Pacey Performance Podcast

Paul Comfort is a Reader in Strength and Conditioning and programme leader for the MSc Strength and Conditioning at the University of Salford, and is this week’s guest on the Pacey Performance Podcast.

He's here to talk to Rob about isometric testing and training, and why there has been a recent resurgence in its popularity. This includes how coaches can use the right metrics during isometric testing, and how the time points to measure athletes by changes based on their own needs and particular sport. For those working on a budget, Paul also explains the alternatives to force plates when testing, and the importance of real, hands-on experience as a coach.

Paul also discusses isometric training and its link to dynamic performance, such as the benefits it can offer in comparison to more traditional strength training techniques. Paul tells us about how coaches can manipulate isometric training to get the results we want, in addition to eccentric training - and when it is appropriate to apply it. For all this advice from an expert who has co-authored over 150 peer-reviewed journal articles along with numerous book chapters, hit the play button now.

This week’s topics:

• Why Paul believes there has been a resurgence in isometric testing and training

Matt featured on episode #354 of the Pacey Performance Podcast. This #bitesize episode takes a great clip from that episode where he discussed -

• How training focus changes as players move through an elite football academy

Check out the full episode with Matt here - https://www.sportsmith.co/listen/how-to-develop-some-of-the-premier-leagues-most-promising-young-talent/

This episode is supported by RockDaisy, the only FREE AMS on the market. AMS Lite features reporting capabilities, questionnaires and forms, alerts and communication, data sharing, data visualisation and calendar views.

This week’s guest on the Pacey Performance Podcast is Warren Young. He is an Adjunct Associate Professor in Exercise & Sport Science at Federation University Australia and teaches and conducts applied research in a variety of topics relating to physical preparation for sport. Warren has published numerous articles over three decades and has a special interest in speed and agility training and assessment. His research, among other results, led to the development of the Reactive Strength Index and his deterministic model of agility performance.

Warren is here to talk to Rob about agility, including what has changed since his got into the industry over 30 years ago. He describes how there is often a disconnect between the physical and academic side of agility performance, and how that can be reconciled. Warren also discussed how the cognitive side of the model has translated into a coach’s day-to-day work, and whether testing can be integrated into a high-performance setting.

Warren also provides some exceptional insight into how to include change direction testing and agility training into a programme, including what to change between sports and different positions, such as attacking and defending players in a team sport. This includes strategies into how to enhance agility, and how to adapt them for a different level of athlete. For all this and much more, hit the play button now to hear Warren’s thoughts on a subject very few will know more about.

• How Warren developed his model of agility performance

Derek featured on episode #183 of the Pacey Performance Podcast. This #bitesize episode takes a great clip from that episode where he discussed -

• What is microdosing?

Check out the full episode with Derek here - https://www.sportsmith.co/listen/pacey-performance-podcast-183-derek-hansen/

This episode is supported by RockDaisy, the only FREE AMS on the market. AMS Lite features reporting capabilities, questionnaires and forms, alerts and communication, data sharing, data visualisation and calendar views.

This week’s guest on the Pacey Performance Podcast is James Moore, leader of the specialist physiotherapy team at the Centre for Health and Human Performance. James has 25 years of experience in physio, graduating with an honours degree in physiotherapy from Kings College London. He was Clinical Lead Physiotherapist to the English Institute of Sport, with a special affiliation to UK Athletics. He spent a period of time working as Head of Medicine for Saracens RFC, before moving on to manage the intensive rehabilitation unit (IRU) at Bisham Abbey and was Head of Performance Services for the British Olympic Association and Deputy Chef de Mission for the Rio 2016 Olympics and beyond.

James is here to talk about hip and groin injuries, and why those injuries happen in the first place. In addition to telling us how he juggles running a business with being a clinician, James tells us about his time working with Andy Murray to aid his return to competitive tennis. He then goes into the differences to watch out for between male and female athletes when it comes to injury risk. There’s also insight into why some people need surgery to aid recovery from hip and groin injuries, and why some don’t.

