
Pacey Performance Podcast
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.
Latest episodes

Feb 1, 2023 • 12min
#Bitesize - The most effective ways to use blood flow restriction training to increase strength with Stephen Patterson
Stephen featured on episode #426 of the Pacey Performance Podcast. This #bitesize episode takes a great clip from that episode where he discussed -
Why use blood flow restriction training (BFR)
What are the most effective protocols to use when wanting to increase strength
Safety considerations when using BFR
Check out the full episode with Stephen here - https://www.sportsmith.co/listen/blood-flow-restriction-training/
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.

Jan 26, 2023 • 1h 4min
Getting athletes fast on short timeframes and creating a long term speed system with Les Spellman
This week on the Pacey Performance Podcast we have Coach and Founder or Spellman Performance, Les Spellman. This is the second time that Les has been on the podcast but lots has changed since then so we wanted to get him back.
Les is a speed coach and is best known for his work with athletes preparing for the NFL combine. Because of this we wanted to talk about how to get athletes fast in short periods of time. What does he prioritise? How does he ensure that he's being efficient with his time and working on the right areas? How does he assess progress? All these questions we answer in the first half of this episode.
In the second half of the episode we chat about the complete opposite, how do we create a long term speed programme? As well as working with NFL combine athletes on a short term basis, Les also works with a number of organisations where the goal is medium to long term speed development and athlete health. How does the work he does when time is limited contrast to when there is more opportunity for development? What assessments does he use? How does he ensure his athletes stay healthy? All these questions are answered in the second half of the episode.
If you are wanting a comprehensive look at NFL combine preparation and long term speed development programmes, check out this episode with Les.
Les is alsp speaking at the Sportsmith speed conference in March here in Leeds in the UK. If you're interested in attending, please visit - sportsmith.co/speed-conference
Main talking points -
A look at your combine programme
What does your first session look like?
What is set in stone and what is flexible across the time you have this group?
Creating a year round speed system
How do you programme for an athlete that you have for a longer period of time?
Assessment process
Injury risk considerations when building a programme
Examples from your work with the USMNT
Tracking transfer of speed to game situation

Jan 25, 2023 • 13min
#Bitesize - Using isometric training to get specific with exercise selection with Danny Lum
Danny featured on episode #332 of the Pacey Performance Podcast. This #bitesize episode takes a great clip from that episode where he discussed -
Why use isometric training in the first place?
How adaptations differ to traditional strength training
How to create isometric exercises specific to the positions your athletes find themselves in during competition
Check out the full episode with Colin here - https://www.sportsmith.co/listen/pacey-performance-podcast-332-danny-lum/
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.

7 snips
Jan 19, 2023 • 1h 4min
Testing deceleration, reducing injury risk during cutting and maximising the use of the 1080 sprint with Ola Eriksrud
This week's Pacey Performance Podcast see Rob talking to Associate Professor at the Norwegian School of Sport Sciences, Ola Eriksrud. As well as his day job, Ola is involved in the research and development at 1080 Motion, a company most known for their patented robotic resistance technology within the 1080 Sprint.
In this episode, Ola starts off by explaining how we can test deceleration in the field whether we have a technology like the 1080 Sprint, or whether we have no technology at all. Deceleration is getting more and more airtime both in research and in practitioner discussions. We are starting to understand the importance of testing and training this quality.
As a natural progression from deceleration, in the second half of the episode Ola talks about change of direction testing and how we can understand injury risk in athletes when they are cutting.
If you're interested in understanding more about deceleration and reducing injury risk when cutting, this episode is for you.
Main talking points -
Deceleration and the physical characteristics needed to decelerate effectively
Measuring deceleration ability
Measuring deceleration ability with no budget or technology
Training for deceleration
Understanding deceleration data from 1080 sprint
Understanding injury risk during cutting movements
Testing change of direction performance
Measuring change of direction performance with no budget or technology
Understanding COD data from 1080 sprint

Jan 18, 2023 • 16min
#Bitesize - Which assessments to use during the RTP process from athletic hip and groin injuries with Enda King
Enda featured on episode #288 of the Pacey Performance Podcast. This #bitesize episode takes a great clip from that episode where he discussed -
Assessing risk of athletic hip and groin pain
Using video effectively in the assessment process
Which tests to use as benchmarks through the RTP process
Check out the full episode with Colin here - https://www.sportsmith.co/listen/pacey-performance-podcast-288-enda-king/
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.

