This week’s guest on the Pacey Performance Podcast is Nicol van Dyk, injury surveillance and medical research officer with the Irish Rugby Football Union. Having been at the IRFU since 2019, Nicol is here to talk about injury screening, injury prevention and specifically the Nordic hamstring exercise. With Rob, he discusses why first-hand coaching experience is highly beneficial when undertaking academic research, and his own personal four-step injury screening protocol. As part of this discussion, Nicol explains when interventions need to take place, the risk factors involved with injury screening, and how to identify athletes at a higher or lower risk of injury. There’s also some insight into Nicol’s overall philosophy for injury prevention. In-keeping with recent trending topics within the industry, there’s also some discussion into Nordics, the risks involved with them, and the athletes that the Nordic hamstring exercise isn’t necessarily effective for. There’s also some signposting into where we can find out more about Nicol’s research, and what he’s going to be doing next. For all this and much more, hit the play button now. This week’s topics: Nicol’s four-step Injury screening protocol with the IRFU Interventions and identifying risk factors Identifying athletes at high or lower risk of injury What triggers an intervention for rugby union players during testing What triggers an intervention for other sports Nicol’s overall philosophy for injury prevention The questions surrounding the phrase ‘injury prevention’ Nicol’s opinion on Nordics, and whether there’s a risk involved Athletes that Nordics are not effective for

Cam featured on episode #297 of the Pacey Performance Podcast. This #bitesize episode takes a great clip from that episode where he discussed - The three most common sprint technique errors team sport athletes make How we can identify them How we can fix them Check out the full episode with Cam here - https://www.sportsmith.co/listen/pacey-performance-podcast-297-cam-josse/ 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.

Franco Impellizzeri is Rob’s guest on this week’s Pacey Performance Podcast. He’s been Professor in Sport and Exercise Science and Medicine at the UTS Faculty of Health since 2018, with around 170 publications in the area of sport science. However, Franco is much more than just an academic – he has hands-on experience in training several elite track and field athletes in various disciplines (including two gold medallists at the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games). More recently, Franco has been the fitness coach of the Swiss Fencing Team (2012 to 2016) for the preparation of the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro. Franco is here to mainly discuss the Nordic hamstring exercise, including the controversy around his recent meta-analysis. With information that could be invaluable to other trainers and coaches, Franco uncovered several errors in another recent meta-analysis in this area, and shares what his re-analysis means for practitioners. This includes statistical errors and the high risk of biases in such research. There’s also a discussion into where trainers and coaches can find higher quality research, and what Franco will be up to next. In addition, Franco also tells us about his thoughts on the acute chronic workload ratio, and how it should be used in practice whilst being mindful of the problems what can be encountered using it. Finally, he talks about the issues with using the worst-case scenario as a training benchmark and that can be counteracted. For all this insight, hit the play button now. This week’s topics: The errors in a recent meta-analysis on the Nordic hamstring exercise Statistical errors and the high risk of bias in Nordic research Why Franco re-analysed Nordic hamstring for his recent meta-analysis What Franco’s re-analysis means for practitioners Why the statistic that Nordics reduces injury by a given percentage is unrealistic How the chronic workload ratio is used in practice Problems encountered when using ratios The issues with using the worst-case scenario as a training benchmark

John featured on episode #347 of the Pacey Performance Podcast. This #bitesize episode takes a great clip from that episode where he discussed - Why Frans has had such a big influence on his practice Best ways to interpret Frans' methods How to develop ankle stiffness Check out the full episode with John here - https://www.sportsmith.co/listen/contextual-strength-coordination-training-traditional-strength-training-and-intelligent-science/ 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 week’s Pacey Performance Podcast guest is Simon Thomas. Simon spent five seasons as the Head of Physical Performance for the Crusaders in Super Rugby, and has now moved on to Major League Rugby side Austin Gilgronis in the United States. Following four titles in New Zealand with Crusaders, Simon decided to take on a new challenge in Texas, joining up with head coach Sam Harris whom he had previously worked with at Honda Heat in Japan. Simon is here to talk about the growth of Major League Rugby, the cultural differences between the sport in traditional rugby nations and the USA, and how there are 300 million rugby fans who just don’t know it yet. In addition to life in Texas at a fledgling side, Simon also discusses how to set up a successful preseason training camp, including the values to establish, the key objectives, and reflection on the group and their achievements the previous year. One of these training camps proved controversial as the team trained with the US Navy SEALs – as observers on social media waded in with opinions on whether that style of training was appropriate. However, Simon here explains the background behind it all, including the planning and preparation that led to it happening. This background included the psychological element to the training camp, including how to get players into a routine of accountability, communication, and responding to effective leadership. Simon also talks about how to build trusting relationships between coaches and the team to allow this to happen, plus what the markers of a successful preseason can be. For all this, hit the play button now to get the real truth behind this viral story. This week’s topics: The growth of Major League Rugby The origins of the Gilgronis name The cultural differences between coaching in New Zealand and Texas Developing a successful preseason camp How training with the Navy SEALs helped the Gilgronis during preseason How that SEALs training session became a social media sensation – and how it was misunderstood Why that training didn’t reflect the preparation and planning behind it Getting players into a routine of accountability and communication The importance of building relationships with coaches and avoiding friction The markers of success for a preseason

