Dr Steven Duhig is Senior Lecturer and Researcher at Griffith University and an ASCA Elite L3 Elite Strength and Conditioning Coach who has demonstrated significant expertise in both academia and practical aspects of sports performance and coaching. His career encompasses recent roles as a Strength and Conditioning Coach at Burleigh Bears Rugby League Club, Strength Coach with Michael Bohl's swimming squad, and Rugby 7s Head Strength and Conditioning Coach at Griffith Sports College. His experience extends to roles including Physical Preparation Coach and Academy High Performance Manager for the Gold Coast Suns Football Club, Rehabilitation Coach for the AFLQ State Team, and Sports Science PhD scholar affiliated with Gold Coast Suns. Previous positions also include Athletic Development Coordinator at Morningside Panthers Football Club and Powerlifting Coach, leading a novice powerlifter to three Australian records. Dr. Duhig's current research involves exploring the connections between muscle architecture and injury risk, as well as performance enhancement and injury prevention in various sports, including Australian rules football, soccer, rugby league, swimming, track and field, and surfing. The overarching goal of Dr. Duhig is to provide practical applications in the field of sport and exercise that directly improves practice and athlete outcomes.

QUOTES

“Sleds, particularly in the football codes, are so powerful as a training tool”

“The more weight on the sled, the less distance you’ll sprint”

“I think we first have to run fairly well without resistance before we start adding in sleds”

“I think another great exercise for hamstring besides the Nordic is the seated leg curl, especially when consider specificity and transference”

“When starting to use sleds with athletes, I always go light to start, around 15-20% bodyweight”

“The two, five and ten meter distances are so important for the court based sports with sled sprinting”

SHOWNOTES

1) Steve’s journey in strength and conditioning from Cert III qualifications all the way through to a PhD

2) The use of sleds for sports and the beneficial effects on acceleration

3) The key findings from the research on resisted sprinting and the differences between pulling a sled at waist or shoulders and pushing a sled

4) Using a contrast sled loading system with athletes prescribed from percentage of bodyweight or velocity decrement

5) The optimal distances when using sleds at different loads

6) Practical considerations and basic strength requirements to be aware of before using sleds with athletes

7) How Steve implements sled work into existing rugby league speed/gym sessions and technical training

8) The ACL bracing protocol and the prerequisites for successful outcomes

9) Steve’s latest research on tendon health in hamstrings and shoulders

PEOPLE MENTIONED

Tony Shields

Josh Secomb