
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

16 snips
Aug 18, 2022 • 1h 13min
Coaching agility using a constraints led approach with Shawn Myszka
This week on the Pacey Performance Podcast, Rob is speaking to Movement Skill Acquisition Coach at Emergence, Shawn Myszka. Shawn currently serves as a personal performance advisor and movement coach for more than a dozen NFL players.
Coaching agility is much more than setting up cones and letting the athletes run routes around them. Agility is much more than just change of direction ability. But with so much complexity to improve the physical quality of "agility", how can we coach it effectively to ensure transfer to the field? In this episode, Shawn details his approach which dives into the world of ecological dynamics and a constraints led approach. He explains how his approach differs to a "traditional" approach of pre-planned movements and drilling them time after time. Shawn presents an example of a closed drill which aims to improve cutting and develops it into a much more open drill so the athlete has to react to a changing environment, much like they would have to do on game day.
This is an excellent episode for anyone that wants to ensure their time spent on the field developing "agility" is actually transferring to the field.
Talking points -
• Typical NFL drills to improve agility and how they can be improved
• Traditional approach versus an ecological approach to drill design
• How to integrate a constraints led approach into agility training
• Closed drills vs open drills
• Problems with coaching to a fixed movement profile

Aug 17, 2022 • 15min
#Bitesize - Gym based assessments to help guide speed training with Ryan Grubbs
Ryan featured on episode #395 of the Pacey Performance Podcast. This #bitesize episode takes a great clip from that episode where he discussed -
What gym based assessments he uses to guide speed training
Hip isometric assessments and what the data can tell us
Turning data into speed training interventions
Check out the full episode with Ryan here - https://www.sportsmith.co/listen/helping-athletes-get-fast-with-speed-profiling-is-it-a-technical-or-physical-adjustment-that-is-needed/
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 11, 2022 • 54min
Linking a strength & power programme to a game model to maximise on-field performance with Shane Lehane
This week on the Pacey Performance Podcast, Rob is speaking to Shane Lehane, Athletic Performance Coach at the Sydney Swans in the AFL. Shane has lots of experience in rugby union with Leicester Tigers and Melbourne Rebels and it is these two contrasting experiences that we chat about today.
Shane describes the programme at Leicester working under Alex Martin where the strength and power programme was high up on the priority list due to the demands of how the team played. That is in contrast to his time at Melbourne where the style of play was completely different, leading to the strength and power programme falling down the priority list when the weekly schedule was being developed.
He discusses how his philosphy evolved and how his time at Leicester, where they focused on lifting with exercise that had a low a technical bias so to maximise raw strength and power, has shaped his thoughts moving forwards.
Key talking points -
Working at Leicester Tigers where strength and power was a priority
Prescribing exercises with low technical bias
What the programme actually looked like
How coordinative drills transfer to on-field performance
The influece of Frans Bosch, John Pryor and Dean Benton
Working at Melbourne Rebels where the strength and power programme didn't take priority
Building a framework that helps future staff make better decisions at the Swans

Aug 10, 2022 • 13min
#Bitesize - Tackling common sleep problems in athletes with Luke Gupta
Luke featured on episode #291 of the Pacey Performance Podcast. This #bitesize episode takes a great clip from that episode where he discussed -
What are common sleep problems athletes have?
How can we solve them with and without the help of a sleep scientist
How can we use questionnaires effectively to manage and monitor sleep
Check out the full episode with Luke here - https://www.sportsmith.co/listen/pacey-performance-podcast-291-luke-gupta/
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.

9 snips
Aug 4, 2022 • 1h 4min
Training tendons: What really matters for performance and rehabilitation with Seth O’Neill
Seth O'Neill, an Associate Professor in Physiotherapy at the University of Leicester, discusses the role of tendons in dynamic movements and tissue adaptation. He explains the importance of tendon structure and how it can be influenced by factors like aging. Seth also explores isometric training and its benefits for rehabilitation. He delves into specific tendons such as patellar tendons and Achilles tendons, as well as calf training and monitoring. Lastly, he highlights the increased occurrence of calf injuries in sports and the correlation between calf strength and sprint speed.

