In this episode of the Pacey Performance Podcast, Rob sits down with Adam Parr, Head of Performance at Charlotte FC in Major League Soccer. Adam shares his journey through the challenges of staff changes, establishing a successful performance culture from the ground up and integrating video with technical and tactical information. The conversation delves into Adam's transition from individual sports to team sports, emphasizing the creation of a cohesive culture among staff and players. Adam discusses the crucial steps of educating players on the importance of physical preparation, gaining buy-in from coaches, and the strategic implementation of advanced technology to enhance player performance and department success. Listeners will get an inside look at the intricacies of developing a performance department, from hiring experienced coaches to tailoring training interventions and creating a curriculum that addresses the needs of players across different age groups. Adam also highlights the integration of wearable technology and video analysis as game-changers in making informed coaching decisions and fostering collaboration within the team. Tune in to discover how Adam Parr is shaping the future of soccer performance at Charlotte FC, setting new standards for success in sports organizations, and the lessons learned along the way that can apply to any team looking to build a winning performance culture. Main talking points: Building an MLS performance department Transitioned from individual sports to team sports Educated players and gaining coach buy-in Developing physical development pathway for players Integrating video and GPS data Redefining warm ups for soccer

In episode #485 of the Pacey Performance Podcast, Rob chats to High Performance Consultant, Martin Buchheit, to explore the critical aspect of evaluating performance staff within sports organizations. How success is measured among performance staff is often a topic of discussion and too often reduction in injuries or win:loss records are the best we can come up with. We are expertsd in profiling our athletes, assessing their strengths and weaknesses before creating physical development plans for them. So why isn't that done with performance staff? Why aren't we judging performance staff on criteria that is highly relevant to individual roles? Martin explains that this is very much a cultural thing and due to the rapid rise in the number of performance staff, things haven't caught up with the corporate world yet. So how can this be improved? How can managers start to put things in place for this to happen? Martin gives some recommendations for those at the top, but also those towards the bottom of the hierachy. This episode offers actionable insights on enhancing objectivity in staff evaluations and fostering an environment that champions growth, adaptation, and excellence. Main talking points: Why the current way to evaluate performance staff is flawed Why results and win:loss record is a poor way to evaluate performance staff How the corporate world does it Challenges to implement it in sport What can managers do to improve practice What can regular practitioners do to start the process

Learn about the intricacies of 'true' plyometrics with Eamonn Flanagan as he discusses the importance of athlete preparation, progression from lower to higher intensity exercises, and coaching strategies for effective plyometric training. Dive into the world of categorizing plyometrics and the impact of foot placement on intensity in plyometric exercises. Gain insights into optimizing plyometric training volume and exploring different training methods for enhancing athletic performance.

Connor Schoepp, Director of Applied Sports Performance at Liberty University, discusses the critical role of isometrics in enhancing athletic performance and aiding rehabilitation. He highlights how isometrics improve motor learning, control, and can be specifically targeted to benefit athletes. The conversation also covers the logistical challenges of implementing isometric training and combining it with dynamic work and movement prep. Connor emphasizes the importance of isometrics in hamstring rehab and the progression from overcoming to yielding isometrics.

Steve Short, VP of Sports Medicine at the Denver Nuggets, shares valuable insights on assessing and rehabilitating hip and groin injuries in athletes. He discusses the challenges of these injuries in court-based sports, differences between males and females, and the importance of a thorough assessment process. He emphasizes individualized treatment plans, conservative approaches, continuous communication, and practical rehabilitation strategies for athletes.

Gavin featured on episode #475 of the Pacey Performance Podcast. This #bitesize episode takes a great clip from that episode where he discussed - Why we need to test neck strength What positions are most reliable What technology is needed to test neck strength  Check out the full episode with Alberto here - https://www.sportsmith.co/listen/methods-for-testing-and-training-neck-strength/ 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.

