In this episode, we delve into the intricate world of combat sports, specifically boxing and mixed martial arts (MMA), and the critical aspects of training and preparation that underpin these intense disciplines. Our expert panel includes Duncan French, from the UFC Performance Institute, Danny Wilson, Co-founder of Boxing Science, and Rhys Ingram, formerly of GB Taekwondo and currently with GB Cycling. They kick off the discussion by emphasizing the importance of multidisciplinary teams in supporting athletes, including strength and conditioning coaches, physiotherapists, and nutritionists. The challenge lies in orchestrating these diverse experts to work cohesively for the benefit of the athlete. The panel explores various training philosophies, particularly when it comes to building strength and power in combat sports athletes. The focus here is on lower body impulse and trunk muscle mass as significant contributors to punching power. Training strategies include lower force, high-velocity movements, and max strength development. Assessments play a pivotal role in athlete profiling, with tests like countermovement jumps, drop jumps, isometric mid-thigh pulls, and peak plantar flexion tests providing insights into an athlete's ability to generate force quickly and efficiently. The conversation also delves into situational training, where athletes are exposed to unorthodox and challenging scenarios to prepare them mentally and physically for fights. This approach helps athletes develop mental toughness and resilience, crucial for success in combat sports. Finally, the experts address the complex issue of weight cutting and management. They stress the importance of distinguishing between chronic weight descent and acute weight cutting, offering valuable insights into the science and methodology behind effective weight management. The discussion touches on the significance of day-before weigh-ins and the duty of care toward athletes. This episode provides an in-depth look at the intricate world of combat sports training, profiling, situational training, and weight management, offering valuable insights for athletes, coaches, and enthusiasts alike. Main talking points: Utilising multidisciplinary team support. Focusing on lower body impulse for power. Which assessments to use to inform programming. How to build mental and physical resiliance Weight management and acute cutting. Day-before weigh-ins and athlete care

Experts in women's football discuss the relevance of menstrual cycle tracking in training and performance. They emphasize the need for tailored approaches and collaboration within the women's football community. Gender-neutral perspective on eccentric training and the importance of education in menstrual health are highlighted. Challenges faced by women footballers in game schedule and recovery are explored, along with training principles in women's football and the potential link between menstrual cycle and ACL injury risk.

Tim Parham, Head of Player Health at Adelaide Football Club, provides insights into the multifaceted approach to hamstring injury management and prevention. He shares strategies such as tailored training consistency, eccentric strength dosing, and individualized exercise selection. Tim discusses the challenge of finding the right balance between aggressive rehabilitation and cautious progression, emphasizing the importance of transparency, education, and collaboration with athletes. He also elaborates on the progression of high-intensity eccentric exercises and the importance of addressing individual needs and incorporating high-speed exposures into rehab sessions.

Dr. Chris Bishop, Associate Professor at Middlesex University, discusses the intricacies of asymmetries in sports performance. He emphasizes the need for context-aware analysis and highlights the limitations of relying solely on asymmetry metrics. Chris explores correlations, challenges with force plates, and selecting meaningful metrics for fatigue monitoring and injury rehab.

Sports performance expert Phil Scott discusses the use of anaerobic speed reserve to 'bucket' athletes based on their conditioning. He talks about the tests used to collect anaerobic speed reserve data and how to create thresholds within the data. Individualizing conditioning based on these 'buckets' is also discussed.

Marc Lewis, Director of Sports Science at the Houston Texans, discusses athlete fatigue management, load monitoring, and recovery optimization. He explains fatigue monitoring techniques, the importance of robust monitoring protocols, and the role of sleep and nutrition in recovery. Additionally, he explores various recovery modalities, such as cold water immersion, to manage fatigue in American football.

Matt Cuthbert, Women’s Physical Performance Coach at The Football Association, discusses the concept of microdosing in resistance training. He explores its benefits, such as pre-session performance enhancement and load management. The podcast also emphasizes the importance of collaboration between coaches and individualizing training for optimal adaptation.

