Getting out of pain is one thing. Getting back to performing at your best is another.

In Episode 84 of the Performance Matters Podcast, Matrixx sits down with physiotherapist Tyler DiSimoni to break down the gap between rehab, training and actually being ready to return to sport.

They discuss what “cleared to play” really means, why pain disappearing doesn’t necessarily mean the problem is solved, how athletes should manage training load, and why the transition from physiotherapy back into strength training and sport is so important.

They also get into how cautious we should be with injured athletes, the role of objective testing and baseline data, why physios and strength coaches need to communicate better, and how proactive care can help athletes stay on the field instead of constantly reacting to injuries.

Plus, Tyler joins the Rapid Fire Round to give his takes on ice, foam rolling, static stretching, massage guns and more.

In this episode:

• Pain-free vs. actually ready to perform
• What “cleared to play” really means
• Managing load, recovery and injury risk
• Why rehab shouldn't end when the pain disappears
• Bridging the gap between physio and strength training
• Objective testing and return-to-sport decisions
• Being proactive instead of waiting until something hurts
• What athletes and parents should ask their rehab professionals

Performance Matters Podcast is proudly supported by Spoken Nutrition.

Save 15% on high-quality supplements with code IRONPERFORMANCECENTER at checkout:

spokennutrition.com/ironperformancecenter

Like, follow and subscribe to the Performance Matters Podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and YouTube — and share the episode with someone who needs to hear it.

Youth sports have never been more competitive — or more expensive.

Club fees. Travel. Tryouts. Private coaching. Strength training. Recruiting. Showcases. Camps. Parents are willing to invest thousands of dollars into giving their kids the best possible opportunity.

But are they actually paying for development… or are they sometimes paying for the illusion of development?

In Episode 83 of the Performance Matters Podcast, Matrixx and Myles take a hard look at the business of youth sports and some of the systems surrounding athlete development.

They discuss whether playing for the “best” team is actually best for an athlete, why playing time and quality coaching may matter more than the logo on the jersey, and whether early signings are completely undermining the purpose of tryouts.

They also get into private skills coaches, the pressure parents feel to keep up with everyone else, early sport specialization, and the uncomfortable reality that not every service promising to take an athlete to the “next level” is actually delivering on that promise.

The question isn't whether parents should invest in their kids.

It's whether the investment is actually helping them get better.

In this episode:
• Are parents paying for development or the illusion of it?
• Is making the best team always the best move?
• Are early signings ruining youth sport tryouts?
• Should athletes actually have time to improve before being cut?
• Are private skills coaches worth the money?
• How can parents tell good coaching from good marketing?
• Are young athletes specializing too early?
• What should parents actually be investing in?

Some parts of youth sports are doing an incredible job developing athletes.

Others might need a serious rethink.

🎙️ Performance Matters Podcast — Episode 83

Presented by Spoke Nutrition

Performance Matters listeners and Iron Performance Center members can save 15% on Spoke Nutrition products using code IRON PERFORMANCE CENTER at checkout.

👉 spokennutrition.com/ironperformancecenter

You show up. You put in the work. You train consistently.

So why aren’t you getting better?

In Episode 82 of the Performance Matters Podcast, Matrixx and Aidan dig into what happens when effort stops translating into progress — and why simply doing more isn’t always the answer.

They break down the difference between being busy and actually training with purpose, why strain is a skill, when consistency alone stops being enough, and how sleep, nutrition, stress and recovery can quietly derail your progress.

They also tackle program hopping, training too much, knowing when it’s actually time to change your program, and the uncomfortable question: if you’re doing everything you’re supposed to do and still not improving, is the problem you… or the program?

Whether you’re an athlete, coach, or someone who’s been training for years, this episode gives you a practical way to step back, audit what you’re doing, and figure out what’s actually holding you back.

Because putting in the work matters. But only if the work is moving you forward.

This episode is powered by Coachology.

Coachology is an AI-powered coaching platform designed to help coaches and athletes collaborate more effectively through video analysis, personalized feedback, and AI coaching assistance — extending the coach’s expertise beyond the in-person session and giving athletes access to ongoing, individualized guidance.

www.coachology.ai

In Episode 81 of the Performance Matters Podcast, Matrixx sits down with Coach Aidan for a conversation about what actually makes an athlete jump higher — and how we train it.

We break down the qualities that influence vertical jump performance, including eccentric strength, braking ability, approach mechanics, force production, and the ability to rapidly transition from absorbing force to producing it.

We also get into:

• What force plate data can tell us about jump performance
• Why eccentric strength matters for jump athletes
• Submaximal vs. maximal vs. supramaximal eccentric training
• Olympic lifts vs. loaded jumps for developing power
• Why catching Olympic lifts can be valuable for athletes
• Bilateral vs. unilateral strength training
• Giving athletes more autonomy in their programs
• What we learned from using velocity-based training throughout the summer
• How VBT can help athletes better understand effort, load, and intent

And because it's an episode with Matrixx and Aidan, things inevitably get off track — including terrible excuses for missing workouts, which IPC athlete would survive a zombie apocalypse, and what IPC would become if we had to shut down the gym and start an entirely different business.

