In this episode I am joined by Simon Harries, Head of Strength & Conditioning at NSWIS, and Founding Director of Performance Compass, a business focused on mentorship and consultancy for rehab-related matters.

• Definition of a Framework

You can find out more about Simon via his LinkedIn profile here and he has permitted any listener wanting to reach out to do so via email:  [email protected]

If you are interested in the Rehab Simplified Group Mentorship, you can access the programme details here and register your interest via this form to express interest in joining the next cohort in July!

If you'd like to read the article written by Simon for Sportsmith, you can access that here also!

Listen Time: 27mins

In part 2 we discuss stumbles in his career, where Jack reflects on his take on planning sessions down to a T to try and cover all potential bases, hindering long-term development. Jack also talks about the lack of clarity in program design and how he now anchors principles to guide his session design. 

He emphasises the importance of utilising the interdisciplinary team and collaborating with tactical coaches. Jack shares his experience of over-communicating with athletes and how he has learned to say more with less, overcoming “word vomit” that we all experience!

He also reflects on the mistake of changing programs too frequently and the importance of consistency. 

Lastly, Jack discusses dealing uncertainty, the narrow focus on making it in elite sport, and making good decisions with confidence based on his needs and wants.

• Avoid microwaving the learning process by allowing athletes to explore and learn from failure.

I hope you enjoy the listen! If you want to be part of the group mentorships this year, as mentioned in the podcast, follow this link to register your email to receive all the information as it is released! https://collaboratesports.com/2024mentorship

Tune in next week to hear Simon Harries discuss his approach to rehab running.

Dan

Listen Time: 30mins.

In this episode, Jack Oaten discusses his role as a strength and conditioning coach working with the NFL Academy Programme. He explains the importance of preparing athletes for the combine, which is a series of tests used to assess their physical abilities. Jack shares his programming approach, including the use of accumulation, intensification, and realisation phases. He also discusses the focus on movement competency and the importance of clarifying and closing the loop with athletes. Overall, Jack emphasises the need for individualised programming and the importance of technical development alongside combine preparation.

Jack is a UKSCA and NSCA-accredited strength and conditioning coach who holds a BSc in Sport and Exercise Science. He is currently studying for a MSc in strength and conditioning and has over 4 years of experience in the field. Jack has contributed his expertise at esteemed institutions such as Millfield School, Bath Rugby, Leicester Tigers and the University of Bath supporting the physical preparation and performance of elite national/international athletes. Jack joined the NFL Academy in August 2022 where he continues to provide holistic strength and conditioning support to talented youth American football players aspiring to reach the NFL.

Main discussions centre on:

• Jacks Current Role and Purpose

I hope you enjoy the episode, I certainly did. Jack can be contacted using the below details:

Let me know what you think of the pod by sharing across Instagram and tagging in @collaborate_sports - also, don't forget the competition to win over £600 worth of mentorship by entering using this link: https://collaboratesports.com/giveaway

Enjoy!

Dan

Listen time - 28mins (and a chance to win £600 worth of mentorship)

In part two of the series with Steve, we dig into his reflections on his mistakes and what he learned from them.

• Consider the athlete in the overall programming and training solutions decision, rather than relying solely on research and needs analyses.

I hope you enjoy this episode.

If you want to win over £600 worth of mentorship courtesy of Collaborate Sports and TeamBuildr, simply head to this link to enter! Good luck!

Listen Time: 29minutes

This week Dr Steven Thompson joins me where we discuss velocity-based training (VBT) and its applications in strength and conditioning. VBT is a flexible programming strategy that allows coaches to auto-regulate and adapt their training based on the individual needs of athletes. Three key strategies within VBT are highlighted: monitoring and adjusting based on velocity, using feedback and communication to enhance performance, and understanding and implementing velocity loss. These strategies provide coaches with valuable tools for optimising training and improving athlete performance.

The main areas we cover in the episode are:

• The Importance of Velocity-Based Training (VBT)

To help you learn more about Steve, he is an accredited S&C coach with the United Kingdom Strength and Conditioning Association (UKSCA), course leader of the MSc in Strength and Conditioning Coaching at Sheffield Hallam University, and recently completed his PhD investigating “the efficacy of the load-velocity profile to predict one repetition maximum”.

Steve specialises in velocity-based training (VBT), researching and presenting his concepts and applied practices to top organisations such as the UKSCA, English Institute of Sport, and British Swimming. Steve is an active researcher, with multiple publications in high-impact journals such as Sports Medicine, Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, and International Journal of Sports Physiology and Performance. Additionally, Steve holds multiple S&C coaching roles, including Physical Performance Coach for The Football Association of Wales, regional S&C coach for British Diving, and was recently lead foundation and youth development phase S&C coach at Barnsley Football Club. Steve has worked in elite sport for many years, supporting high-level athletes such as GB Commonwealth medallists and Olympic competitors in Diving and Women's Volleyball, and other professional athletes in Para-Fencing, Table Tennis, Golf, Rugby League, and Football.

With permission, you can contact Steve via Twitter @steve381 and I would recommend visiting his Researchgate page by clicking here

Enjoy the episode!

Listen Time 26mins

In this part 2 episode, Phil Scott returns to share his performance stumbles and the lessons he has learned throughout his career as a coach. He emphasises the importance of variety and stimulation in warm-ups, acknowledging that it doesn't always go to plan!

Phil shares his experiences of dealing with these situations, highlighting the need to be open, honest, and willing to learn from mistakes. He also discusses the importance of proactive reflection and collaboration in team meetings. Phil concludes by emphasising the value of owning mistakes, reflecting on them, and finding a mentor for support and guidance being critical to taking positive steps forward from any stumble!

A summary of what we discuss is below:

• The Importance of Variety and Stimulation in Warm-ups

• Starting Point of Program Design

John Noonan joins me for this part 2 of his episode where he shares some stumbles across his career.

He reflects on how he focused too much on the overemphasis on program details as he thought this would be a defining factor of success and career progression, which led to a lack of adaptability in his programming.

John also shares his struggles with leadership, particularly in trying to lead by example without considering the needs and context of the athletes and staff he worked with. He emphasises the importance of collaboration, communication, and flexibility in planning, as well as the value of reflecting on mistakes and seeking mentorship.

We also discuss throughout the episode: 

• Being Blinded to Real-World Solutions

I hope you enjoy the episode. John's a practitioner who has had a fantastic career and his ability to reflect, iterate on what he does, and improve himself shines through in this episode!

If you havent checked out the previous Episode you should, its absolute gold!

Listen Time: 21mins

We focus on discussions towards:

• The Role of a Performance Coach

In the first "stumbles" version of this podcast, we hear Spencer open up about honest mistakes, and what it has taught him in his career.

In another episode focused on being direct and to the point, we delve into Spencer's perspective on:

• Why its important to know what professionalism is

This was another jam-packed episode in under 30 minutes, so enjoy the listen, and please share with your channels if you enjoyed it! Thanks to Spencer for being the man to step up to the plate to do this first!

If you haven't listened to Spencer's content in the Strategy Ep1, then please do, and check out his bio, and where to contact him!

Cheers

Dan