Jan 12, 2023 • 47min
Testing and training the foot for rehabilitation and improving sports performance (part 2)
In this episode of the Pacey Performance Podcast, Rob is speaking to Foot and Ankle Rehabilitation Lead at Hôpital de La Tour, Romain Tourillon for a part 2.
Part 1 went deep into what part the foot plays in athletic tasks like jumping, sprinting and changing direction, how we can assessment the function of the forefoot and how we can then train it with various focused exercises. In part 2, Romain details the function of the mid-foot and 1st ray and explains how we can assess both of these as well as training them. We finish off the discussion with a really interesting chat about common misconceptions about foot and ankle training. In this section, Romain tackles barefoot training, a one-size fits all approach and how plyometrics can train the foot.
If you're looking for even more information on the foot and ankle and how you can train it with your athletes, this podcast is for you.
Main talking points -
Midfoot strength and stiffness assessment
Modified single-leg heel raise test
Midfoot strengthening
Maximal force and hypertrophy programmes
1st ray strengthening
Foot-ankle coupled strengthening
Integrating foot strengthening into an existing programme
Common misconceptions
Barefoot training and plyometrics

Jan 11, 2023 • 12min
#Bitesize - Testing and training the calf to reduce injury risk with Colin Griffin
Colin featured on episode #416 of the Pacey Performance Podcast. This #bitesize episode takes a great clip from that episode where he discussed -
How to assess calf and soleus capacity
How to train the calf and soleus in straight and bent knee positions
Monitoring calf strength on a daily basis as part of a readiness assessment
Check out the full episode with Colin here - https://www.sportsmith.co/listen/training-the-lower-limb-to-improve-performance-and-reduce-injury-risk/
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.

Jan 5, 2023 • 55min
Testing and training the foot for rehabilitation and improving sports performance (part 1) with Romain Tourillon
This week on the Pacey Performance Podcast, Rob is speaking to Foot and ankle rehabilitation lead at the Hôpital de La Tour, Romain Tourillon. Romain is conducting his PhD under the supervision of JB Morin and others and is investigating the role of the foot on sports performance. Recently Romain wrote an incredible article for Sportsmith on Training the foot to improve performance in sprinting, jumping and change of direction and we wanted to get him on the podcast to get into the detail on some of the assessments and exercises presented in this article.
This episode is split into two parts with the first part focusing on the link between foot strength and sports performance. Romain gives us a great overview of what the literature says before explaining current foot strength practices and why they are becoming outdated and largely ineffective. He then moves onto describing the assessments used to quantify forefoot strength and why its important before finally giving us a detailed look at the exercises he uses to develop forefoot strength.
There is a lot of misinformation on foot training but this episode lays out the scientific and experiential evidence so you can better train your athletes.
Main talking points -
Why do we need to train the foot?
Contribution to sports performance
Basic lesson in foot anatomy
Current/traditional foot strengthening protocols in rehab
What the research says about forefoot strength and performance
Forefoot strength assessments for the lab and gym
Forefoot strengthening principles for maximal force programme
Hypertrophy principles for maximal force programme

Jan 4, 2023 • 10min
#Bitesize - Barriers encountered by women in strength and conditioning with Sophia Nimphius, Brian Gearity and Lorena Torres
Sophia Nimphius, Brian Gearity and Lorena Torres featured on episode #4302 of the Pacey Performance Podcast. This #bitesize episode takes a great but sad clip from that episode where they discussed -
Their personal stories of discrimination in our industry
The difficulty for women working in men's sport
The common "solutions" which aren't
Check out the full episode with Sophia, Brian and Lorena here - https://www.sportsmith.co/listen/pacey-performance-podcast-302-barriers-encountered-by-females-in-sc-sophia-nimphius-lorena-torres-brian-gearity/
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.

Dec 22, 2022 • 1h 1min
Optimising athlete recovery and managing load effectively across multiple sports with Carmen Colomer
This week's Pacey Performance Podcast sees Rob speaking to Head of Performance at Perth Glory in the A-League, Carmen Colomer. Since 2017, Carmen has had quite the journey going from the Australian Institute of Sport to the Brumbies, Brisbane Broncos, Philadelphia 76'ers as Director of Sports Science and then into her current role in Perth.
With all those experiences across multiple sports and countries, we wanted to chat to Carmen about what she has learnt along the way, particularly when it comes to recovery. The NBA has a notoriously gruelling schedule, so how did Carmen implement fresh ideas to the organisation and what has she took from that experience and integrated into the programme at Perth?
The first half of the conversation is all about recovery, what has worked for Carmen and her athletes and what hasn't. Then the second half is all about load monitoring. This is certainly a passion of hers but she early in the conversation gives us the cold hard facts of what load monitoring is and isn't.
If you're interested in hearing from Carmen, click play now.
Main talking points -
Challenges of working in a male dominated industry
Recovery periodisation
Recovery methods to use during heavy fixture periods
What recovery methods have come and gone in your recovery battery in the last few years?
How do you monitor the effects of a recovery intervention?
Taking learnings from one sport to another
Athlete monitoring - what it is and isn't
External load monitoring and deciding what metrics matter across different sports
Where is this area going? Is it a matter of more information from these technologies or using what we have better?
How to maximise subjective monitoring?
Getting buy-in from athletes and coaches to subjectives
Taking learnings from one sport to another