various ‘little’ movements. Multiple aspects of individual’s games which they may not be aware of, identified and changed slightly for the better. Phil has seen these and is happy to provide advice to aid in personal growth and improvement.

Overall

Overall Phil is such a great, coach, colleague, analyst, motivator and friend. Is you are willing to give him 100% then he will not disappoint in his returned effort, going above and beyond in his commitment and feedback. He is such a great person and I would be lucky to have the pleasure to play with and for Phil again.

Defence Contracts Manager

Since first meeting Phil Crawford in 2012, I have had the privilege of working closely with him on a broad spectrum of projects. His high degree of knowledge and understanding of people, exceptional consistency of output, tactical mindset, and ability to drive and deliver real-world outcomes have made him an indispensable collaborator.

Key Contributions and Collaborations:

• Tactical Athlete Programmes

Phil played a pivotal role in the design and execution of several large-scale training systems for tactical athletes some of which now operate on a global level. His precision and understanding of operational demands made these programmes highly effective and scalable.

• Robust and Resilience Initiatives

Phil has been instrumental in creating and implementing resilience frameworks. These initiatives were strategically aligned with both physical and psychological preparedness, setting a new standard in early-phase conditioning, he is not afraid of challenge and creates an environment where others feel able to stretch themselves.

• Innovation Through Connection

Where others follow standard playbooks, Phil operates differently. He draws unique connections between concepts, often uncovering insights others overlook. His ability to ignite curiosity and inspire self-driven learning has had a lasting impact on teams and individuals alike.

• Global Project Development

We’ve collaborated on multiple global initiatives, ranging from large-scale fitness equipment solutions to helping smaller companies establish operational foundations. Phil consistently brought a mentorship-driven approach, empowering and supporting others to find their own version of success.

• Mentorship and Leadership

I’ve witnessed Phil nurture potential in others, combining strategic guidance with genuine encouragement. He leads with influence, not authority—instilling confidence, competence, and a clear path forward for those around him.

In short, Phil Crawford is more than a subject matter expert—he’s a multiplier. His presence improves the output, development, and morale of any project team. I would endorse him unequivocally for any high-impact role or strategic partnership.

International Sales Manager at Hudl

England U20 Men Head Coach

Newcastle University Head Volleyball Coach

Newcastle Knights Volleyball Club Head Coach

Former Professional Athlete

I’ve never seen anyone make such a meaningful impact on the mental side of the game within our national teams. Until now, we’ve simply never had someone embedded in the programme who could drive such enormous strides in mindset, resilience, and athlete self-awareness—right alongside on-court work.

Phil’s role with the England U20 Men goes beyond just defence and reception coaching. His planning and organisation are second to none, and his ability to deliver consistent, insightful feedback shows a genuine determination to grow the sport of volleyball in England.

He’s always available, no matter the schedule, supporting players across the entire talent pathway, even when it means jumping straight off a flight into the next session. On top of all that, he’s just a great guy to have around. The programme’s better with him in it.

Platinum level PADI Course Director & Director of Training

It’s always a proud moment for me as a Course Director to see a new group of PADI Open Water Scuba Instructors head out ready to teach and inspire the next generation of divers.

Today I want to take a moment to highlight one of them in particular: Phil Crawford.

Watching Phil progress through the IDC was truly rewarding. From day one he showed exactly the kind of attitude I respect most in a professional dive instructor—calm, thoughtful, and fully committed to doing things right. He put in serious work to master not only the standards and skills but also the teaching techniques that make all the difference for students in the water.

What stood out most about Phil was his patience and willingness to support others. Whether helping classmates refine their own skills or discussing teaching approaches, he was always generous with his time and insights. That kind of team spirit is priceless in our industry.

Phil also demonstrated a strong safety mindset and clear, confident communication—two things I consider non-negotiable for any instructor. Add to that his genuine enthusiasm for the underwater world, and you’ve got exactly the kind of pro I’m proud to see representing diving.

I have no doubt Phil will be an excellent instructor and a true asset to any dive operation he joins. Wishing you the very best as you start this next chapter, mate. Keep teaching with heart and keep sharing the magic of the ocean.