
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

Jan 16, 2020 • 1h 4min
Load management, in-season training, and recovery in ice hockey with Matt Price (Head Strength & Conditioning Coach at LA Kings)
In this episode of the Pacey Performance Podcast, I am speaking to Head Strength & Conditioning Coach at LA Kings, Matt Price. I am delighted to bring Matt on the podcast today as he's another one that has been on my list for a long time. Matt recently hooked me up with some Kings tickets when I was in LA which was extremely kind of him. We didn't get a chance to chat before or after the game but thankfully we were able to make this episode happen and have a good conversation about what is going on at the LA Kings. 'Load management' as a topic is still red hot so we chatted about this and what that term means to Matt and how he manages workload on and off the ice.
If you enjoyed this episode with Matt Price, you may enjoy these episodes with Eric Reneghan, Matt Nichol, Mike Potenza and Devan McConnell who also work in ice hockey.
Hope you enjoy this episode with Matt Price.
In this episode we discussed...
Who is Matt Price (background, education and experience)
'Load management'
What that means to you
Application of it at the Kings
What matters to coaches vs what matters to us
Internal and external load
Recovery
Individualisation
Sleep
In-season vs off-season strength & conditioning
Testing
Game day lifting
Influence of the stiffness of skates
Speed work - transference to on-ice performance
Varying emphasis
Common injuries
Preventative work
Matt can be found on Twitter @MPriceStrength
Keep up to date with everything that is going on with the podcast by following on Twitter @strengthofsci or visiting strengthofscience.com.
Enjoy
PP

Jan 9, 2020 • 58min
Sleep science; sleeping pills, devrivation, insomnia and strategies to improve athlete sleep with Meeta Singh (Service Chief & Section Head at the Henry Ford Sleep Disorder Centre)
In this episode of the Pacey Performance Podcast, I am speaking to Service Chief & Section Head at the Henry Ford Sleep Disorder Centre, Meeta Singh. I got introduced to Meeta via Fergus Connolly who has featured on the podcast twice over the last 5 years (episode #136 & episode #225) and is someone I respect very much. I was chatting to Fergus about sleep and how I thought there was a lack of real practical information out there on the topic. There is plenty of research but little in the way of case studies on how teams are actually improving sleep. Meeta worked with the Washington Nationals on their way to the 2019 World Series and this episode does not disappoint.
If you enjoyed this episode on sleep, you may like these episodes with Shona Halson and Ian Dunican.
Hope you enjoy this episode with Meeta Singh.
In this episode we discussed...
Who is Meeta Singh (background, experience and current role)
Circadian rhythms
What are they?
Why are athletes specifically affected by sleep?
Chronotypes
Why this matters
How this affects sleep at home and away
Examples
Sleep deprivation and insomnia
Coexist?
Predisposition to these
Screening to identify these issues
Strategies to improve these
Sleeping pills in detail
Vision for sleep science integration
Meeta can be found on Twitter @athletesleepmd1
Keep up to date with everything that is going on with the podcast by following on Twitter @strengthofsci or visiting strengthofscience.com.
Enjoy
PP

Jan 1, 2020 • 1h 5min
Skill based conditioning & periodisation stratgies in football with Tom Little (Head of Performance at Preston North End FC & Founder of Colour-Fit)
In this episode of the Pacey Performance Podcast, I am speaking to Head of Performance at Preston North End FC & Founder of Colour-Fit, Tom Little. Over the last 5/6 years, Tom has become a really good friend of mine and it was great to finally get him on the podcast. Tom has had a fantastic career in football, working for Birmingham, Sheffield Wednesday, Huddersfield Town and most recently Preston North End. I was lucky enough to have Tom's PhD research back in 2012 to use for my undergraduate research project which we briefly discuss at the start of this episode. Over and above his full time role at PNE, Tom has founded Colour-Fit, a software solution designed to simplify the main goals of sports nutrition, performance, health and body composition which we chat about towards the end of the episode.
If you enjoyed this episode with Tom Little, the recent Football Roundtable Podcast may also be of interest.
Hope you enjoy this episode with Tom Little.
In this episode we discussed...
Who is Tom Little (background, education and current role)?
Weekly periodisation strategies
Philosophy
Practice at PNE
What hasn't worked for you in this area
Tactical periodisation
Influence on English football
Skill based conditioning
Philosophy
Research in the area
Practice at PNE
Colour-Fit
Side hustle to proper business
Game Changers...?
Nutrition philosophy for athletes
Tom can be found on Twitter @drlittletom
Keep up to date with everything that is going on with the podcast by following on Twitter @strengthofsci or visiting strengthofscience.com.
Enjoy
PP

