
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

Sep 28, 2022 • 15min
#Bitesize - Using run-specific isometric strength training with youth athletes and different populations with Alex Natera
Alex featured on episode #392 of the Pacey Performance Podcast. This #bitesize episode takes a great clip from that episode where he discussed -
How you can use run-specific isometric strength training (RSIST) with youth athletes
Which isometric exercises to use (and not use) with youth athletes
Programming considerations when using isometric strength training
Check out the full episode with Alex here - https://www.sportsmith.co/listen/isometric-training-assessments-progressions-and-regressions-and-programming-for-different-populations/
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.

Sep 22, 2022 • 1h 19min
Data science, data visualisation and evaluating the effectiveness of a programme with Johann Windt
This week's guest on the Pacey Performance Podcast is Johann Windt. Johann is Head of Performance Data Science at the Vancouver Whitecaps in MLS. He is a strength and conditioning coach turned data scientist and it is this transition which makes Johann such an interesting person to speak to. He is able to speak "coach". He "gets" what happens in the weightroom and on the field and is able to integrate that mindset into his discussions on complex topics.
In this episode he chats with Rob about what data science actually is. It has gained a perception of being a mystical thing that goes on in dark rooms with staff who don't speak to each other. However, when done well its quite the opposite. He speaks about how data science is being used to help every other department at the club answer important questions. "Is this piece of technology valid?" or "what effect is this intervention having on our players?"
He finishes off the conversation by reflecting on his recent article for Sportsmith on data visualisation and explaining the principle of data being "not ugly and efficient".
If you're interested in making the most of the data that you collect with your team, hit play on your chosen podcast player now.
Today's talking points -
Where a data scientist fits within an organisation?
For those that don’t have a data scientist, what are the minimum data skills required across a sports science department?
Technology evaluation and linking research and practice
Subjectives evaluations
Maximising data quality
Evaluating the effectiveness of your interventions
Data viz
‘Not ugly’ and ‘efficient’
Examples of how you live this daily
What you present and how
Common data viz mistakes —-failing to contextualize

Sep 21, 2022 • 11min
#Bitesize - What impact strength actually has on speed with Peter Weyand
Peter featured on episode #403 of the Pacey Performance Podcast. This #bitesize episode takes a great clip from that episode where she discussed -
How strength transfers to acceleration ability
How strength transfers to max speed ability
How we can maximise transfer
Check out the full episode with Peter here - https://www.sportsmith.co/listen/speed-training-what-we-know-what-we-think-we-know-and-what-is-a-good-guess/
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.

Sep 15, 2022 • 1h 12min
Debunking 5 myths on speed training and getting team sport athletes FAST with Pete Burridge
On today's episode of the Pacey Performance Podcast is Pete Burridge. Pete is First Team Athletic Performance Coach at Bristol Bears and heads up the speed training element of the programme. He recently wrote an article on Sportsmith which detailed a number of myths that surround this area and how we can debunk them. This podcast dives even deeper into 5 of them.
We tackled 1) "You can't coach speed", 2) Technical models are a waste of time for team sports, 3) You can’t change a movement pattern that engrained, 4) Speed is too risky to train 5) They already get speed exposures in session. But not only that, given that Pete has shared his exact sessions (see viral tweet), Rob asks him to expand on what he is doing and why within his speed training sessions.
If you're interested in getting insights into speed training from someone who is living it each and everyday, press play on your chose podcast player. You can find us on YouTube, iTunes, Spotify and all other podcast stations.
Today's main talking points -
Myths around speed training
"You can't coach speed..."
"Technical models are a waste of time for team sports"
The technical model and scoring system Pete uses
"You can’t change a movement pattern that engrained"
Getting slower to get faster
Understanding what is a technical issue and what is a physical capacity issue
"It's too risky to train"
How much is too much? What is not enough?
"They already get speed exposures in session"
What do your athletes get exposed to in rugby sessions
How do you go about topping the guys up should they need it
How you develop posture, pelvic position, front side mechanics, switching and skills at speed

Sep 14, 2022 • 10min
#Bitesize - How to evaluate sports technology with Xavi Schelling
Xavi featured on episode #299 of the Pacey Performance Podcast. This #bitesize episode takes a great clip from that episode where she discussed -
How to understand reliability of a piece of sports technology
What to look at when trialling sports technology
Evaluating whether the technology answers a question or creates more questions
Check out the full episode with Xavi here - https://www.sportsmith.co/listen/pacey-performance-podcast-299-xavi-schelling/
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.

