ASCA Podcast #13 - Ashley Jones

Ashley Jones is a rugby strength and conditioning coach who has worked with the elite of the game. He was involved with the physical preparation of the Crusaders (Super XV competition), New Zealand All Blacks, Australian Wallabies, Panasonic Rugby in Japan and most recently with Edinburgh Rugby and Scotland. He was awarded the NSCA Professional Strength & Conditioning Coach of the Year for 2015 and holds the RSCC*E recognising over 20 years of professional coaching. He is also a columnist at www.elitefts.com and is a sort after speaker and writer for organisations around the world.

Quotes

“They don’t work for you and you don’t work for them. You work together.”

“There is no money in simplicity but there is a career in it.”

“Before GPS my teams were fitter but we had less injuries”

“If you collect it (data), you have to use it.”

“We are always aiming for that performance on Saturday”

“Crusader rugby has always been built on a massive work ethic and a massive aerobic base”

Shownotes

1) Worst mistake in career – it involves Parramatta… 9:35

2) Growing into VARK teaching styles and use of video for coaching 11:07

3) What he was doing in Lincoln, Nebraska 13:48

4) What working as a teacher taught Ash 18:25

5) Difference coaching in different cultures – the problem with trying to lift & drop in a culture from elsewhere and how to develop your own culture 22:21

6) The basic weekly set up in professional rugby around the world 26:20

7) Working with other coaches/staff, the integration with sport science and with his thoughts on sport science for rugby 32:43

8) Monitoring tools Ash has used (S&R, groin, grip, K2W, CMJ, 10m) and when they use them 40:16

9) The most impressive thing Ash has seen in the gym and why having a conversation with a player may always be the most important monitoring tool coaches have 42:18

10) The Quadrant Management system – informed choices (e.g. 2nd quadrant exercise selection choice, 3rd quadrant methods and days you train, 4th quadrant decide own set & rep protocols - clusters, wave, strength & size protocols) 50:32

11) My visit to Canterbury NPC team in 2009 and what I saw there 57:10

12) Some of Ash’s more well know training methods (e.g. the Beastly 666 & strongman training) and using aerobic conditioning and games in rugby preparation 60:00

13) Grouping of athletes – metabolic (circuit training), neural (speed, ballistic), mechanical (size/strength) focuses – positionality & individuality 1:09:51

14) The metabolic ripple effect from different training modalities 1:12:36

15) Success is always a moving target and it’s one of the major reasons Ash is so open about sharing his information 1:22:46

16) How he uses velocity measures in training and the combination with the intensity number of lifts (INOL) method 1:25:07

17) Team culture, the All Blacks & living in “Legacy” (the James Kerr book) 1:33:28

18) The time efficient and bang for buck lifts Ash uses 1:40:15

19) The 3 A’s of Awesomeness – attitude, awareness and authenticity 2:00:59

People mentioned

1) Malcom Reilly

2) Brian Smith

3) Gary Egger

4) Damien Marsh

5) Peter Harding

6) Marc Keys

7) Hayden Masters

8) Magnus Bradbury

9) Jack Welsh

10) Robbie Deans

11) Greg Cooper

12) Joe Kenn

13) Richie McCaw

14) Bryan Mann

15) Dan Baker

16) Mike Anthony

17) Louie Simmons

18) Andy Friend

19) Dr Nick Gill

20) Wayne Bennett

21) Hristo Hristov

22) Lyn Jones

23) Justin Ives