This week’s Pacey Performance Podcast sees Rob speak to Leigh Egger, Head of Performance at Feyenoord Rotterdam in the Dutch Eredivisie. Leigh was formerly a semi-professional footballer in Australia, which has given him insight and empathy into both the emotional and physical side of playing. Leigh discusses his time at Feyenoord, including how he has been influenced by Frans Bosch, John Pryor and Stijn Vandenbroucke. He goes in depth into the effective rehab framework the club’s coaches have been working on, including how to improve agility, speed and strength in footballers. To learn some of Leigh’s excellent coaching practices for yourself, hit the play button now to learn what Feyenoord have been up to – and avoid some costly errors coaches often encounter. On this week’s podcast: Why playing experience can be invaluable to coaches How Leigh moved into coaching in the Dutch top division from his playing career The rehab framework Leigh has been working on with Feyenoord’s influential coaching team The biggest technical errors Leigh sees in football The influence of Frans Bosch on Leigh's training philosophy How to implement hip lock to improve sprinting and movement Coaching techniques that develop agility Leigh’s templates and tips for developing acceleration The transfer of traditional strength training into sport Using aqua bags correctly and the common errors people make with them Leigh can be found on Twitter @LeighEgger

Pacey Performance Podcast

Changing the way we think about training speed and agility, and implementing the methods of Frans Bosch with Leigh Egger (Head of Performance at Feyenoord Rotterdam)

This week’s Pacey Performance Podcast sees Rob joined by Matt Allen, the Head of Academy Physical Development at Tottenham Hotspur. After initially working his way up as a student intern, he shares how he managed to bridge the gap between student life and a professional sports environment. Matt shares some excellent knowledge about how to coach young athletes, including the techniques and drills that can turn a promising young footballer into a world beater, and the emotional intelligence to deal with both precocious young talent and demanding parents. To learn more about his experiences at the top of the football pyramid with Spurs, the training sessions that will push young athletes to excel, and advice for younger coaches wanting to get into football, hit the play button now. This week’s podcast topics: How Matt’s internship bridged the gap between student and professional life How training focus changes across the age groups How to coach a tall athlete who isn’t necessarily physical in playing style Managing periods of rapid growth, and when to alter things Emotional Intelligence when dealing with young athlete’s parents Linking training sessions together as an academy coach Strength sessions vs power sessions with youth footballers Speed training in football Advice for younger coaches wanting to get into football Insight into how to develop young players – and nurture the right attitude 

How to develop some of the Premier League's most promising young talent with Matt Allen (Head of Academy Physical Development at Tottenham Hotspur)

On this week’s Pacey Performance Podcast, Rob speaks to Martin Buchheit and George Perry. Martin is well-known in sports science for his work as Head of Performance Intelligence Research at Kitman Labs and as ex Head of Performance at Paris Saint Germain. George is a sports performance specialist, businessman and writer from Tulsa, Oklahoma. Together, they have co-authored EGOals - a comprehensive guide to the impact and importance of the human ego in sport, including self-confidence and portraying a positive image as an influencer in an often-competitive industry. Martin and George share inside information into what they’ve found working with both coaches and athletes with a big ego. Of course, it is possible for this to tip into arrogance – a dangerous trait in the world of sport. Luckily Martin and George are on hand to advise on how to balance confidence and humility and remain grounded as a coach. Listen to this week’s podcast to learn all this and much more. This week’s topics: The book Martin and George are working on, and why it’s “the book they wish they had at the start of their career” How greater self-awareness will help in coaching Why the ego can be a powerful tool when harnessed in the right way The differences in ego between American, European and Australian coaches Dealing with – and coaching - Zlatan Ibrahimović and his big ego How big egos can drive performance standards Why Martin and George created fake, “egotistical” social media profiles Finding the right balance between confidence and humility The ‘made up’ job titles in the sports science and coaching industries Building up your “bullshit filter” 

Harnessing ego to increase player and coach performance with Martin Buchheit (Head of Performance Research at Kitman Labs) and George Perry (athletics coach and sports writer)