This episode of the Pacey Performance Podcast sees engaging in a fascinating conversation with Kurt Hester, Head of Sports Performance for Football at Tulane University. This episode delves deep into the ever-evolving world of athletic development, offering valuable takeaways for coaches. Kurt emphasizes the importance of adaptation in training, steering away from rigid approaches and instead focusing on the individual needs of athletes. He challenges the prevalent obsession with strength numbers and highlights the significance of a more comprehensive athlete-centered approach to preparation. Drawing from his expertise, Kurt shares his innovative incorporation of sports science, particularly the transformative impact of breathing techniques on performance. By embracing this aspect of training, he explains how it optimizes recovery, enhances focus, and prepares athletes for the rigors of their sport. Throughout the episode, the discussion revolves around striking a balance between data-driven methodologies and intuitive coaching. Kurt advocates for coaches to spend time observing athletes in action, creating a meaningful correlation between data and on-field performance. If you are a coach seeking new insights to elevate your athletes' performance or a sports enthusiast curious about the future of American football training, this episode is a must-listen. Main talking points: Reassessing our obsession with strength Impact of absolute strength on output Challenging conventional conditioning approaches Kurt's biggest frustrations with strength and conditioning The biggest thing he has added to his programme in the last 12 months The biggest thing he has removed from his programme in the last 12 months Breathing techniques to enhance athletic performance Balancing sports science and observation

Join Rob on this episode of the Pacey Performance Podcast as he delves into the world of game speed training with Dan Grange and Daniel Tobin, both of Gloucester Rugby. Discover their revolutionary approach to game speed training and the challenges they face in achieving optimal transfer from training to gameplay. Dan and Dan share their philosophy, focusing on creating key principles that encompass different strategies rather than getting lost in a sea of training options. They emphasize the importance of effective communication with coaches, ensuring a common understanding of training objectives and encouraging collaboration where needed. Explore the core of their gamespeed methodology which includes four key change direction strategies: the split step or shuffle step, the lane change, the zigzag, and the cut to a curve. Dan Grange reveals how they tailor these strategies to suit different players based on their physical qualities and positions on the field. They stress the significance of technical evaluation through targeted Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), tracking individual and team improvements over time. The conversation delves deeper into the transfer aspect, acknowledging that measuring the success of game-speed training can be messy. They both emphasise the need to rely on educated opinions to gauge the impact on the team's system and identify areas that require further attention. They acknowledge the importance of personalized feedback to players, using video clips and one-on-one conversations to enhance their decision-making and execution during games. Dan and Dan's dedication to adding value to players shines through, as they continuously seek new technologies and approaches to further enhance game-speed training. "Using collaboration and smart data collection to enhance the transfer of training" is a captivating podcast that offers a rare glimpse into the world of rugby performance training. Gain deeper insights into how game-speed training can revolutionize player performance and elevate team success. Whether you're a coach, player, or sports enthusiast, this podcast is a must-listen for those seeking to unlock their full potential and gain a competitive edge on the field. Tune in and be inspired by the innovative strategies and dedication to excellence shared by Dan and Dan, as they navigate the fascinating world of training transfer and gamespeed. Main talking points: Importance of specific game speed training Focus on key movement strategies Analyzing technical improvements with KPIs Navigating messy transfer of training Collaborating effectively with coaches Adding value to players through feedback Technology limitations in game speed analysis Honest reviews for progress and improvement.

On this week's episode of the Pacey Performance Podcast, Rob is speaking to Human Performance Coach at Rude Rock Strength, Danny Foley. Danny is on this episode to discuss all things fascia and a fascia based approach to performance training and rehabilitation. In the first half of this episode we get to grips with what fascia actually is and how we can assess an athlete's fascia quality. Despite this being really difficult, Danny explains his subjective assessments and how other coaches can develop their own assessments. Then we start to unpack what a fascia based approach actually is and how its different to a traditional training approach. In the second half of the episode we dive deeper into what a fascia based training approach is and how it can be specifically used in certain rehabilitations. Given how important the feet as within this approach, we get Danny's take on foot training specifically. This is an incredibly thought-provoking episode and we would love any feedback off the back of it. Enjoy. Main talking points: Danny's story Understanding fascia Assessing and measuring fascial quality Fascia based training approach How does this differ to a traditional training approach Using this approach to run faster and jump higher Using the fascia based approach during RTP Training the foot and ankle