4 snips
Dec 26, 2019 • 51min
Jump training and plyometrics, resisted sprint progressions and sprint analysis with Håkan Andersson (Sprint Coach and Senior Advisor/Lecturer at the High Performance Center in Växjö, Sweden)
In this episode of the Pacey Performance Podcast, I am speaking to Sprint Coach and Senior Advisor/Lecturer at the High Performance Center in Växjö Sweden, Håkan Andersson. Håkan came to my attention via his work with the Muscle Lab, resisted and assisted sprint solution. He has put some really interesting content on social media using this piece of equipment with very high level athletes in Sweden so it was great to get him on the podcast. Håkan not only talks about Muscle Lab but also his thoughts around periodising plyometrics, effects of resisted and assisted sprinting on technique and introducing non-sprint athletes to a sprint programme.
Hope you enjoy this episode with Håkan Andersson.
In this episode we discussed...
Who is Håkan Andersson (background, education and current role)
Jump training and plyometrics
Where to start with sprinters
Where to start with team sport athletes
Progressions and regressions
Inclusion of hurdles
Force vectors and responses to plyometrics
Structure
Weekly
Monthly
Resisted sprints
Progressions
Different resistance to train different qualities
Altering mechanics
Sprint analysis
Testing options
Figuring out where to focus time and effort
Use of force plates in training and testing
Håkan can be found on Twitter @sprintcoachSWE
Keep up to date with everything that is going on with the podcast by following on Twitter @strengthofsci or visiting strengthofscience.com.
Enjoy
PP

Dec 19, 2019 • 55min
Injury risk reduction strategies; best practice, using technology and departmental integration with Kevin Kikugawa (Head Football Athletic Trainer at Northwestern University)
In this episode of the Pacey Performance Podcast, I am speaking to Head Football Athletic Trainer at Northwestern University, Kevin Kikugawa. I had the pleasure of talking to Kevin for today's podcast about his thoughts and practices around injury prevention. Kevin is slightly different to my usual guests who have a sports science or strength and conditioning background but I think it's so valuable to get insights from others in the performance team on topics that are key to us all.
If you enjoyed this episode, these episodes with Jarrod Wade, Ben Ashworth and Jurdan Mendiguchia may be of interest.
Hope you enjoy this episode with Kevin Kikugawa.
In this episode we discussed...
Who is Kevin Kikugawa (background, experience and current role)
Injury risk reduction strategies
Technology
Making the right decisions with purchases
Bringing 'best practice' into an applied setting
Differentiation between sports
Departmental integration
S&C staff
Across the RTP process
Pre-training prep - your views
Foam rolling
Stretching
Breathing exercises
Kevin can be found on Twitter @kevinkikugawa24
Keep up to date with everything that is going on with the podcast by following on Twitter @strengthofsci or visiting strengthofscience.com.
Enjoy
PP

Dec 12, 2019 • 58min
Coaching young athletes; obstacle courses, gymnastics and integrating multisports into a programme with Jeremy Frisch (Owner and Director of Achieve Performance Training)
In this episode of the Pacey Performance Podcast, I am speaking to the Owner and Director of Achieve Performance Training, Jeremy Frisch. I have been stalking Jeremy for some time now as I, and many other coaches out there, have been so impressed with the work he does and the information he shares on youth development. Jeremy has become most well known for his obstacle courses and integration of 'play' within his athletic development sessions and that was something I really wanted to dive deep into.
Hope you enjoy this episode with Jeremy Frisch.
In this episode we discussed...
Who is Jeremy Frisch (background, experience and current role)
Obstacle courses
Gymnastics and parkour
Integration into wider programme
Athlete Engagement
LTAD
Overall philosophies
What is the focus at different stages/ages?
Where do you go from the obstacle courses?
How does the programme evolve?
Jeremy can be found on Twitter @jeremyfrisch
Keep up to date with everything that is going on with the podcast by following on Twitter @strengthofsci or visiting strengthofscience.com.
Enjoy
PP

Dec 5, 2019 • 1h 1min
Working with Andy Murray, dealing with injuries and load management in tennis with Matt Little (Strength & Conditioning Coach at Team Murray)
In this episode of the Pacey Performance Podcast, I am speaking to Strength and Conditioning Coach at Team Murray, Matt Little. Matt has been working with Andy Murray for the last 15 years after initially working with his brother, Jamie. Matt has had an incredible last two years dealing with Andy's very public hip problem, going from the point of realising that he may be forced to retire to the ecstasy of having Andy return from that injury to win in Antwerp last month. To complement this episode, hop over to Amazon to see the documentary, Resurfacing.
Hope you enjoy this episode with Matt Little.
In this episode we discussed...
Who is Matt Little (background, experience and current role)
Working with Andy Murray
Andy's journey
Matt's journey
The ups and downs
Dealing with injuries
Psychologically
Load management
The role of technology
Adoption in tennis
Training in and around competition schedule
Matt can be found on Twitter @mattlittlesandc
Keep up to date with everything that is going on with the podcast by following on Twitter @strengthofsci or visiting strengthofscience.com.
Enjoy
PP

