This week on the Pacey Performance Podcast, Rob is speaking to Teofe Ziemnicki who is Head of Sports Science at TeamBuildr. Coaches and sports scientists who have transitioned from being employed by one organisation to working with tech companies and visiting organisations as part of their roles have incredible insights into what is going on in the industry. That's why we were so pumped to get Teofe on the podcast. In this first half of this episode we get an insight into where sports science is at in the US. Teofe gives us his view on where he sees the gaps that could be easily plugged in smaller organisations. These smaller organisations are often "one-man bands" and he gives this thoughts on how the staff in these positions can get easy wins and start collecting good data to inform practice and educate coaches. In the second half of the episode, Teofe flips the first hald discussion on its head and gives us his thoughts on sports science practice in larger organisations. Where are the easy wins? Where are the gaps? Teofe speaks to and gets unique insights into what is going on across the country so there is no better person to discuss this. If you want to hear this unique insight, listen to this episode with Teofe. Main talking points - What is sports science at smaller organisations? Setting up a sports science department What skills are needed from staff? "Sports science is more than just buying and running tech" Gaps in smaller programmes that could be easily plugged How this differs in larger organisations Common concerns around implementing sports sports science principles at larger organisation The future of sports science at the higher end organisations

Dan featured on episode #280 of the Pacey Performance Podcast. This #bitesize episode takes a great clip from that episode where he discussed - What is velocity loss How it can be used with various different technologies How to alter velocity loss percentages to focus on different physical qualities Check out the full episode with Dan here - https://www.sportsmith.co/listen/pacey-performance-podcast-280-dan-baker/ This episode is supported by RockDaisy, the only FREE AMS on the market. AMS Lite features reporting capabilities, questionnaires and forms, alerts and communication, data sharing, data visualisation and calendar views.

In this episode of the Pacey Performance Podcast, Rob is speaking to Håkan Andersson. Håkan has been on the podcast before (here) discussing resisted sprinting and plyometrics. But in this episode we are focusing on jump training and the specificity myth. Just because a sprinter puts 6x his/her bodyweight into the floor, does that mean we need to provide exercises that match or far exeed that? In the first half of this episode we chat about low amplitude plyometrics and how they fit in the programme for a sprinter or a team sport athlete. How can we make the most of these types of low level jump exercises to not only build jump volume but also enhance our injury prevention strategies? Håkan then details his thoughts on Polish boxes and whether we can get a similar stimulus by performing low amplitude plyometrics in nature. The second half of the episode, we speak explicitly about specificity and why it is sometimes too much an emphasis when programming plyometrics and jump training. We discuss this in relation to bounding and its demands in comparison to max velocity sprinting. Håkan then gives us an insight into some of the projects that he's working on with ice hockey players and athletes from less traditional sports. If you're interested in plyometrics and jump training, and optimising how you programme these for your athletes, this episode is for you. Main talking points - Håkan's Sportsmith speed conference presentation Where do low amplitude plyometrics fit in your programme? Would this change when working with team sport athletes? Do you incorporate Polish boxes? What are the benefits of using them? How “specific” do we need to be with plyometrics?  The “specificity” and “functional” myth What are your thoughts on specificity as a principle of training? What are the common misconceptions about specificity?  When speed is the aim, how specific do we need to get with the majority of sprinters? Does this change for team sport athletes?  

Ian, Tom and Shawn featured on a Sportsmith Live on agility training and testing. This #bitesize episode takes a great clip from that video where they discussed - Why change of direction and agility have been lumped together How this perception affects how we train both qualities Why we need to differentiate the two Check out the full video with Ian, Tom and Shawn here - https://www.sportsmith.co/live/agility-training-and-testing/ This episode is supported by RockDaisy, the only FREE AMS on the market. AMS Lite features reporting capabilities, questionnaires and forms, alerts and communication, data sharing, data visualisation and calendar views.

