The PBSCCS Podcast

Adam Decker is currently serving in his third season as the Director of Sports Medicine & Performance for the Houston Astros. Originally from Canada, Adam started his career with Sport Canada where he worked for 8 years in Strength & Conditioning, Performance Science, Talent Identification, and Athlete Development with Provincial and National/Olympic level athletes. Adam then moved to the world-renowned performing arts company, Cirque du Soleil, and later to the National Hockey League’s New Jersey Devils. Adam holds degrees in Exercise Science, Education, a Master’s degree in Exercise Physiology, and a PhD in Medical Rehabilitation.

Topics covered in this episode:
-Discussion on being Houston's Director of Sports Medicine and Performance
-Finding success and advice for others
-Continuing Education Resources

Quotes:
-"I get to work with a very diverse group of people, multiple disciplines, and I love it" (1:50)
-"You'd be amazed at how generous people are. I've had so many people who have helped me along the way" (13:30)
-"Probably more than any other industry, sport is about people and relationships" (14:20)

If you'd like to learn more from Adam, you can reach out to him on LinkedIn!

Adam Decker is currently serving in his third season as the Director of Sports Medicine & Performance for the Houston Astros. Originally from Canada, Adam started his career with Sport Canada where he worked for 8 years in Strength & Conditioning, Performance Science, Talent Identification, and Athlete Development with Provincial and National/Olympic level athletes. Adam then moved to the world-renowned performing arts company, Cirque du Soleil, and later to the National Hockey League’s New Jersey Devils. Adam holds degrees in Exercise Science, Education, a Master’s degree in Exercise Physiology, and a PhD in Medical Rehabilitation.

Topics covered in this episode:
-His journey into professional baseball
-Working with Sport Canada, Cirque du Soleil, and the New Jersey Devils
-Movement Creativity and Physical Literacy

Quotes:
-"I mean I've worked with so many different people and cultures and just in different environments" (10:19)
-"I think that's probably the best thing about my career is that I've had those different experiences. Because I think, without a doubt, it's made me a much better practitioner" (11:32)
-"Those kinda personal stories are the ones that I think stick with me more than anything else" (20:44)

If you'd like to learn more from Adam, you can reach out to him on LinkedIn!

Max Miller is the Complex Strength and Conditioning Coach for the Seattle Mariners. He is from Parkersburg, WV and graduated with a B.S. in Exercise Science from Cedarville University in 2021. Max is a member of the National Strength and Conditioning Association and is a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist.

Topics covered in this episode:
-Finding success at work and at home
-Advice for others on how to win relationships
-Continuing education resources

Quotes:
-"This is a relationship business. And that goes well beyond just baseball. Strength and conditioning in general, it's a relationship business" (5:53)
-"I think to succeed in this industry, relationships are of critical importance" (7:34)
-"Always close the loop" (13:28)

If you'd like to learn more from Max, you can follow him on social media:

Instagram:
@maxmiller_6

Max Miller is the Complex Strength and Conditioning Coach for the Seattle Mariners. He is from Parkersburg, WV and graduated with a B.S. in Exercise Science from Cedarville University in 2021. Max is a member of the National Strength and Conditioning Association and is a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist.

Topics covered in this episode:
-His journey and best professional baseball story
-Programs and athlete buy-in
-Working the Arizona Complex League and the newer Bridge League

Quotes:
-"Whatever it is I just wanted to be in baseball" (3:27)
-"The things that bring the program to life, I think, are probably more important than the X's and O's of the specific program" (7:07)
-"The goal is by the time they move up to the next level, they are familiar and proficient with our big rock movements" (18:16)

If you'd like to learn more from Max, you can follow him on social media:

Instagram:
@maxmiller_6

This episode marks the Seven Year Anniversary of The PBSCCS Podcast. It is a "Year in Review" episode, discussing the 11 individual interviews and 2 group interviews published throughout the year.

Yannick Plante is entering his sixth season within the Kansas City Royals organization. He is working the 2024 season as the Strength & Conditioning Coach for the Surprise Royals after working three seasons in the same role with Triple-A Omaha. He is also serving as a Rehab Strength & Conditioning Coach. In the fall of 2019, Yannick was a staff member of the Surprise Saguaros during the Arizona Fall League. Plante has a master’s degree in kinesiology from the University of Calgary and a bachelor’s degree in human kinetics with specialization in biophysics from the University of Ottawa. He is from Ottawa, Ontario and currently lives in Phoenix, Arizona.

Topics covered in this episode:
-Advice for others
-Finding success at different locations
-Continuing education resources

Quotes:
-"We have an unbelievable privilege of working with athletes that come from all over the world" (1:45)
-"I think in due time everyone can find a place in a different setting" (9:48)
-"You've gotta be able to immerse yourself in a setting where other people are already comfortable in" (15:07)

If you'd like to learn more from Yannick, you can follow him on social media:

Twitter:
@YannPlantz

Instagram:
@yannplantz

Yannick Plante is entering his sixth season within the Kansas City Royals organization. He is working the 2024 season as the Strength & Conditioning Coach for the Surprise Royals after working three seasons in the same role with Triple-A Omaha. He is also serving as a Rehab Strength & Conditioning Coach. In the fall of 2019, Yannick was a staff member of the Surprise Saguaros during the Arizona Fall League. Plante has a master’s degree in kinesiology from the University of Calgary and a bachelor’s degree in human kinetics with specialization in biophysics from the University of Ottawa. He is from Ottawa, Ontario and currently lives in Phoenix, Arizona.

