The Elevated Athlete Podcast

Todays conversation is with world class performance coach Tom Tombleson. As a previous professional rugby player, Tom has spent the last decade refining his craft as the lead performance coach for England Rugby. In this conversation we dive into understanding how to prepare an International Rugby Team for the demands of high level competition, including valuable insights into Englands preparation prior to their 2019 World Cup Final. We also get into detail on coaches eye; how you can develop it and use it in the field. Finally we talk on all things conditioning and bucketing players for success. This is a fantastic conversation and a must listen for all performance coaches out there. Grab your notepad - this one is jam packed full of insight!

In this episode I talk about my own rehab journey as I rehab my Patella Tendon following a plyometric mishap! I talk about phases, weekly structure and using my own  (very simple) assessment scale to determine progress. 
I also have a think about what I think is a heavily underrated element of athlete rehab -  communication. What needs to be communicated? What doesn't? And how does this make my life easy as a rehab coach. 
And finally I touch on identifying whether the injury in front of you is a victim or culprit and how we can approach rehab with this mindset to solve problems for our athletes and return them back to sport injury free. 

In this insightful conversation with coaching legend Dan Pfaff, we dive into his philosophy on coaching, the importance of pedagogy, and his method for analysing movement and injury rehabilitation. Dan shares his nuanced views on the role of data in coaching, the importance of a well-rounded team, and the need for individualised debrief processes for athletes. It's an absolute gem of an episode and I hope you get as much out of it as I have.

In this episode Al reflects on the recent Sportsmith Rehab Conference. He talks about his own presentation and how you can shortcut coaches eye through the power of patterns to help solve common problems in ACL rehab. In addition, Al summarises his favourite 3 talks from the weekend and offers his thoughts to coaches on how to develop themselves in the age of instagram!
Finally, Al reflects on a recent ACL rehab residential he completed with an online rehabber and how graft choice has played an influence on what has been a very successful process.

‼️Following the success of Al's Speed Based Approach to ACL Rehab Talk at the Sportsmith Rehab Conference, Elevate:Rehab will be running a 1 day ACL Workshop on all things Coaches Eye & Speed Based Approach to ACL Rehab at Sale Sharks Training Facility, Manchester on Saturday 23rd November, 2024. Tickets are available now.

CLICK TO PURCHASE TICKETS 

In this episode, Al engages in an in-depth conversation with long time friend, mentor & head physio for Australia Rugby, Byron Field. They dive into the nuances of high-performance sports rehab, with a special focus on a hamstring case study. Byron sheds light on the holistic aspects of injury recovery, the importance of anticipating game situations, and the value of customizing rehab approaches to match the demands of the sport. Their discussion offers rich insights for both athletes and coaches on elevating rehab practices to world-class levels.

For more exclusive content and tips, make sure to sign up for the show notes by entering your email over on my website elevatespeedrehab.com, and follow me on Instagram at @elevate_speed_rehab where you’ll find the tools to elevate your rehab game to the next level.

In this episode, Al reflects on his week, working with elite athletes and consulting with top teams. He dives into his "Coach's Eye" approach, helping spot athletes trending toward injury in that often-overlooked “grey zone.” Alan then introduces his unique athlete profiles, categorizing them as "Snails" (ground-biased) and "Bananas" (air-biased) to better tailor their rehab and training needs.

He also shares insights from training rugby stars Anthony Watson and Ollie Lawrence, exploring how their movement styles shape their performance. Finally, Alan discusses his evolving views on success, balancing the hustle of business with the need to live authentically. It’s a reflective yet practical look at coaching and personal growth, with hints at more top-tier guests and expert rehab tips to come!

Key Takeaways:

1. Coach’s Eye for Prevention: Alan emphasizes how crucial it is to identify injury risks before they fully manifest.
2. Snails & Bananas: Fun yet insightful profiling of athletes helps craft specialized training regimens.
3. Success Redefined: Success isn’t just about achievement; it’s also about aligning with personal values and potential.

Want more?
Catch exclusive notes at elevatespeedrehab.com and follow Alan’s journey on Instagram @elevate_speed_rehab!

Pete Hughes is the current rehabilitation coach for the New Zealand Sevens Rugby team. Prior to joining New Zealand, Pete worked with Ulster Rugby team as well as working in the private sector. His expertise in strength and conditioning, injury prevention, and rehabilitation has been pivotal in improving player performance and helping athletes return to peak condition after injuries. His work is highly respected within the rehab community, contributing significantly to the physical and mental resilience of the athletes he trains - culminating in involvement in an Olympic Gold Medal Programme. ​

In this exciting first episode of The Elevated Athlete Podcast, I give you a glimpse into what’s to come. The podcast explores world-class rehab journeys with top athletes and coaches. I highlight key upcoming guests, including rehab coach Peter Hughes from NZ Rugby and Black Ferns 7s Captain Sarah Hirini, who recovered from an ACL tear to win Olympic gold IN 7 MONTHS!! I also reflect on the importance of mentorship, the critical differences between great, average, and bad rehab and why athletes re-injure.