James also provides a deep dive into how to readjust training sessions in order to aid recovery from injury and what to include in a rehabilitation programme. This includes how to adjust running mechanics to reduces the chances of injury, and the key markers and ratios to monitor that show an athlete’s progress and performance capability. For all this insight from one of the most experienced physios we’ve had on the podcast, and much more, hit the play button now.

On this week’s podcast:

• Juggling owning a business with being a clinician

Ian featured on episode #377 of the Pacey Performance Podcast. This #bitesize episode takes a great clip from that episode where he discussed -

• What testing change of direction DOES give us

Check out the full episode with Ian here - https://www.sportsmith.co/listen/agility-training-problems-with-change-of-direction-testing-game-speed/

This episode is supported by RockDaisy, the only FREE AMS on the market. AMS Lite features reporting capabilities, questionnaires and forms, alerts and communication, data sharing, data visualisation and calendar views.

This week’s guests on the Pacey Performance Podcast are Jamie Taylor and Jonas Dodoo. Jamie is the former head of Academy at Leicester Tigers, now working with Grey Matters as a Senior Coach Developer. Jonas is a regular on the podcast, a world-renowned speed coach and the head coach and founder of Speedworks.

Jamie and Jonas have been working together on a new education process for optimising coaching and talent development. The pair discuss some of the theory behind what they’ve learned over the years regarding the more reflective side of coaching, and how to make the right decisions at the right times. This includes critical thinking about coaching techniques, the work of peers, and even ourselves.

At the heart of this thinking is the balance between gaining a wider knowledge, such as hoovering up advice and tips on social media, and gaining a deeper knowledge of specific techniques, exercises and sports. A healthy balance allows coaches to adapt exercises through knowing their environment and players, and being able to find the ‘sweet spot’ where athletes understand and trust in training, even if they don’t particularly enjoy it. For all this and where to find out more about Jonas’ and Jamie’s programme, hit the play button now

This week’s topics:

• How COVID led to the growth of Speedworks

Paudie featured on episode #228 of the Pacey Performance Podcast. This #bitesize episode takes a great clip from that episode where he discussed -

• How they structure S&C sessions in the academy

Check out the full episode with Paudie here - https://www.sportsmith.co/listen/pacey-performance-podcast-228-paudie-roche/

This episode is supported by RockDaisy, the only FREE AMS on the market. AMS Lite features reporting capabilities, questionnaires and forms, alerts and communication, data sharing, data visualisation and calendar views.

This week’s Pacey Performance Podcast is the second part of Rob’s conversation with Alistair McBurnie and Tom Dos’Santos. Just as a reminder, Alistair is a sports science analyst for Manchester United’s first team, having worked his way up from coaching at academy level. Tom is a lecturer at Manchester Metropolitan University, where he teaches strength conditioning and sports biomechanics. Previously, he’s worked at the University of Salford, England Northwest and Manchester Thunder netball squads. They’re currently collaborating on multidirectional speed.

The conversation continues with more insight into the world of change of direction, including its definition and the key positions athletes and coaches should be aware of for effective change of direction. This includes effective training of these key positions, and how to coach them in an applied setting. There’s also discussion into how to build an athlete profile, and how technological advances have led to developments in on-field change of direction testing.

Furthermore, Alistair and Tom talk about whether change direction testing is becoming less prominent following recent findings from their peers. Overall, if you’re looking for incredibly detailed discussion in this area of coaching, including drills, coaching plans and how to measure output, this week’s edition of the podcast is ideal for you. For all this – plus where to find even more information – hit the play button now.

This week’s topics:

• Definition of change of direction

Gareth featured on episode #309 of the Pacey Performance Podcast. This #bitesize episode takes a great clip from that episode where he discussed -

• What are the risk factors for hamstring injury

Check out the full episode with Kristian here - https://www.sportsmith.co/listen/pacey-performance-podcast-309-kristian-thorborg/

This episode is supported by RockDaisy, the only FREE AMS on the market. AMS Lite features reporting capabilities, questionnaires and forms, alerts and communication, data sharing, data visualisation and calendar views.