In this episode of the Pacey Performance Podcast, Rob is joined by Tom Tombleson, Senior Strength and Conditioning Coach with England Rugby. A significant part of their conversation focuses on the innovative use of the warm-up as a movement screen.
This technique, honed through his extensive experience in various coaching roles, including his time at Super Rugby with the New South Wales Waratahs, allows for a detailed analysis of each player's physical capabilities and movement patterns.
Tom emphasizes the importance of this method in individualizing player training. By assessing players during the warm-up, he can tailor exercises to their specific needs, enhancing overall performance and reducing the risk of injury. This approach represents a shift from traditional warm-up routines, integrating functional movement assessment into the very start of training sessions. Tom shares how this strategy not only optimizes physical readiness for training but also serves as an ongoing tool to monitor player progress and adapt training programs accordingly.
The discussion also touches on Tom's journey from being a semi-professional rugby player to a top-level strength and conditioning coach. He reflects on the challenges and learnings throughout his career, providing insights into the evolution of coaching philosophies and methods in high-performance sports. The conversation offers a rare glimpse into the intricacies of professional sports training, with Tom providing practical tips for coaches and athletes alike.












Main talking points:
Innovations in speed training.
Sprinting as movement analysis.
Tailoring training to individual athletes.
Testing and enhancing game speed.
The journey from Super Rugby to England Rugby.
Evolution of coaching philosophies.
Impact of player history on training.
Balancing discipline and enjoyment in coaching.

Using sprinting as a movement screen with international rugby players with Tom Tombleson

There are lots of voices in the coaching world. Few are as trusted as the Pacey Performance Podcast. Rob Pacey and his guests share the philosophies, ideas and insights in conversations that are the signal in the noise of the sport performance space.

Science

Sports

Health & Fitness

In episode 496 of the Pacey Performance Podcast, Rob is talking to Mitch Cholewinski, Coordinator of Football Sports Science at the University of Nebraska.
Mitch starts off with detailing his unusual route into sports science and explains how he applies process dynamics from chemical engineering to manage and optimize athlete training regimens through flowcharts and decision trees. His work at the Nebraska Athletics Performance Lab focuses on biomechanics and sports science, where he has been instrumental in expanding the sports science department. Mitch emphasizes the importance of educating athletes on data collection and the use of new recovery resources like sauna, red light therapy, and sensory deprivation float tanks, ensuring athletes take an active role in their recovery processes.
The podcast also covers how Mitch collaborates with strength coaches and integrates with the strength staff to enhance recovery and performance using data-driven methods. He utilizes visual aids and quick communication methods to address performance issues in real-time, fostering a proactive approach to athlete management. This episode is a unique insight into sports science provision at a division 1 football programme. Check it out.
Main talking points:
Integrating engineering principles into sports science
Expand sports science departments strategically.
Educate athletes on data collection importance.
Involve athletes in performance decision-making.
Ensure athlete ownership of recovery processes.
Collaborate with strength coaches and specialists.
Use visual aids for real-time performance feedback.
Implement new recovery tools during fall camp.
Foster athlete participation in recovery and training.

Integrating sports science into a college football performance programme with Mitchell Cholewinski

In this episode of the Pacey Performance Podcast, Rob is speaking to Consultant, Physio and Biomechanist at the Manchester Institute of Health and Performance, Chris Bramah.
Delving into the intricacies of running mechanics, Chris explains the crucial connection between specific movement patterns and the risk of hamstring injuries. Through his expertise, listeners gain an understanding of how lumbar-pelvic control, backside mechanics, and overstriding play pivotal roles in athlete health and performance. The conversation further explores the cutting-edge technology of 3D biomechanics assessments, highlighting their application in elite sports environments including Premier League football clubs, to optimize rehabilitation strategies and return-to-play decisions.
Chris then introduces the Sprint Mechanics Assessment Score (S-MAS), a novel, simplified tool he developed—a 12-item score that utilizes basic camera setups to assess movement mechanics effectively during athletes' warm-ups. This tool is designed to enhance the confidence of practitioners in diagnosing and addressing potential issues.
The discussion touches on the future of biomechanical assessments in sports, emphasizing the promising yet still evolving role of artificial intelligence and motion capture technologies. Chris shares his holistic approach to integrating clinical research with practical experience, aiming to create a broader impact on patient outcomes and advance the field of sports medicine.
Main talking points:

The role of 3D biomechanics in rehab and return-to-play.
 
Running mechanics' impact on hamstring injury risks.
 
Sprint mechanics Assessment Score (S-MAS)
 
Lumbo-pelvic control and overstriding prevention.
 
Avoiding S-MAS set up issues
 
Use of AI and motion capture in future assessments.
 
Integrating clinical research with practical applications.