On this week’s Pacey Performance Podcast, Rob speaks to Joseph Coyne; a man with a huge CV and an even bigger bank of strength and conditioning knowledge to draw from. Joseph has been Performance Director with the UFC Performance Institute in Shanghai and was previously employed by the Chinese Olympic Committee as a Performance Manager. This is in addition to coaching with the Chinese Track and Field Association, Surfing Australia, and working at a school as director of athletics and athletic development. As you can imagine, Joseph has expertise to share – which is exactly what he does on this week’s podcast when it comes to plyometrics, jump training, and how to customise your training based on the build of your athletes and the sport they’re training for. This includes co-ordinating jumps to maintain that all-important intensity but avoid needless injury, including subjective load monitoring and RSI. Joseph also speaks about what it was like to coach with the UFC in China – a world away from his background in track and field and personal love for rugby. To gain this superb insight into plyometrics, jumps training and subjective load monitoring from a coach who’s seen it all, hit play on the Pacey Performance Podcast now! This week’s topics: The story behind UFC in China Plyometrics and jump training techniques The increased popularity of 10/5 jumps versus 10 second repeats How to alter your testing options based on your sport Joseph’s process for developing force velocity profile – and how to improve it Identifying a low amplitude jump strategy How to co-ordinate jumps to maintain intensity but avoid injury The difference that floor surface can make in plyometrics The number of times a week athletes should be exposed to plyometrics Safe plyometric training for heavier athletes What team sports coaches can learn from track and field Joseph’s insight into subjective load monitoring 

Jumping and plyometrics; testing options, the importance of jump strategy and its link to speed with Joseph Coyne (Director of High Performance at Lindisfarne Anglican College)

There’s double the expertise on this week’s Pacey Performance Podcast as Rob is joined by Jonas Dodoo and Alan Murdoch. Jonas is Director of Speedworks Training and Head Coach at Loughborough University, whilst Alan is Head Coach at Speedworks and until recently was Strength and Conditioning Coach at Bath Rugby. On the podcast, they discuss what first led to them working together and the skills and techniques they’ve learned during the course of their professional partnership. This includes how they’ve pooled their collective knowledge by linking the often separate coaching worlds of rehabilitation and speed. There are also some excellent deep dives into exercise selection, shin roll, ACL rehab, and why they actively avoid bad psychology in any group of athletes they coach. This week’s podcast is the place to get up to speed with what Jonas and Alan are achieving - and how it could influence your own coaching regime in the near future. Topics discussed: How Jonas and Alan first started working together What they’ve learned by pooling their collective knowledge The transition from professional sports coaching to consultancy How they’ve amalgamated the two worlds of rehab and speed training Why speed training can influence decision making during athlete rehabilitation The ‘bum before back’ technique and making strength training more efficient Examples of how to integrate speed training into rehab The importance of correct exercise selection Shin roll, and why it is now such a big talking point for leading coaches The power of psychology, and avoiding harmful cliques developing in groups of athletes 

Why speed should be at the top of the decision making tree in a performance based approach to rehab with Jonas Dodoo (Speedworks) & Alan Murdoch (Speedworks - Bath)

On this week’s Pacey Performance Podcast, we speak to Ed Gannon, Head of Strength and Conditioning at the Buffalo Sabres in the NHL. Despite having been at the Sabres for 6 years, Ed’s background is in Rugby Union in the UK. We discuss what led to him making that massive move, the challenges he faced, and the differences and similarities between the two very different worlds of coaching Rugby Union and ice hockey. Ed also describes the training protocol he undertakes to mitigate for the natural effects of fatigue despite players undergoing a busy playing calendar - including the ideal schedule, a whole host of isometric exercise options and the data to look out for. If you want to hear from an expert with the inside information to help you and your athletes increase their fitness, reduce injuries (especially to the hip and groin), analyse data to gain a practical solution and ultimately maximise performance, then this week’s talk with Ed Gannon is not to be missed. Topics discussed this week: What leads to a rugby coach moving to the USA The difficulties a coach can face when moving to a new continent How studying for a PhD in sports science was once a rarity in the industry Neuromuscular status in ice hockey How to mitigate for fatigue in training, despite a busy schedule Why it pays to ‘follow the data’ when it comes to scheduling training sessions Isometric training for injury prevention and performance enhancement The tell-tale ‘red flags’ that tell you when a change in technique is needed How to prevent hip and groin injuries Why an academic approach can benefit coaches at the highest level 

Reducing and rehabilitating hip and groin injuries, monitoring readiness in team sports & isometric training with Ed Gannon (Head of S&C at Buffalo Sabres)