In this episode of the Pacey Performance Podcast, after 7 years since he first appeared on the show, Rob is joined by High Performance Consultant, Kelvin Giles. With a career spanning decades in both the UK and Australia, Kelvin brings a wealth of experience and insight into the challenges and successes of coaching. This episode takes an in-depth look at the shifting landscape of youth sports, focusing on the critical need for a holistic approach to training and well-being. Kelvin, starting as a volunteer coach and rising to work with professional athletes, shares his journey and the lessons learned along the way. He delves into the changing culture in sports, particularly how the emphasis on results and rankings is negatively impacting young athletes' health, leading to increased injury rates and a decline in technical robustness. The conversation then shifts to the detrimental effects of prioritizing competitive winning over overall health and well-being. Kelvin highlights the decline in fundamental movement skills among young people and stresses the importance of addressing this issue in schools and sports programs. Recognizing the need for a paradigm shift, Kelvin discusses the necessity for coaches to prioritize individualized training and mentorship. He emphasizes the importance of developing movement literacy and foundational skills in young athletes, ensuring their physical health and performance are equally catered for. In a profound reflection on the state of high-performance sports, Kelvin points out the often-overlooked consequences these programs have on the majority's health and well-being. The discussion underscores the need for a balanced approach, one that values foundational movements and physical activity in the education and training of young athletes. Moreover, Kelvin provides practical advice on creating flexible and adaptive training programs. He advocates for a focus on personal bests and providing meaningful feedback, rather than just concentrating on outcomes. This approach, he argues, is vital for the holistic development of young athletes. Towards the end of the episode, Kelvin stresses the significance of sharing resources and knowledge for the betterment of youth athlete health and performance. His commitment to this cause is evident through his work and the impactful resources he has made available to the broader coaching community. Main talking points: Coaching journey from volunteer to professional level. Experience with Canberra Raiders and Brisbane Broncos. Declining health in young athletes. Culture of results impacting youth sports. Emphasis on competitive winning harming development. Need for progressive learning in coaching. Importance of movement literacy in youth. Prioritizing foundational movements in training. Holistic understanding of young athletes' needs.

Alberto featured on episode #467 of the Pacey Performance Podcast. This #bitesize episode takes a great clip from that episode where he discussed - What is curvilinear sprinting and why should we care What tests can we use to understand curvilinear speed How to train it on the field Check out the full episode with Alberto here - https://www.sportsmith.co/listen/curvilinear-sprinting-how-we-can-test-and-train-this-unique-quality/ 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.

In this informative episode of the Pacey Performance Podcast, host Rob Pacey is joined by Andy Ryland, Senior Manager of Education and Training at USA Football. They delve into the critical aspects of tackle technique in rugby and American Football, and the importance of building confidence in contact situations across sports.  Andy, with his rich background in both American football and rugby, shares invaluable insights into the differences and similarities in coaching styles and tackle techniques between the two sports. The discussion emphasizes the evolution of tackle technique, focusing on neck safety and the reduction of head and helmet impacts. Andy highlights the significance of proper head placement and shoulder contact to minimize injuries. The episode also explores how technical models for coaching certification can enhance safety and tackle effectiveness in football, alongside conditioning drills like grappling and tumbling to build athlete confidence. Additionally, they discuss the importance of neck strengthening exercises in contact sports and the role of social media in learning tackle techniques. Throughout the episode, Andy also addresses the unique challenges faced by youth athletes in contact sports, emphasizing the reduced exposure to rough play in modern childhood and its impact on their ability to handle physical contact in sports. This insightful discussion extends to the significance of incorporating elements like hand fighting and physicality into speed training, which not only builds technical skill but also psychological resilience in young athletes. Furthermore, the podcast highlights how drills and conditioning, including innovative neck strengthening routines, can be customized for various sports to enhance safety and performance. This episode is not just for those in collision sports but highly relevant to those working in sports like soccer, backetball and ice hockey where building confidence in contact situations is crucial. Main talking points: Emphasis on safety in tackling technique. Evolving rugby tackle techniques for neck safety. Implementing coaching certification for safety in football. Conditioning and grappling for contact confidence. Confidence building in contact through various drills. Importance of neck strengthening in contact sports. Youth's decreased exposure to physical play. Streamlining progression in contact and collision. Adapting tackling drills across different sports. Developing reaction skills in contact situations. Incorporating physicality into speed training.

I this episode of the Pacey Performance Podcast, Rob is talking to Coach and Founder of SpeedSig, Jason Weber. Jason first came on the podcast in 2015 when he was with the Fremantle Dockers in the AFL but since then has had roles in A-League soccer and the military. But for the last 2 years Jason has been working on a new project, SpeedSig. In this episode, Jason takes us through his journey of using GPS to understand running loads but his frustration of wanting to understand HOW an athletes moves, not just how far they have run. This led to multiple projects and finally a PhD and a small business now working with some of the biggest sporting organisations in the world. He explains the process of capturing reliable data from lumbar and thoracic spine positioned GPS units to get metrics that help us understand that HOW. In the second half of the episode, having visited hundreds of organisations across the world, Jason reflects on what he has seen and his own practice while working in the AFL and in soccer. He admits to "confusing the f*ck out of people with data" laterly in AFL and gives his thoughts on how people can learn from those mistakes. He is also a huge proponent of learning to code and encourages any sports scientist to go on that journey. He explains why and takes us on his own journey to master R. Jason's enthusiasm for this space is infectious and it will be of huge interest to practitioners across the world who are looking to understand HOW their athletes move using technology they are probably already wearing. Main talking points: Why sports scientists should learn to code The SpeedSig journey The need to undrstand how an athlete moves, not just how far and how fast Collecting reliable speed signature data using GPS What metrics are important The increase in computer vision and AI tools Future evelopments in athlete tracking and GPS Reflections on the last 10 years of coaching