Utilising the sprint mechanics assessment score (S-MAS) to try reduce hamstring injuries with Chris Bramah

In episode #494 of the Pacey Performance Podcast, Rob is speaking to Senior Lecturer in Musculoskeletal Physiotherapy at the University of Notre Dame, Brady Green for a detailed exploration of calf injuries, particularly their high prevalence and recurrence in elite sports. Brady sheds light on the limited research surrounding the initial risk factors for calf strains, emphasizing the necessity for focused prevention and effective rehabilitation strategies.
The conversation begins with an overview of how prevalent calf injuries are in sports like Australian rules football and track and field, noting the challenges in reducing their incidence despite ongoing efforts. Brady points out that older athletes and those with a history of previous calf strains are particularly susceptible to future injuries. He suggests that targeted prevention through high-load strengthening and isometric exercises can induce structural adaptations that help mitigate these risks.
The podcast delves into the specifics of screening and testing for calf injury prevention and rehabilitation. It highlights the importance of strength testing in both seated and standing positions, the relevance of dorsiflexion, proper alignment, and the use of a metronome to standardize tests for running-based athletes.
Further discussion focuses on the need for dynamic function testing and training, including reactive strength endurance and horizontal force production, to fully understand and cater to the calf’s range of capacities. Brady emphasizes the biomechanical roles of the calf and the necessity of addressing impairments not just in the calf but also in the thigh, hip, and pelvis to prevent overload injuries.
The podcast concludes with strategies for early loading and strengthening of synergist muscles, progressing towards dynamic activities that focus on force and velocity components essential for calf injury rehabilitation. It also covers the critical steps of a thorough process for returning to play, including monitoring strength markers and assessing non-quantifiable factors like recovery and range of motion.
Finally, Brady touches upon an international collaboration project aimed at preventing calf injuries which includes some of the biggest organisations across the world. You can check Brady out at the Sportsmith Rehab Conference on 12-13 October.
Main talking points:
Calf injuries prevalent, high recurrence in elite sports.
Older age, previous strains major risk factors.
High-load strengthening, isometrics mitigate injury risks.
Screening includes seated, standing strength testing.
Dorsiflexion, alignment critical in testing protocols.
Benchmarks: 20-22 calf raises to failure.
Address biomechanics in thigh, hip, pelvis.
Early loading, synergist muscle strengthening essential.
Dynamic function testing for comprehensive rehab.
Monitor strength, assess non-quantifiable factors for return

Calf injury prevention and rehabilitation with Brady Green

In this episode of the Pacey Performance Podcast, Rob is speaking to Head of Performance at Rangers FC, Tom Taylor. Tom discusses the integration of speed training principles from various sports into soccer to enhance acceleration, max velocity, movement efficiency, and injury prevention among players.
In this episode of the Pacey Performance Podcast, Rob is speaking to Head of Performance at Rangers FC, Tom Taylor. Tom discusses the integration of speed training principles from various sports into soccer to enhance acceleration, max velocity, movement efficiency, and injury prevention among players.
The episode delves into the application of speed training in soccer, revealing how Premier League clubs are engaging experts from other sports to refine their training routines. Tom highlights the importance of a collaborative approach in rehab and recovery, where strength and conditioning coaches, physiotherapists, and other specialists come together to optimize the rehabilitation processes. This synergy not only fills knowledge gaps but also empowers coaching professionals to learn from hands-on experiences and mistakes.
Taylor also discusses the necessity of adapting soccer training to meet the increasing physical demands of the game, focusing on maintaining high intensity and ensuring effective recovery. He stresses the significance of tailoring training and rehabilitation programs to the unique needs and movement patterns of each player, which is crucial for achieving optimal performance and managing injuries effectively.
If you're working in team sports and want to translate knowledge from other environments into your own, check out this episode from Tom.
Main talking points:
Integrating speed training knowledge from various sports into soccer.
Enhancing movement.
Prevention of injuries through well-timed high speed exposures
Use collaborative approaches in rehab.
Learn from hands-on experience and mistakes.
Develop individualized training and rehab programs.
Address unique player needs and movement patterns.
The fast to fit approach to rehab

Translating knowledge of speed from other sports to soccer with Tom Taylor

In this episode of the Pacey Performance Podcast, Rob is talking to Matt McInnes Watson about the critical role of jump training in physical development. Matt, a former high jumper turned coach, shares insights from his extensive experience in both track and field and team sports. He discusses how balancing a full-time job, part-time PhD, and starting a business has led him to develop a systematic approach to training athletes for dynamic movements.
The conversation highlights the significance of differentiating between various jump training modalities and understanding the reflexive components essential for propulsion. Matt emphasizes the importance of "deep tier" jumps as well as the need to not be obsessed with stiffness when coaching plyometrics and jumps.
Additionally, Matt touches on how jump training has been a fundamental element in managing momentum and energy effectively in track and field. His passion and expertise in improving dynamic movement are evident as he explains the distinctions between plyometric and non-plyometric movements, particularly how these affect tendon dynamics and force handling during jumps.
If you want to understand jump training from someone who has dedicated his life and business to this area, check out this episode.
Main talking points:

The importance of "deep tier" jumps.
 
Systematic approach developed for dynamic movement training.
 
Importance of managing momentum and energy in training.
 
Differentiation between jump training and plyometrics
 
Significance of takeoff and landing in jumps.
 
Plyometric vs. non-plyometric movements
 
Categorising jump training

Using sprinting as a movement screen with international rugby players with Tom Tombleson

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