Aug 3, 2022 • 17min
#Bitesize - Implementing Frans Bosch’s methods and the importance of hip lock with Leigh Egger
Leigh featured on episode #355 of the Pacey Performance Podcast. This #bitesize episode takes a great clip from that episode where he discussed -
Which or Frans' methods can be integrated into a team sport environment
The importance of hip lock
Technical errors in team sport athletes and how Frans' methods can help
Check out the full episode with Leigh here - https://www.sportsmith.co/listen/changing-the-way-we-think-about-training-speed-and-agility-and-implementing-the-methods-of-frans-bosch/
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.

Jul 28, 2022 • 1h 12min
Data management & analysis: The essentials skills needed for the future S&C coach with Ryan Curtis
This week’s guest on the Pacey Performance Podcast is San Antonio Spurs’ Sports Science Coordinator and Performance Coach Ryan Curtis.
He's here to talk to Rob about the link between sports science and coaching, including how he keeps a connection with athletes and what he believes are the minimum data skills required to be an effective strength and conditioning coach. He follows this up with his thoughts on hot topic in S&C – injury predicting technology.
Ryan tells us what his day-to-day approach is when testing and assessing athletes, such as data collection, data capture methods, technology, equipment used, and data points introduced and then removed from his setup. He finishes off by telling us how someone joining an organisation can quickly add value and make their mark, drawing upon his own vast experience. For all this great content and much more from a leading NBA sports scientist, hit the play button now.
This week’s topics:
Keeping connected with athletes as a sports science coordinator
Minimum skills to be effective as a strength and conditioning coach
Concepts and ideas shared on social media that have worked unexpectedly
The concepts that didn’t gain traction, and why
Visualising the impact of data
Ryan’s views on injury predicting technology
Ryan day-to-day testing and assessment of athletes
Data capture methods
Technology used
Equipment
Key data points
How to add value when joining an organisation

Jul 27, 2022 • 12min
#Bitesize - Where to start when coaching speed to a new athlete with Les Spellman
Les featured on episode #314 of the Pacey Performance Podcast. This #bitesize episode takes a great clip from that episode where he discussed -
What are the first steps when coaching an athlete who hasn't done speed training before?
How to remove bad habits from sprint technique
Formal assessments for new athletes
Check out the full episode with Jack here - https://www.sportsmith.co/listen/pacey-performance-podcast-314-les-spellman/
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.

Jul 21, 2022 • 1h 1min
Speed training for youth athletes: Lessons from the national high school S&C coach of the year with John Garrish
This week’s guest on the Pacey Performance Podcast is National High School Strength Coach of the Year, John Garrish. He’s the Director of Athletic Development & Performance and Head Track and Field Coach at North Broward Preparatory School in Coconut Creek, Florida.
Following the receipt of his prestigious award from the NHSSCA, John is here to talk about coaching younger athletes at high school level, how he first broke into the industry, and some of his own tricks and tips for coaching speed with larger groups. First up, he explains how life works as a high school S&C coach, and how strength and conditioning fits in with the school curriculum in Florida. He moves on to his own strengths and weaknesses as a coach, and discusses how he overcomes any perceived flaws in his technique.
On the same subject, John tells us how he coaches training sessions using minimal verbal communication, an area where many coaches may struggle to get instructions and messages across. This involves how to manage larger groups of athletes, as is the case for many high school coaches. John also gives us his expert insight into the drills and exercises he likes to use in larger groups, including the progressions and regressions to look out for when using banding and hopping. For all this and much more from an award-winning coach, hit the play button now.
This week’s topics:
How John became Head Track and Field coach at North Broward
How strength and conditioning coaching fits in with a school curriculum
Key differences in coaching adults and youth athletes
John’s own strengths and weaknesses as a coach, and how he addresses them
How to coach with minimal verbal communication but using constraints
Tips and tricks for managing a large group of athletes
Exercises and drills to use when coaching large groups
Progressions and regressions when using banding and hopping

Jul 20, 2022 • 19min
#Bitesize - A new way to rehabilitate hamstring injuries with Jack Hickey
Jack featured on episode #243 of the Pacey Performance Podcast. This #bitesize episode takes a great clip from that episode where he discussed -
What is the traditional way to rehabilitate hamstring injuries?
What problems does this cause?
What is an alternative and superior way to go through the rehab process?
Check out the full episode with Jack here - https://www.sportsmith.co/listen/pacey-performance-podcast-243-jack-hickey/
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.