Dr. Keith Baar is the Head of the Functional Molecular Biology Laboratory (FMBLab) at the University of California Davis. On this week’s Pacey Performance Podcast, we discuss how the musculoskeletal system functions including how diet and physical activity affect muscle growth, and how tendons and ligaments respond to the stresses of exercise Dr. Keith’s teachings are absolutely invaluable for both coaches, sports scientists and athletes alike as he tells us why injury rates are still on the rise despite coaches knowing more about the human body than ever before, and how to specifically avoid injuring tendons and ligaments whilst still developing muscle growth. As a bonus, he also gives us some excellent nutritional tips. Don’t miss out on all this expert advice gained from a career dedicated to learning just what it is that gives the very best athletes that slight advantage over their rivals. Topics: What inspired him to get into sports science Why injury rates are still on the rise Why so many coaches only have a short-term view of training A masterclass in tendons and ligaments and how to avoid injuring them What makes every athlete unique when it comes to tendons How to identify an imminent muscle injury What athletes can do to become more flexible Why static stretching is now outdated Keith’s thoughts on isometric training and the techniques he recommends The benefits of fast and slow training The importance of nutrition and Keith’s advice 

Training tendons; implications for sprinting, jumping and rehabilitation with Keith Baar (Professor of Molecular Exercise Physiology at University of California, Davis)

On this week’s Pacey Performance Podcast, Rob speaks to performance science consultant Jo Clubb about how she went from starting out in her dream job as an intern at Chelsea FC in the Premier League, to eventually working in the NHL with the Buffalo Bills and Buffalo Sabres. Jo also discusses what she calls her ‘sliding doors’ moment – when she got the opportunity to move to the US and work in ice hockey followed by American football. Through this, we talk about how opportunities can arise via the power of networking in a close-knit industry, and what younger people in the industry can do to grow their profile. A running theme throughout this episode is how training and sports science isn’t always about the techniques, drills and exercises a coach introduces to a new team, but how a cultural fit can make the difference through connecting with athletes on a personal level. Through her own website and as a contributor to Sports Discovery, a resource dedicated to knowledge sharing of sports professionals, there can’t be many more in the industry with this level of expertise in collaboration and emotional intelligence. We also talk about the importance of subjective monitoring and why it should be the cornerstone of any load monitoring system. Topics: Being an intern at Chelsea FC The differences between coaching academy players and the first team How sacrificing winning can actually benefit an athlete Why Chelsea were ahead of their time in developing youth team players The growth of cognitive diversity in coaching and how it benefits sports teams Why networking in the sports science industry isn’t a dirty word What Jo’s next challenge is, and how she deals with a change in identity Lessons about what works (and haven’t worked!) in differing sports The people who make up the heart of a sports club The importance of emotional intelligence in creating a cultural fit as a trainer Managing expectations as a newcomer in a team or as a consultant Subjective monitoring and why it forms a huge part of Jo's load monitoring practice Jo can be found on Twitter @JoClubbSportSci Keep up to date with everything that is going on with the podcast by following on Twitter @strengthofsci or visiting strengthofscience.com. Enjoy PP

EPL > NHL > NFL; lessons from working in three of the biggest sports in the world

This week’s Pacey Performance Podcast sees me speak to Rugby Australia’s Senior Strength & Conditioning Coach, John Pryor, who has worked with the Wallabies, the Japanese national Rugby Union team and holds a master’s degree in health science. With his background in track and field and combat sports, John has an incredibly wide-ranging knowledge about strength and conditioning, contextual strength and coordination training. John explains his background and his influences, which include Warren Young and Charles Poliquin, Vern Gambetta, Eddie Jones and Vern Gambetta. He also talks about his time working with Eddie Jones in Japan, and the point of difference for coaches who are taken seriously and seen as authentic by athletes and employers alike. This makes this week’s podcast a must-listen for any coach wanting to learn what catches people’s attention, the basics of Frans Bosch's methodologies, and how there’s no substitute for experience in strength and conditioning training.   Topics: The difference in mentality between Rugby League and Rugby Union Why there’s a right and wrong time for athletes to question their training What’s changed in the industry between 1988 and today How it can be beneficial to minimise the information available to us The coaches John Pryor would seek out personally Developing points of differences in young coaches The essential skills every coach needs to find a job The coach that inspired John to take up strength and conditioning training as a career Techniques and equipment used during his master’s degree The ‘speed-bound index’ – what it is, and how it increases sprint speed Co-ordination in sprint training and its importance The bad training habits it can be easy to get stuck with Working with Eddie Jones in Japan and how he got results Change direction sessions The biggest mistake seen in strength and conditioning training 

Contextual strength & coordination training, traditional strength training and intelligent science with John Pryor (Senior S&C Coach at Rugby Australia [Wallabies])