This episode of the Pacey Performance Podcast sees Rob speaking to speed coach legend and Head Coach at Speedworks, Jonas Dodoo. Jonas has been on the podcast multiple times and each time he appears, its obvious why. Jonas is here to talk about the Speedworks philosophy of projection, reactivity and switching but also the warm up as a movement screen and sprint technology. In the first half of the episode, Jonas goes into detail about projection, reactivity and switching, outline what each of those mean and how we improve them. He explains what drills and exercises may be useful to develop each of them from a track and gym perspective. We also discuss using the warm up as a movement screen. How can we manipuate the warm up and the drills within it to make it easier for us to highlight movement inefficiencies so we can work on them there and then, or at a later date. Part 2 is all about using the warm up as a movement screen but utilising a new technology that Speedworks have developed. Machine learning and artificial intelligence are both involved in the VueMotion app that Speedworks are using and we dive into how that it can help coaches make programming decisions much easier. If you want to get your athletes fast, there is no better guy to listen to than Jonas Dodoo. Main talking points -  What is the Speedworks philosophy Projection and its importance in acceleration How we can develop the ability to "switch" Enhancing reactivity in the gym and on the field Developing a warm up so it acts as a movement screen Using the latest technology to help guide sprint programming The VueMotion app from Speedworks

Shawn featured on episode #410 of the Pacey Performance Podcast. This #bitesize episode takes a great clip from that episode where he discussed - How to add complexity to basic change of direction drills Maximising transfer of change of direction drills Mistakes that are often made when creating change of direction drills Check out the full episode with Shawn here - https://www.sportsmith.co/listen/coaching-agility-using-a-constraints-led-approach/ This episode is supported by RockDaisy, the only FREE AMS on the market. AMS Lite features reporting capabilities, questionnaires and forms, alerts and communication, data sharing, data visualisation and calendar views.

This episode of the Pacey Performance Podcast sees us looking back at a roundtable from early 2021 where Rob interview Hakan Andersson, Jason Hettler and George Petrakos on the topic of resisted speed training. In the first half of the roundtable, we chat around why we may programme resisted speed training in the first place. What can we gain from it? This sets us up nicely for further discussion with George and Hakan about how we can optimally programme it. George gives us some incredible tips on how we can do that with large groups and athletes with varying training ages and abilities. In the second half of the chat we focus on if resisted speed training alters mechanics and how thie method of training compares to others like hill sprints. We then finish off with a few quick fire questions which lead to some really interesting discussion on common isses, myths and misconceptions about resisted speed training. Main talking points - Why do resisted sprints? What is high, medium and low resistance? Programming it for sprinters Periodising loads across a training block] Programming with large groups and limited equipment Altering mechanics & the 10% decrement Resisted sprints vs hills Common issues, myths and misconceptions

Micheál featured on episode #427 of the Pacey Performance Podcast. This #bitesize episode takes a great clip from that episode where he discussed - Understanding where to start with resisted sprinting with youth athletes Difference between pushing and pulling Tips on what to look out for regarding technique  Check out the full episode with Micheál here - https://www.sportsmith.co/listen/maximising-resisted-sprint-training-and-speed-training-with-youth-athletes/ This episode is supported by RockDaisy, the only FREE AMS on the market. AMS Lite features reporting capabilities, questionnaires and forms, alerts and communication, data sharing, data visualisation and calendar views.

On this week's Pacey Performance Podcast Rob is speaking to James Wild. This is James' third time on the podcast and you can check out parts one and two here. James is another speaker at the Sportsmith speed conference in March and we got him on not only to give us a teaser of his presentation, but to take us through, using a hypothetical athlete, his process of understand what is required to improve acceleration. So in the first half of the episode, James explains what he would do when first meeting an athlete. This may surprise some people but its not a lot. No extensive profiling, no in-depth screen. We also get an insight into how James' philosphy has changed on this too over the last 5-10 years. In the second half of the episode, James details how he takes the learning of the more subjective first phase into a more objective second phase. We hear what gym based assessments he conducts to understand areas for potential physical improvement and then how he goes about actually trying to manipulate technique. This was of my favourite episodes on speed and was incredibly refreshing to hear James's points of view on some polarising topics. Main talking points - What information is needed when meeting an athlete for the first time Setting expectations of speed development The subjective phase of "assessment" What to look for using video and other low tech tools What gym-based assessments James uses when moving to a more objective phase of understaning Why making someone faster in one session is "bullsh*t" Understanding the variability of certain metrics and how that should effect interventions Knowing when an improvement in speed is really an improvement

Joey featured on episode #423 of the Pacey Performance Podcast. This #bitesize episode takes a great clip from that episode where he discussed - Why eccentric strength is important for deceleration Categories of eccentric exercises to use in the weightroom How to programme eccentric training when the aim is improved deceleration ability Check out the full episode with Joey here - https://www.sportsmith.co/listen/deceleration-testing-and-training-applying-the-research-in-college-football/ This episode is supported by RockDaisy, the only FREE AMS on the market. AMS Lite features reporting capabilities, questionnaires and forms, alerts and communication, data sharing, data visualisation and calendar views.