Stu featured on episode #293 of the Pacey Performance Podcast. This #bitesize episode takes a great clip from that episode where they discussed - The process of understanding if the metrics you are using are reliable Choosing the right metrics for you Who might be able to help if you want to validate your metrics Check out the full episode with Stu here - https://www.sportsmith.co/listen/pacey-performance-podcast-293-stu-cormack/ 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.

On this week's Pacey Performance Podcast, Rob is speaking to Head of Performance at Rangers FC, Jack Ade, Head of Academy Performance at Arsenal FC, Perry Stewart and Head of Academy Physical Development at Tottenham Hotspur FC, Matt Allen. This episode was recorded as a video roundtable in 2021 when Jack was leading the academy at Liverpool FC. Its an all-star line-up when it comes to physical development in football. In the first half of this episode, Jack talks about planning and periodisation and how he maximises training time when contact time is limited. This will certainly resonate with those out there that have worked in the acadmey environment. We then dive into a discussion about the variation in training focus across the age groups which is where Matt gives some great examples from Tottenham. In the second half we discuss training individualisation and coaching speed at the academy level. Here, Perry gives an insight into how he uses maturation data to inform training and how its impact has changed over time. Then we finish off with some questions from those who were on the live roundtable including how to get a job in academy football. For anyone in or wanting to get into a football academy as a performance specialist, this one is for you. Main talking points - Planning and periodisation Maximising training time when contact is limited Structuring sessions with large groups and few coaches • Training focus variation through the age groups Testing and monitoring Managing periods of rapid growth and maturation What KPI's/performance markers are you assessing regularly Training and individualisation Is individualisation a myth? When should academy S&C coaches be looking to individualise training? Training speed Tips for people wanting to get into academy football

In this episode of the Pacey Performance Podcast, Rob is speaking to Director of Sport Science at the University of Louisville, Ernie Rimer. Ernie joined Rob and JB Morin a few weeks ago for a roundtable on force velocity profiling but because of sprint profiling being such a huge topic, we got him back to go into more details. In the first half of this episode we talk sprint modelling. Ernie gives us a detailed analysis of how we can measure an athlete sprint and then use that data to understand where their weaknesses are and create meaningful interventions to improve them. He uses football (soccer) positions as a great example of how we can use one sprint model to look into different areas of the sprint to create benchmarks and compare player against player. In the second half of the episode we chat about strategic periodisation. This was a topic discussed a long time ago with Sam Robertson after he and David Joyce published a paper on this. How can we work with technical coaches to assess each opponent and manipulate training load in the weeks leading up to and following each match? If we rank an opponent down, are we able to train that bit harder leading up to the game, or can we ease off and give the players extra recovery time? We have a look at the factors which cannot be controlled like the weather, playing surface or game time and marry that up with the factors we can control. This is a fascinating, unique episode with Ernie which listeners will get lots out of. Main talking points - Sprint modelling and ways to assess sprinting From low budget options to larger budget options Decision tree implementation Strategic periodisation - what is it? How to quantifying opponent strength Evaluating strategies against outcomes Fixed factors and dynamics fixed factors

This week's Pacey Performance Podcast sees Rob speaking to Aaron Coutts, Amber Rowell and Mathieu Lacome. This episode was recorded as a Sportsmith Live roundtable in 2021 but as GPS monitoring becomes more mainstream, we needed to get this out as a podcast. We kick off this roundtable with Aaron explaining why its so important to have a clear question as to why you are using GPS in the first place. Without that it becomes difficult to get the full value from any technology. We then dive into the decision making process around which metrics matter and which don't depending on the questions that need answering. Amber and Mathieu give us some incredible insights from an applied perspective of how they have gone through this process in professional football (soccer) in MLS and in Europe. The second half of this episode has Amber and Mathieu chatting about multimechanical modelling as well as how to use GPS to monitor and manage fatigue on an acute and long term basis. We also have an open discussion on how best to present GPS data to coaches and ensure that desicions can be made with all the information available. If you want an all encompassing episode on how to best use GPS to monitor performance and fatigue, this episode is for you. Main talking points - The importance of having a clear question before collecting any data What external load actually is How do we choose the most relevant metrics out of the thousands that are available Using measures that coaches understand What decisions are being made at the higest level using GPS How you can use GPS to plan a one-game week versus a two-game week Different metrics being useful for different sports What is multimechanical modelling and is it useful Using GPS to guide "top ups" with those that haven't played  