If you're a coach, athlete, or anyone interested in improving jump performance and understanding the "why" behind training, this episode is for you.

Special thanks to our sponsor, Coachology, an AI-powered coaching platform designed to help coaches extend their expertise beyond in-person sessions through video analysis, personalized feedback, and ongoing athlete guidance.

www.coachology.ai

n Episode 80 of the Performance Matters Podcast, Matrixx sits down with physiotherapist Malcolm Sanderson from ProActive Health & Rehab for a conversation about where rehabilitation and performance training need to meet.

With a background in powerlifting, personal training, and physiotherapy, Malcolm brings a unique perspective to the rehab world — one that isn’t afraid of appropriately loading people and challenging the idea that injured athletes need to be treated as fragile.

We get into the relationship between pain and injury, when athletes need protection versus when they need to start loading again, fear around movement, and why simply eliminating pain shouldn’t always be the finish line.

We also take a deeper dive into ACL rehabilitation, including the mistakes Malcolm commonly sees on both ends of the spectrum: doing too much too soon, but also failing to load athletes enough later in the process. Malcolm breaks down what he wants to see before an athlete returns to sport, including strength, confidence, time, and objective testing.

Other topics include:

• How Malcolm’s powerlifting background influences his approach to rehab
• Why rehab needs progressive overload too
• The gap between physiotherapy and strength & conditioning
• Pain, movement fear, and athlete confidence
• ACL rehab and return-to-sport testing
• Building tissue tolerance instead of constantly avoiding stress
• Why adding more reps isn’t always a real progression
• Using force plates and objective data in rehabilitation
• What performance coaches and clinicians can learn from each other

Whether you’re an athlete, parent, coach, or clinician, this episode is a great look at how we can move beyond simply getting someone “out of pain” and start preparing them to actually perform again.

🎙️ Performance Matters Podcast — Episode 80
Guest: Malcolm Sanderson, Physiotherapist — ProActive Health & Rehab

This episode is powered by Coachology.

Coachology is an AI coaching platform designed to help coaches and athletes collaborate more effectively through video analysis, personalized feedback, and AI coaching assistance — extending the coach’s expertise beyond in-person sessions and giving athletes ongoing, individualized guidance.

Learn more at: https://coachology.ai

If you enjoyed the episode, make sure to subscribe to Performance Matters on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube, and share the episode with someone who would get value from the conversation.

Artificial intelligence is changing the coaching landscape, but does that mean coaches are becoming obsolete?

In this episode of the Performance Matters Podcast, we're joined by Steve Delaney, Head Coach of the Brock University Women's Volleyball team and co-founder of Coachology, to discuss how AI is transforming athlete development, video analysis, and coaching feedback.

We dive into why AI isn't here to replace great coaches, it's here to eliminate repetitive tasks, create more learning opportunities, and help athletes receive meaningful feedback between training sessions. Steve also shares how Coachology is giving athletes personalized coaching based on a coach's own philosophy rather than generic AI responses.

We also discuss:

• Why AI should amplify coaches, not replace them.
• How video analysis is becoming more accessible than ever.
• Building your own coaching "avatar."
• Saving hours every week through smarter workflows.
• Where AI still falls short (and why human coaches remain essential).
• Brock Volleyball's journey from rebuilding a program to competing for a national championship.

Whether you're a coach, athlete, parent, or simply curious about where sport is headed, this conversation offers a practical look at one of the biggest shifts happening in coaching today.

🎙 This episode is proudly powered by Coachology.

Coachology is an AI-powered coaching platform designed to help coaches extend their expertise beyond the gym through personalized video analysis, individualized feedback, and intelligent coaching assistance. Rather than replacing the coach, Coachology helps scale your coaching impact while keeping your own philosophy at the center of every interaction.

www.coachology.ai

As summer winds down, we take a step back to reflect on one of the busiest training seasons we've ever had at Iron Performance Center—and the lessons we've learned from watching hundreds of athletes prepare for their upcoming seasons.

In this episode, we discuss the culture that's been built inside the gym, why consistency always beats motivation, and what separates athletes who continue to improve from those who stay stuck. We also dive into the biggest misconceptions parents and athletes have about strength & conditioning, why training should be treated like practice—not an optional extra—and how small daily decisions compound into long-term success.

Whether you're a parent, coach, or athlete heading into a new school year, this episode is packed with practical advice on building better habits, managing expectations, and maximizing your potential.

