
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 24, 2022 • 1h 6min
Understanding and implementing isometric testing and training with athletes with Paul Comfort
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

Feb 23, 2022 • 21min
#Bitesize - Developing players through the pathway in an elite football academy with Matt Allen
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.

Feb 17, 2022 • 53min
Agility training: Creating drills that transfer to on-field performance with Warren Young
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

Feb 16, 2022 • 15min
#Bitesize - Microdosing; how it differs to other methods of periodisation with Derek Hansen
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.

Feb 10, 2022 • 1h 9min
Preventing and rehabilitating hip and groin injuries in athletes with James Moore
This week’s guest on the Pacey Performance Podcast is James Moore, leader of the specialist physiotherapy team at the Centre for Health and Human Performance. James has 25 years of experience in physio, graduating with an honours degree in physiotherapy from Kings College London. He was Clinical Lead Physiotherapist to the English Institute of Sport, with a special affiliation to UK Athletics. He spent a period of time working as Head of Medicine for Saracens RFC, before moving on to manage the intensive rehabilitation unit (IRU) at Bisham Abbey and was Head of Performance Services for the British Olympic Association and Deputy Chef de Mission for the Rio 2016 Olympics and beyond.
James is here to talk about hip and groin injuries, and why those injuries happen in the first place. In addition to telling us how he juggles running a business with being a clinician, James tells us about his time working with Andy Murray to aid his return to competitive tennis. He then goes into the differences to watch out for between male and female athletes when it comes to injury risk. There’s also insight into why some people need surgery to aid recovery from hip and groin injuries, and why some don’t.
James also provides a deep dive into how to readjust training sessions in order to aid recovery from injury and what to include in a rehabilitation programme. This includes how to adjust running mechanics to reduces the chances of injury, and the key markers and ratios to monitor that show an athlete’s progress and performance capability. For all this insight from one of the most experienced physios we’ve had on the podcast, and much more, hit the play button now.
On this week’s podcast:
Juggling owning a business with being a clinician
Working with Andy Murray throughout his return to competitive tennis
Why and how hip and groin injuries happen
The differences in injury risk between male and female athletes
Identifying who will need surgery
Why certain people can recovery without surgery
Readjusting training sessions to aid recovery from injury
What to include in a rehabilitation programme for groin injuries
Adjusting running mechanics to reduce the chance of injury
Markers to watch out for during an athlete’s rehab journey
Key ratios that give insight into performance

Feb 9, 2022 • 15min
#Bitesize - Why change of direction and agility testing doesn’t provide valuable information with Ian Jeffreys
Ian featured on episode #377 of the Pacey Performance Podcast. This #bitesize episode takes a great clip from that episode where he discussed -
What testing change of direction DOES give us
Why other ways of understanding movement strategy may be better
Assessing agility performance
Check out the full episode with Ian here - https://www.sportsmith.co/listen/agility-training-problems-with-change-of-direction-testing-game-speed/
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.

Feb 3, 2022 • 1h 2min
Developing the ”how” as well as the ”what” of coaching, self reflection and expanding deep knowledge with Jonas Dodoo and Jamie Taylor
Jamie Taylor and Jonas Dodoo discuss the balance between gaining wider and deeper knowledge in coaching, critical thinking, and the importance of self-reflection. They also talk about how COVID led to the growth of Speedworks, the collaboration between Speedworks and Grey Matters, and the coaching appraisal process.

Feb 2, 2022 • 12min
#Bitesize - The beliefs and practices of the Arsenal Academy performance department with Paudie Roche
Paudie featured on episode #228 of the Pacey Performance Podcast. This #bitesize episode takes a great clip from that episode where he discussed -
How they structure S&C sessions in the academy
Paudie's thoughts on weightlifting for youth athletes
Movement screens and their use in the Arsenal academy
Check out the full episode with Paudie here - https://www.sportsmith.co/listen/pacey-performance-podcast-228-paudie-roche/
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 27, 2022 • 54min
Change of direction ability; testing, developing physical qualities and maximising on-field transfer with Tom Dos’Santos and Alistair McBurnie
This week’s Pacey Performance Podcast is the second part of Rob’s conversation with Alistair McBurnie and Tom Dos’Santos. Just as a reminder, Alistair is a sports science analyst for Manchester United’s first team, having worked his way up from coaching at academy level. Tom is a lecturer at Manchester Metropolitan University, where he teaches strength conditioning and sports biomechanics. Previously, he’s worked at the University of Salford, England Northwest and Manchester Thunder netball squads. They’re currently collaborating on multidirectional speed.
The conversation continues with more insight into the world of change of direction, including its definition and the key positions athletes and coaches should be aware of for effective change of direction. This includes effective training of these key positions, and how to coach them in an applied setting. There’s also discussion into how to build an athlete profile, and how technological advances have led to developments in on-field change of direction testing.
Furthermore, Alistair and Tom talk about whether change direction testing is becoming less prominent following recent findings from their peers. Overall, if you’re looking for incredibly detailed discussion in this area of coaching, including drills, coaching plans and how to measure output, this week’s edition of the podcast is ideal for you. For all this – plus where to find even more information – hit the play button now.
This week’s topics:
Definition of change of direction
Key positions when it comes to effective change of direction
Effective training of key positions
Coaching change of direction drills in an applied setting
Whether change of direction testing is becoming less prominent
Building an athlete profile during change of direction testing
How technological advances effect on-field change of direction testing
Change of direction deficit
Signposting for more insight from Tom and Alistair

Jan 26, 2022 • 13min
#Bitesize - Why is the Nordic hamstring exercise so controversial with Kristian Thorborg
Gareth featured on episode #309 of the Pacey Performance Podcast. This #bitesize episode takes a great clip from that episode where he discussed -
What are the risk factors for hamstring injury
What are the barriers to Nordics being used
Why are Nordics so controversial
Check out the full episode with Kristian here - https://www.sportsmith.co/listen/pacey-performance-podcast-309-kristian-thorborg/
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.