Topics covered in this episode:
-His journey throughout the Minor League system
-The benefits of working in Rookie Ball
-The balance between technology and the human element of coaching

Quotes:
-"In Arizona, with the younger group, we're working on building solid routines, having consistency in their training, understanding exercises and why they have to do them" (8:32)
-"I think as we go forward the Arizona Complex is gonna have a lot of people looking for those positions if they can't move up or for whatever reason" (12:08)
-"If you can just take a moment and just appreciate what's in front of you and the person, and enjoy the session with them and coach them through it, over the course of the long-run you're gonna get buy-in from that athlete, and you're gonna be able to measure the things that are deemed important" (23:56)

If you'd like to learn more from Yannick, you can follow him on social media:

Twitter:
@YannPlantz

Instagram:
@yannplantz

Mark Weisman is currently working in the Chicago Cubs organization as the Minor League Strength and Conditioning Coordinator. Mark has been part of the organization since 2022. Prior to the Cubs, he worked at the University of Iowa as both an intern and Assistant Strength and Conditioning Coach with football (2016-2020), was the Director of Sports Performance at Southeast Missouri (2020-2021), and was a Performance Coach at SPEAR Training in Chicagoland (2021-2022).

Mark completed his undergraduate work at the University of Iowa (BA Health and Human Physiology) and his graduate work at Cal U in PA (MS Performance Enhancement & Injury Prevention). Mark was born and raised in Buffalo Grove, IL.

Topics covered in this episode:
-Being Minor League Coordinator and developing a culture
-Advice for others and finding success
-Continuing education resources

Quotes:
-"As coaches we're holding you accountable, but as players, you also need to take accountability for what you're going to do" (2:15)
-"We have the backing of the whole organization right now, which is huge" (15:53)
-"It's crazy because a lot of the stuff that people think is new and sexy was old Russian training" (21:47)

If you'd like to learn more from Mark, you can follow him on social media:

Twitter:
@CoachWeisman

Instagram:
@mweisman45

Mark Weisman is currently working in the Chicago Cubs organization as the Minor League Strength and Conditioning Coordinator. Mark has been part of the organization since 2022. Prior to the Cubs, he worked at the University of Iowa as both an intern and Assistant Strength and Conditioning Coach with football (2016-2020), was the Director of Sports Performance at Southeast Missouri (2020-2021), and was a Performance Coach at SPEAR Training in Chicagoland (2021-2022).

Mark completed his undergraduate work at the University of Iowa (BA Health and Human Physiology) and his graduate work at Cal U in PA (MS Performance Enhancement & Injury Prevention). Mark was born and raised in Buffalo Grove, IL.

Topics covered in this episode:
-His time spent working with football and his journey into baseball
-His introduction to Minor League baseball
-"Traditional" strength training

Quotes:
-"Just having that consistency. Being able to do well with the highs and be able to overcome those lows. I think that's what a lot of baseball players aren't missing, but need to learn, especially these young guys" (5:40)
-"I think we've gotten away from training. The basics. The foundations" (17:01)
-"It should never be we're the 'old school' guys, we're the 'new school' guys. It's we're the guys that want to get these guys to be the best baseball players, in this case, that they possibly can be, and what we need to do to get them there thinking long-term" (21:44)

If you'd like to learn more from Mark, you can follow him on social media:

Twitter:
@CoachWeisman

Instagram:
@mweisman45

Andy King is in his 11th year with the Giants and his fourth as Coordinator, Minor League Strength & Conditioning. Prior to this role, he spent the previous three years with Triple-A Sacramento. He also had stops with Richmond, San Jose and with short-season Salem-Keizer. He previously spent a year and a half as the Athletic Performance Graduate Assistant at the University of Wisconsin-River Falls where he worked with all 19 NCAA teams. King has his B.A. in Exercise & Sports Science with a concentration in Physical Therapy from Hamline University and a Master’s Degree in Kinesiology from the University of Central Missouri. He is a Certified Strength & Conditioning Specialist (CSCS) and Registered Strength & Conditioning Coach with Distinction (RSCC*D) through the NSCA. He currently resides in Phoenix with his wife, Daniella, and their twins, son Morgan and daughter Raegan.

Topics covered in this episode:
-Being a Minor League Strength and Conditioning Coordinator
-Finding quality new hires
-Continuing education resources

Quotes:
-"I think adversity is beautiful" (1:27)
-"We want you to get your hands-on coaching experience because that's the best way to learn" (3:13)
-"This is an area we're passionate about because staff development is player development. If our staff are continuing to get better then ultimately our players are gonna get better, too" (16:40)

If you'd like to learn more from Andy, you can follow him on social media:

Twitter:
@CoachAK15

Instagram:
@CoachAK15

If you'd like to learn more about the camp discussed in the previous episode, you can follow the link below:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3m1qxXoPfUA