Alan and Anthony featured on episode #433 of the Pacey Performance Podcast. This #bitesize episode takes a great clip from that episode where they discussed - The Speedworks philosophy of ACL rehabilitation Focusing on speed development through an ACL rehab A player's view of an ACL rehab process Check out the full episode with Dan here - https://www.sportsmith.co/listen/analysing-england-rugby-player-anthony-watsons-acl-rehab/ 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 on the Pacey Performance Podcast, Rob is speaking to Teofe Ziemnicki who is Head of Sports Science at TeamBuildr. Coaches and sports scientists who have transitioned from being employed by one organisation to working with tech companies and visiting organisations as part of their roles have incredible insights into what is going on in the industry. That's why we were so pumped to get Teofe on the podcast. In this first half of this episode we get an insight into where sports science is at in the US. Teofe gives us his view on where he sees the gaps that could be easily plugged in smaller organisations. These smaller organisations are often "one-man bands" and he gives this thoughts on how the staff in these positions can get easy wins and start collecting good data to inform practice and educate coaches. In the second half of the episode, Teofe flips the first hald discussion on its head and gives us his thoughts on sports science practice in larger organisations. Where are the easy wins? Where are the gaps? Teofe speaks to and gets unique insights into what is going on across the country so there is no better person to discuss this. If you want to hear this unique insight, listen to this episode with Teofe. Main talking points - What is sports science at smaller organisations? Setting up a sports science department What skills are needed from staff? "Sports science is more than just buying and running tech" Gaps in smaller programmes that could be easily plugged How this differs in larger organisations Common concerns around implementing sports sports science principles at larger organisation The future of sports science at the higher end organisations

Dan featured on episode #280 of the Pacey Performance Podcast. This #bitesize episode takes a great clip from that episode where he discussed - What is velocity loss How it can be used with various different technologies How to alter velocity loss percentages to focus on different physical qualities Check out the full episode with Dan here - https://www.sportsmith.co/listen/pacey-performance-podcast-280-dan-baker/ 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, Rob is speaking to Håkan Andersson. Håkan has been on the podcast before (here) discussing resisted sprinting and plyometrics. But in this episode we are focusing on jump training and the specificity myth. Just because a sprinter puts 6x his/her bodyweight into the floor, does that mean we need to provide exercises that match or far exeed that? In the first half of this episode we chat about low amplitude plyometrics and how they fit in the programme for a sprinter or a team sport athlete. How can we make the most of these types of low level jump exercises to not only build jump volume but also enhance our injury prevention strategies? Håkan then details his thoughts on Polish boxes and whether we can get a similar stimulus by performing low amplitude plyometrics in nature. The second half of the episode, we speak explicitly about specificity and why it is sometimes too much an emphasis when programming plyometrics and jump training. We discuss this in relation to bounding and its demands in comparison to max velocity sprinting. Håkan then gives us an insight into some of the projects that he's working on with ice hockey players and athletes from less traditional sports. If you're interested in plyometrics and jump training, and optimising how you programme these for your athletes, this episode is for you. Main talking points - Håkan's Sportsmith speed conference presentation Where do low amplitude plyometrics fit in your programme? Would this change when working with team sport athletes? Do you incorporate Polish boxes? What are the benefits of using them? How “specific” do we need to be with plyometrics?  The “specificity” and “functional” myth What are your thoughts on specificity as a principle of training? What are the common misconceptions about specificity?  When speed is the aim, how specific do we need to get with the majority of sprinters? Does this change for team sport athletes?  

Ian, Tom and Shawn featured on a Sportsmith Live on agility training and testing. This #bitesize episode takes a great clip from that video where they discussed - Why change of direction and agility have been lumped together How this perception affects how we train both qualities Why we need to differentiate the two Check out the full video with Ian, Tom and Shawn here - https://www.sportsmith.co/live/agility-training-and-testing/ 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 episode of the Pacey Performance Podcast sees Rob speaking to speed coach legend and Head Coach at Speedworks, Jonas Dodoo. Jonas has been on the podcast multiple times and each time he appears, its obvious why. Jonas is here to talk about the Speedworks philosophy of projection, reactivity and switching but also the warm up as a movement screen and sprint technology. In the first half of the episode, Jonas goes into detail about projection, reactivity and switching, outline what each of those mean and how we improve them. He explains what drills and exercises may be useful to develop each of them from a track and gym perspective. We also discuss using the warm up as a movement screen. How can we manipuate the warm up and the drills within it to make it easier for us to highlight movement inefficiencies so we can work on them there and then, or at a later date. Part 2 is all about using the warm up as a movement screen but utilising a new technology that Speedworks have developed. Machine learning and artificial intelligence are both involved in the VueMotion app that Speedworks are using and we dive into how that it can help coaches make programming decisions much easier. If you want to get your athletes fast, there is no better guy to listen to than Jonas Dodoo. Main talking points -  What is the Speedworks philosophy Projection and its importance in acceleration How we can develop the ability to "switch" Enhancing reactivity in the gym and on the field Developing a warm up so it acts as a movement screen Using the latest technology to help guide sprint programming The VueMotion app from Speedworks