Steph Mock, Assistant AD for Sports Performance at the University of Pittsburgh, discusses being a woman in strength and conditioning, the benefits of microdosing in-season for collegiate athletes, and the importance of data visualization in sports coaching.
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Quick takeaways
Microdosing in-season has resulted in improved performance and increased player buy-in in the University of Pittsburgh's volleyball program.
Microdosing allows for efficient training in-season, maximizing training exposure and maintaining player health and availability.
The University of Pittsburgh emphasizes the importance of data collection and visualization in driving decision-making and optimizing athlete performance.
Deep dives
Microdosing benefits seen late in the season
Microdosing has been most beneficial in seeing the team performance peak late in the season. Other teams start to drop off while our team takes off. The microdosing strategy has been implemented by Stephanie Mock in the University of Pittsburgh's volleyball program. It involves specific training structure throughout the week, including priming and strength development. The approach has resulted in improved performance and increased player buy-in.
Benefits of microdosing in season
Microdosing allows for efficient training in-season, working around schedules, practices, competitions, and other commitments. It replaces the traditional low-level court warm-up with a more specific and efficient stimulus using weights. Microdosing also helps with player activation and recovery during travel, aiding in player readiness. The approach has been successful in maximizing training exposures during the season and maintaining player health and availability.
Challenges and considerations of microdosing
Effective implementation of microdosing requires proximity between the weight room and the practice court. Facilities need to be easily accessible to maximize training efficiency. Adequate staffing is also crucial, especially when dealing with multiple teams. Additionally, having a wide range of equipment is necessary for a successful microdosing program. There is a need to address potential challenges and cons, such as facility location and staffing limitations, to ensure effective implementation.
Holistic Student-Athlete Development Model
The implementation of the transfer portal and name, image, and likeness (NIL) has led to an evolved approach to student-athlete development. The University of Pittsburgh is focusing on adapting its testing and assessment battery to accommodate the dynamic nature of student-athletes' tenure. A data-driven approach, along with a sport science playbook, helps with quick decision-making and individualized development plans. The goal is to optimize player performance, understand players' psychosocial profiles, and provide relevant data for sport coaches, athletic trainers, and other performance staff members.
Data collection and visualization
The University of Pittsburgh emphasizes the importance of data collection and visualization in driving decision-making. The sport science department, led by Felix Prossal, has established a system that centralizes data on platforms like Teamworks and Smartabase. This allows for easy access to data and helps paint a clearer picture for coaches and performance staff. Data visualization plays a crucial role in educating coaches, aiding decision-making, and maximizing athlete performance. The University focuses on providing meaningful insights and simplifying the data for effective communication and collaboration.
Steph Mock, Assistant AD for Sports Performance at the University of Pittsburgh is on this week's episode of the Pacey Performance Podcast. Steph traced her journey from high school sports to a collegiate volleyball career at West Virginia University. She later transitioned into strength conditioning, working at Clemson University and Mississippi State University, before returning to her alma mater. Her mentors, especially Rick Franzblau, played a crucial role in her professional development.
The discussion turns to the experience of being a woman in the predominantly male field of strength and conditioning. Steph highlights the importance of viewing the role as one of leadership, emphasizing skills such as relationship building and managing complex situations, which are gender-neutral. She acknowledges the influence of female leaders within the University of Pittsburgh, including the Chancellor and the Athletic Director, in her career development. This segment underscores the evolution in the field, where gender is becoming less of a defining factor in defining one's leadership and professional capabilities.
A significant portion of the podcast is devoted to the topic of microdosing in training, particularly its application in collegiate sports. Steph delves into her first exposure to the concept at a conference in 2018 and how it influenced her approach to training the volleyball team at the University of Pittsburgh. She explains how microdosing, or splitting training sessions into shorter, more frequent sessions, is particularly effective for in-season training. This approach helps to navigate the constraints of athletes’ schedules, including practices, competitions, and academic commitments. She emphasizes that this methodology allows for more focused, specific stimulus in training sessions, aiding in better preparation and recovery for athletes. The adoption of microdosing was already in place at the University of Pittsburgh, thanks to the head volleyball coach, making it easier for Steph to implement and enhance the practice.
If you're looking to introduce micro dosing into your programming, check out this episode with Steph.
Main talking points:
Microdosing: Efficient in-season training strategy.