Sep 8, 2022 • 60min
Heart rate variability: What we know and how it can be used to inform training prescription with Marco Altini
In this episode of thre Pacey Performance Podcast, Rob is speaking to Scientist and Owner of HRV4Training, Marco Altini. In addition to this, Marco is also an advisor to Oura Ring. This episode is all about heart rate variability (HRV) and how the data can be used to inform training in various different environments.
We kick off the conversation by outlining what HRV actually is and Marco gives us a rundown of how we can collect reliable, actionable data with the technology we now have available. He then reveals why he thinks HRV hasn't been incorporated into the team setting given its value in assessing the response to stress. He then finishes off this fascinating episode with insights into what else HRV can tell us about what is going on with our athletes like illness or menstrual cycle phase.
If you're interested in knowing more about heart rate variability and how it can be used with your athletes, hit play now.

6 snips
Sep 1, 2022 • 1h 1min
Mental skills training: The untapped strategies to help athletes perform with Colleen Hacker
Today's guest on the Pacey Performance Podcast is Dr. Colleen Hacker. Colleen has worked with some of the biggest sporting organisations and businesses in the world as a Mental Performance Consultant. She most recently served on the Gold Medal staff for USA Ice Hockey in the 2018 Olympic Games which was alongside her tenure with the women's football USA national team. Within this time she helped the USA win multiple Olympic gold medals.
On the episode today we discuss a number of different mental skills which performance coaches may want to develop. This may not be a sole focus, but things like mental toughness, resilliance and dealing with adversity are skills that can be developed in numerous environments which onto the field or court. Given recent conversations on mental toughness and military style training, we chat a lot about how performance coaches and those without the luxury of a mental skills coach can use strategies in their sessions to build this.
If you're looking to learn from one of the world's best in the area of mental skills development, press play now.
What is a mental performance consultant and mental skills coach
How to develop mental toughness
How can coaches build in mental toughness elements to their practices?
What sport can learn from the business world: stress, pressure etc
Common mental traits of gold medal winning teams

Aug 31, 2022 • 16min
#Bitesize - Designing the optimal warm up with Rett Larson
Rett featured on episode #375 of the Pacey Performance Podcast. This #bitesize episode takes a great clip from that episode where she discussed -
How to design a warm up
How to ensure the warm up fits the following activity
What are Rett's thoughts on stretching
Check out the full episode with Rett here - https://www.sportsmith.co/listen/warm-ups-and-cool-downs-maximising-our-impact-as-coaches/
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.

Aug 25, 2022 • 56min
Mentoring and building the skills needed to succeed in performance sport with Craig White
This week's episode of the Pacey Performance Podcast sees Rob speaking with High Performance Consultant and Coach Mentor, Craig White. Craig has worked with some of the biggest rugby organisations in the world from England Rugby to Wasps, Wales Rugby and Leicester Tigers.
Craig has a really interesting story from being a hardcore S&C coach, obsessed with the craft and getting athletes physically strong and powerful, to being a practitioner who now focuses on the psychological, emotional and spiritual aspects of performance. As a consultant for a number of tier 2 rugby nations over the last few years, Craig is brought into organisations to guide culture, communication and brotherhood.
In this episode we dive into those non-traditional aspects of performance. We also discuss mentoring and why mentoring isn't for everyone, and for those that it is for, one mentor may not be enough. If you're looking to hear from a highly experienced practitioner and their journey to enhance performance on the field, hit the play button now.
Talking points -
What Craig looks for in an S&C coach
The role of a mentor
Does everyone need a mentor?
Career development vs inner development
Reflections on working in high performance environments
Career periodisation

Aug 24, 2022 • 10min
#Bitesize - Whoop vs Oura and which device to choose with Sian Allen
Sian featured on episode #391 of the Pacey Performance Podcast. This #bitesize episode takes a great clip from that episode where she discussed -
What are the main differences between Oura and Whoop?
How they both calculate HRV and what that means for data interpretation
Which one is most suitable in different situations
Check out the full episode with Sian here - https://www.sportsmith.co/listen/choosing-the-right-wearable-tech-for-your-athletes-and-which-is-worth-the-investment-whoop-or-oura/
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.