Nov 28, 2019 • 1h 5min
High intensity interval training; designing sessions, small sided games and skill based conditioning in the MLS with Pierre Barrieu (High Performance Practitioner)
In this episode of the Pacey Performance Podcast, I am speaking to High-Performance Practitioner, Pierre Barrieu. Pierre was most recently the LA Galaxy as their Director of Sports Performance Director having previously worked with the US national team and FIFA as one of their world-class practitioners. Pierre is extremely passionate about a number of areas that we dissected in this episode, tapping into his vast experience in US soccer to give these topics context.
If you enjoyed this episode, you may enjoy these episodes with Martin Buchheit and Mathieu Lacome.
Hope you enjoy this episode with Pierre Barrieu.
In this episode we discussed...
Who is Pierre Barrieu (background, education and current role)?
HIIT
Combining SSG with running
Different session focuses
Metabolic vs neuromuscular
Designing sessions - the process
Sleep
Practical application of best practice
Technology used
Dealing with late night travel
Changing training schedule to maximise sleep
Recovery
Practical application of best practice
Technology used
Individualising methods
Periodising recovery?
Keep up to date with everything that is going on with the podcast by following on Twitter @strengthofsci or visiting strengthofscience.com.
Enjoy
PP

Nov 21, 2019 • 1h 10min
Run-specific isometrics; the when, the what and the how with Alex Natera (Head of Strength & Power at GWS Giants)
In this episode of the Pacey Performance Podcast, I am speaking to Head of Strength & Power at GWS Giants, Alex Natera. Anyone that has read or seen Alex's work knows that he is an incredible practitioner. He first came on the podcast back in episode 44 and 45 chatting about sprinting and also his PhD in repeat power ability. This episode we cover some of the same topics but get a refresher on how Alex thinks about these things but new to this episode is some amazing discussion around isometrics, something Alex has become world-renowned for. This is an incredible chat with Alex and one I know you will absolutely love.
If you liked this episode with Alex, you may enjoy these episodes which also focus on sprinting; James Wild, Dan Pfaff, Sprint Masterclass.
I hope you enjoy this episode with Alex Natera.
Who is Alex Natera?
Philosophical changes over the last 5 years - what have you changed your mind on?
Developing a sprint programme
Working with sprinters vs team sports
Learnings from institute life
Run specific isometrics - building the system into the wider programme
Max strength training vs co-ordinative strength
In-season maintenance/development
‘Repeated power ability’
Thoughts changed on this?
Alex can be found on Twitter @alex_natera
Keep up to date with everything that is going on with the podcast by following on Twitter @strengthofsci or visiting strengthofscience.com.
Enjoy
PP

Nov 14, 2019 • 1h
Hamstring injuries; rehabilitation, prevention and eccentric & isometric training with Jurdan Mendiguchia (Physiotherapist, Researcher & Injury Consultant)
In this episode of the Pacey Performance Podcast, I am speaking to Physiotherapist, Researcher & Injury Consultant, Jurdan Mendiguchia. Jurdan is a world expert when it comes to injury prevention and rehabilitation, particularly in hamstrings and ACLs. He has 40+ research papers to his name in this area and consults with a number of elite sports teams worldwide with the aim of reducing injuries. Jurdan not only has incredible research experience but he has years and years of working hands on with elite athletes giving him a unique insight into the area of injury prevention and rehabilitation.
Hope you enjoy this episode with Jurdan Mendiguchia.
In this episode we discussed...
Who is Jurdan Mendiguchia (background, experience and current role)
How how do you see the current approach to hamstring injuries rehab and prevention
Room for improvement
What prevention method would you use in your football team?
Sprinting vs Nordics
Nordic and its effects on architecture related to a hamstring injury
Activation as a risk factor for hamstring injury
Isometrically or eccentrically in certain stages of sprinting?
What implications does that have for training?
What work is coming up in the future?
This episode of the Pacey Performance Podcast is sponsored by Hawkin Dynamics, the team behind the worlds only wireless force plate system. Hawkin Dynamics can be found at hawkindynamics.com and you can follow them on Twitter @hawkindynamics
This episode is also sponsored by Kangatech, the world's most advanced injury prevention platform. To find out more about Kangatech, email how@kangatech.com, visit their website at kangatech.com or check out them out on Twitter @kanga_tech.
This episode is also sponsored by IMeasureU. IMeasureU are a world leading inertial platform to precisely quantify body movement and workload metrics in the field. IMeasureU can be found at imeasureu.com and you can follow them on Twitter @imeasureu.
This episode is also sponsored by Omegawave, the only non-invasive readiness technology to assess both brain and heart. Omegawave can be found at omegawave.com and you can follow them on Twitter @omegawave.
Keep up to date with everything that is going on with the podcast by following on Twitter @strengthofsci or visiting strengthofscience.com.
Enjoy
PP