The first Pacey Performance Podcast guest of 2022 sees the return of Sam Robertson, Professor of Sports Analytics at Victoria University. Prior to arriving at the university, Sam worked as a sport scientist in various roles in both Australia and the United Kingdom. Since his last appearance, Sam has started his own One Track Mind podcast, exploring the science, technology, economics and politics of sport. Sam discusses a little about his podcast, including how he chooses guests and the topics they explore before moving on to the subject of sports technology. In addition to Sam’s definition of sports technology, he talks about FIFA’s criteria for choosing a sports technology partner, and how the data captured and advantages/disadvantages are often subjective to the individual coach or team. Sam also discusses the democratisation of data, and how individuals can understand the return on investment of the technology they choose. There’s also debate on how sports data has affected fan engagement, and whether these developments have been positive for sport. Finally, Rob and Sam discuss how to subjectively choose a sports technology provider and the criteria we can all look out for. For all this insight and much more, hit the play button now. This week’s topics: Sam’s definition of sports technology The data generated by sports technology FIFA’s criteria for choosing a sports technology partner The democratisation of data How individuals can understand the return investment on the technology they choose Is fan engagement driven by data going the right way? IMUs vs. player tracking systems Why the tech giants have stayed away from professional sports technology Creating frameworks to make better decisions on data collected How choosing a sports technology provider can be measured subjectively As mentioned in the episode, you can be a part of a new initiative between Track VU and Sportsmith in the independant evaluation of sports technology by visiting sportsmith.co/tech

Cory featured on episode #358 of the Pacey Performance Podcast. This #bitesize episode takes a great clip from that episode where he discussed - Using fixed resistance machines with elite athletes Managing in-season stress with fixed resistance machines What sports science has done for programmes in the NBA Check out the full episode with Cory here - https://www.sportsmith.co/listen/weight-machines-the-most-under-utilised-way-to-train-in-season-in-the-nba/ 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 weeks guest on the Pacey Performance Podcast is Ian Jeffreys. Ian is a Coach Educator and recently appointed Academic Director at Setanta College. Ian is an internationally renowned coach, educator and author. An ex professional rugby player, where he played at the highest level for 15 years, he is regarded as a world authority in the development of speed & agility and conditioning for team sports. His Gamespeed system of sport specific speed and agility development, along with his RAMP warm-up protocols have revolutionised training in these areas and have been adopted by a wide range of coaches and organisations around the world.  In this episode of the podcast, Ian dives into why change of direction testing is becoming more and more redundant as we know more about training true agility. He also details why change of direction ability is only one part of the puzzle when it comes to coaching agility. Ian gives some real life, practical examples of how we coach agility in closed and more importantly open scenarios.  This weeks talking points - The link between teaching and coaching Why isolated change of direction tests don't give us the full picture Ways to train agility in open and closed environments Using personal playing experience to develop coaching ability The development of gamespeed 

Georgie featured on episode #294 of the Pacey Performance Podcast. This #bitesize episode takes a great clip from that episode where she discussed - Common symptoms of each phase of the menstrual cycle Working around each of the symptoms Supporting athletes in each phase Check out the full episode with Georgie here - https://www.sportsmith.co/listen/pacey-performance-podcast-294-dr-georgie-bruinvels/ 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 Peformance Coach, Vernon Griffith. Previously, Vernon has been a consultant at Performance Explored, a Tactical Strength and Conditioning Association Presenter at the NSCA, and a High-Performance Director for basketball and football at Bishop Sullivan Catholic High School in Virginia. Vernon has been a strength and conditioning coach for quite some time at various levels but had his first experience in coaching while enrolled in the military. Vernon talks about this time, and what led him to leave the armed forces for a new career. He also discusses how it has influenced his coaching style and taught him to value his time and what he can offer other people. Further to this, he tells us how he creates an environment conducive to coaching for those who may not necessarily enjoy team sports. As part of his technical advice, Vernon discusses how to encourage movement exploration in the weight room, and the fundamental differences between movement and flexibility. What’s more Vernon and Rob talk about what athletes are capable of after recovering from injury, including how para athletes can influence techniques used with others. Finally, Vernon tells us about his online presence, and the content he finds value in sharing without feeling the need to generate controversy. For all this varied and invaluable insight, hit the play button now. On the podcast this week: How to create an environment conducive to coaching How a military environment shaped Vernon’s coaching style Encouraging movement exploration in the weight room Determining what an athlete can and can’t do after injury How coaching para athletes can influence coaching style Changing a coaching environment to suit a professional athlete Differentiating between movement and flexibility Sharing online content to influence thought, not generate controversy Why Vernon left the military and started coaching Learning to value your time and what you can offer others The value in therapy and how it has become more normalised