In this episode:

• Looking back on another incredible summer at IPC
• Why community creates better athletes
• The biggest mistake athletes make before their season starts
• Why strength training is no longer optional
• Advice for parents of young athletes
• Building consistency instead of relying on motivation
• Why the best athletes never stop improving
• The four pillars every successful student-athlete needs

If you're an athlete preparing for tryouts, a parent looking to support your child, or simply someone who wants to perform at a higher level, this episode is for you.

🎙️ Listen now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or watch on YouTube.

Performance Matters Podcast is proudly produced by Iron Performance Center, where we help athletes and adults build strength, improve performance, and reach their full potential.

This episode is proudly sponsored by Coachology—an AI-powered coaching platform that helps coaches deliver better feedback, improve communication, and extend their coaching beyond the training session.

www.coachology.ai

Not every workout should feel the same.

In this episode, Matrixx and Aidan dive into one of the biggest shifts we've made at Iron Performance Center—giving every training day a clear purpose. From BOOM days focused on force production to ZOOM, SPRING, SLING, and BUILD sessions, we discuss why understanding the intent behind training can help athletes get more from every rep.

Along the way, we also catch up on Aidan's trip to Portugal, discuss altitude training, laugh about roller coasters, Final Destination, home renovation projects, and somehow manage to tie it all back to becoming a better athlete.

As always, it's an honest conversation about performance, coaching, and everything in between.

In this episode:

• Why every training day should have a purpose
• The thinking behind the BOOM, ZOOM, SPRING, SLING & BUILD system
• How athletes progress from building capacity to expressing performance
• Aidan's Portugal travel highlights
• Altitude training experiences
• Roller coasters, Final Destination, and irrational fears

• DIY projects, workbenches, and learning new skills

Whether you're an athlete, coach, or someone who simply enjoys hearing how high-performance coaches think, this episode is packed with practical insights—and a few laughs along the way.

🎙 Performance Matters Podcast

Available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts & YouTube.

💪 This episode is brought to you by Iron Performance Center

Niagara's premier performance training facility, helping athletes of all levels get stronger, faster, and more resilient.

🌐 https://ironperformance.ca

Weight loss is one of the most common goals in fitness—but it's also one of the most misunderstood.

In this episode of the Performance Matters Podcast, Matrixx and Myles sit down for an honest conversation about Myles' own transformation, losing over 44 pounds (20 kg) while maintaining his strength, building healthier habits, and completely changing his relationship with nutrition.

Rather than chasing fad diets or quick fixes, they discuss why sustainable habits, consistency, and patience beat extremes every time.

Throughout the episode, they cover:

• Why weight loss is genuinely difficult—and why that's okay.
• The trigger that sparked Myles' transformation.
• How small, sustainable nutrition changes outperformed restrictive dieting.
• Maintaining (and even improving) strength while losing weight.
• The role of resistance training during fat loss.
• Why consistency always beats perfection.
• Building habits you can actually maintain for life.
• Identity, discipline, and becoming the example you want to be.

Whether your goal is to lose weight, get stronger, improve your health, or simply build better habits, this episode is packed with practical advice and an honest look at what long-term success really looks like.

Performance matters.

A huge thank you to our sponsors!

📸 Pete Methner Photography
Capturing athletes, teams, businesses, and unforgettable moments with professional photography throughout the Niagara Region.

💪 Iron Performance Center
Niagara's premier strength and conditioning facility helping athletes and adults train smarter, get stronger, and perform at their best.

In Episode 75 of the Performance Matters Podcast, we sit down with Steven Fife, founder and head coach of the Thorold Elite Track Club, to discuss how a simple "yes" to coaching a high school track team evolved into one of Niagara's premier track and field organizations.

Celebrating its 10th anniversary, Thorold Elite has grown from just four athletes to more than 300 members while producing national champions and developing athletes across all levels of sport.

Throughout the conversation, Steven shares the lessons he's learned while building the club, the importance of culture, and why long-term athlete development must always take priority over short-term success.

In this episode, we discuss:

✅ The growth story behind Thorold Elite Track Club
✅ Why track and field benefits athletes in every sport
✅ The biggest mistakes athletes make when trying to get faster
✅ Early specialization vs. multi-sport participation
✅ Physical literacy and age-appropriate athlete development
✅ Coaching philosophy, leadership, and building culture
✅ Mental preparation, competition anxiety, and performance routines
✅ The common traits shared by high-performing athletes
✅ Challenges facing local sport organizations and youth sport today

Whether you're a coach, athlete, parent, or simply passionate about youth sport, this episode is packed with valuable insights on developing athletes the right way and creating environments where young people can thrive for years to come.

💪 This episode is brought to you by Iron Performance Center — Niagara's premier performance training facility helping athletes jump higher, run faster, and perform at their highest level.

📸 A special thank you to Pete Methner Photography — Niagara's premier sports photographer, capturing the moments that matter most for athletes, teams, and families.

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