Angus featured on episode #343 of the Pacey Performance Podcast. This #bitesize episode takes a great clip from that episode where he discussed - What adaptations come from eccentric focused training How to programme eccentric focused training Where does it fit into the wider programme Check out the full episode with Angus here - https://www.sportsmith.co/listen/eccentric-training-the-why-when-and-how/ 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.

Paul Comfort is a Reader in Strength and Conditioning and programme leader for the MSc Strength and Conditioning at the University of Salford, and is this week’s guest on the Pacey Performance Podcast. He's here to talk to Rob about isometric testing and training, and why there has been a recent resurgence in its popularity. This includes how coaches can use the right metrics during isometric testing, and how the time points to measure athletes by changes based on their own needs and particular sport. For those working on a budget, Paul also explains the alternatives to force plates when testing, and the importance of real, hands-on experience as a coach. Paul also discusses isometric training and its link to dynamic performance, such as the benefits it can offer in comparison to more traditional strength training techniques. Paul tells us about how coaches can manipulate isometric training to get the results we want, in addition to eccentric training - and when it is appropriate to apply it. For all this advice from an expert who has co-authored over 150 peer-reviewed journal articles along with numerous book chapters, hit the play button now. This week’s topics: Why Paul believes there has been a resurgence in isometric testing and training Using the right metrics in isometric testing Alternative options to force plates Paul’s views on strain gauges in sport-specific testing positions The link to dynamic performance when doing isometric training The benefits of isometric training compared with traditional strength training How we can manipulate isometric training to get the results we want The benefits of eccentric training and how to apply it Where to find more information about isometric and eccentric training

Matt featured on episode #354 of the Pacey Performance Podcast. This #bitesize episode takes a great clip from that episode where he discussed - How training focus changes as players move through an elite football academy Monitoring maturation Using maturation data to change (or not change) individual player training  Check out the full episode with Matt here - https://www.sportsmith.co/listen/how-to-develop-some-of-the-premier-leagues-most-promising-young-talent/ 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 week’s guest on the Pacey Performance Podcast is Warren Young. He is an Adjunct Associate Professor in Exercise & Sport Science at Federation University Australia and teaches and conducts applied research in a variety of topics relating to physical preparation for sport. Warren has published numerous articles over three decades and has a special interest in speed and agility training and assessment. His research, among other results, led to the development of the Reactive Strength Index and his deterministic model of agility performance. Warren is here to talk to Rob about agility, including what has changed since his got into the industry over 30 years ago. He describes how there is often a disconnect between the physical and academic side of agility performance, and how that can be reconciled. Warren also discussed how the cognitive side of the model has translated into a coach’s day-to-day work, and whether testing can be integrated into a high-performance setting. Warren also provides some exceptional insight into how to include change direction testing and agility training into a programme, including what to change between sports and different positions, such as attacking and defending players in a team sport. This includes strategies into how to enhance agility, and how to adapt them for a different level of athlete. For all this and much more, hit the play button now to hear Warren’s thoughts on a subject very few will know more about. How Warren developed his model of agility performance What has changed in our understanding of agility in the past 30 years How academics need to do a better job of including the physical side of his model How the cognitive side of the model has translated into a coach’s day-to-day work Can a particular test be integrated into a high-performance setting? The problems with change direction testing How change direction testing and training differs between sports and positions What to change in training between attackers and defenders Subjective evaluation in a change direction test Strategies to enhance agility and where they fit into overall training Adapting agility training strategies for novice youth athletes Warren’s advice for deceleration training  

Derek featured on episode #183 of the Pacey Performance Podcast. This #bitesize episode takes a great clip from that episode where he discussed - What is microdosing? How it can be used during periods of fixture conjestion How it can be used for strength and power but also speed training Check out the full episode with Derek here - https://www.sportsmith.co/listen/pacey-performance-podcast-183-derek-hansen/ 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.