John featured on episode #361 of the Pacey Performance Podcast. This #bitesize episode takes a great clip from that episode where he discussed - Benefits of eccentric training Links to dynamic performance Downsides to ecentric training Where to start with eccentric training Check out the full episode with John here - https://www.sportsmith.co/listen/how-to-incorporate-eccentric-training-into-a-strength-and-power-programme/ 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 Rett Larson, strength and conditioning coach for the German women’s national volleyball team. He’s previously coached the Dutch and Chinese women’s volleyball teams, and worked for EXOS Athlete Performance for seven years. Prior to that, he learned his trade coaching younger athletes in strength training between the ages of 8 and 18 in Southern California. Rett’s here to talk about warming up, cooling down, and why it can pay to coach younger athletes before moving on to adult-aged coaching. As well as the benefits of experience, coaches can really see how to engage with a group and notice the smaller performance details. With warming up, Rett is an expert in this field gives key advice on how to design effective warm ups, structure sessions, and why keeping things ‘messy’ can be more beneficial. Rett also discusses cool downs, again discussing how to structure such sessions, keep the coach’s own ego in check relating to athletes’ attitude towards them, and how to maintain attention once the main training session is over. He also provides some bonus advice on percussive therapy devices, and the ones he uses. To learn all this and much more, hit the play button now. This week’s topics: The benefits of coaching younger athletes before moving on to adults How Rett became the ‘warm-up’ guy The key to coaching effective warm-ups Why we need to warm-up Why coaches can keep warm-ups ‘messy’ rather than robotic How to structure warm-up sessions Ensuring flexibility through effective stretching Were stretching bands and activation exercises just a fad? Rett’s advice on cool-downs Percussive therapy devices, and the ones Rett uses

Sean featured on episode #364 of the Pacey Performance Podcast. This #bitesize episode takes a great clip from that episode where he discussed - How to measure rate of growth in youth athletes Making changes to a programme during growth spurts When NOT to make changes during a growth spurt Check out the full episode with Sean here - https://www.sportsmith.co/listen/working-with-youth-athletes-monitoring-maturation-biobanding-and-training-through-rapid-growth/ 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 Matt Jordan. Throughout his career, Matt has consulted with more than 30 Olympic and World Championship medallists, and he frequently provides his expertise to high-performance sport organisations. Matt has been a strength and conditioning coach and applied sport scientist working with international athletes for over six Olympic Winter Games. In addition to being the Director of Sport Science at the Canadian Sport Institute Calgary, Matt is an Adjunct Professor in the Faculty of Kinesiology at the University of Calgary. On the podcast, Matt discusses a topic he wrote about in High Performance Training for Sports (2nd Edition) – efficiency of movement. Not only does Matt define what efficiency of movement is, but he also explains how experts apply it to training programmes. He also dives into the strength training framework for mechanical efficiency, and how isometric training should be adapted to apply to specific sports. Continuing the technical side of things, Matt also talks about loading for technical efficiency. Matt also talks about some of the psychological aspects of sport science, such as why coaches need to remember that they are ‘servants of performance’ and not become transfixed on their own particular way of doing things. In a similar vein, Matt speaks about how coaches can detach from irrelevant information and see a problem for what it is, and avoid the pitfalls of following the same model again and again. To hear all this insight and much more, hit the play button now. This week’s topics: What is efficiency of movement? Applying efficiency of movement to training programmes The strength training framework for mechanical efficiency Isometric training, and how specific exercises need to be for certain sports Why coaches need to remember that they are ‘servants of performance’ How to detach from irrelevant information and see a problem for what it is Loading for technical efficiency How to avoid the pitfalls of being transfixed on a specific model

Stu featured on episode #286 of the Pacey Performance Podcast. This #bitesize episode takes a great clip from that episode where he discussed - What are the underpinning characteristics of speed for team sport athletes How the underpinning characteristics differ for sprinters Why S&C coaches are more comfortable in the gym than on the field Check out the full episode with Stu here - https://www.sportsmith.co/listen/pacey-performance-podcast-286-stu-mcmillan/ 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.