In this episode of the Pacey Performance Podcast, I am speaking to Head of National Talent ID & Senior S&C Coach at Aspire Academy, James Baker. This is the second part to a two-part episode with James so if you haven't checked out part 1, make sure you do so. In this episode James gives us some incredible insight into two case studies. They highlight how essential the monitoring of growth and maturation is in young athletes. We also dive into moving athletes from a developmental programme into a performance programme where winning is the aim. In this episode, we discussed... Talent identification - finding the best athletes in Qatar Developing an LTAD framework Integrating a new athlete into an established pathway Assessing growth and maturation Testing and profiling with a limited budget Specific competition performance James can be found on Twitter @jamesbaker_8 Keep up to date with everything that is going on with the podcast by following on Twitter @strengthofsci or visiting strengthofscience.com. Enjoy PP

Programming for early and late maturing athletes, athlete case studies, and identifying gaps in development with James Baker (Senior S&C Coach at Aspire Academy)

In this episode of the Pacey Performance Podcast, I am speaking to Head of National Talent ID & Senior S&C Coach at Aspire Academy, James Baker. If you're working with youth athletes anywhere in the world, you should have heard or seen James' work. He has taken on a further role at Aspire, now looking after national talent ID which is a fascinating transition which is another examlpe of the wide skill set of the strength and conditioning coach. Whether you have a huge budget or a small budget, information in this podcast will give you a clearer idea of how to develop an LTAD framework. In this episode, we discussed... Talent identification - finding the best athletes in Qatar Developing an LTAD framework Integrating a new athlete into an established pathway Assessing growth and maturation Testing and profiling with a limited budget Specific competition performance James can be found on Twitter @jamesbaker_8 Keep up to date with everything that is going on with the podcast by following on Twitter @strengthofsci or visiting strengthofscience.com. Enjoy PP

Assessing growth and maturation, developing an LTAD framework, and talent identification with James Baker (Senior S&C Coach at Aspire Academy)

In this episode of the Pacey Performance Podcast, I am speaking to 1st Team Fitness Coach at Leeds United Football Club, Benoit Delaval. Leeds United have taken the Premier League by storm this year. They are currently sat 9th in the league, are unbeaten at home against the top 6 and have overcome the accusation that they would start to slump towards the end of the season. Their intensity is unwavering. But how do they train to live up to such a demanding philosophy week after week? In this episode, we discussed... Who is Benoit Delaval (background, experience and current role)? The Leeds United philosophy Getting players fit Planning and periodisation Data guided training Use of small sided games Keeping players fit in-season Training to maintaining intensity 'Murderball' Recovery methods Strength and power work Benoit can be found on Twitter @bendelaval Keep up to date with everything that is going on with the podcast by following on Twitter @strengthofsci or visiting strengthofscience.com. Enjoy PP

Murderball & training intensity; creating the fittest team in the Premier League with Benoit Delaval (1st Team Fitness Coach at Leeds United FC)

In this episode of the Pacey Performance Podcast, I am speaking to Senior Strength and Conditioning Specialist at High Performance Sport New Zealand, Angus Ross. Angus is one of the most humble guys in the industry but has an incredible brain. Angus sits in that really interesting place in strength and conditioning with one foot in academia and research, and one foot firmly in the applied world working with world class track and field athletes. And just to make me more jealous of Angus, it sounds like he was an incredible athlete too... In this episode, we discussed... Eccentric training Why use eccentric focused training Adaptations The various types of eccentric training Flywheel technology Their place in the wider programme Sprints and jumps Integration with isometric training Around competition and taper periods Acceleration Principles Profiling What team sport athletes can learn from sprinters (and what they shouldn't) Angus can be found on Twitter @AngusRossNZ   Keep up to date with everything that is going on with the podcast by following on Twitter @strengthofsci or visiting the links below. Enjoy PP

Eccentric training; the why, when and how with Angus Ross (Senior Strength & Conditioning Specialist at High Performance Sport New Zealand)

In this episode of the Pacey Performance Podcast, I am speaking to Associate Director for Performance (Football) at Duke University, Aaron Getz. Today's guest has been in the collegiate system at one of the biggest football programmes in the US for a number of years. In this episode we discuss how Aaron and his team build some of the most impressive young athletes in the world. We chat programming, the inclusion of Olympic lifting, his views on velocity based training, training with an eccentric or isometric emphasis and much more. In this episode, we discussed... Who is Aaron Getz (background, experience and current role) Olympic lifting with collegiate athletes Programming Teaching  - progressions and regressions What happens to those that aren't competent?  Programming Cycling of unilateral bilateral work What changed with Covid and athletes returning? Guiding programming around fatigue Inclusion of training with an eccentric or isometric emphasis Coaching philosophy Inclusion of technology Aaron can be found on Twitter @GetzAaron3 Keep up to date with everything that is going on with the podcast by following on Twitter @strengthofsci or visiting strengthofscience.com. Enjoy PP

Developing some of the most impressive young athletes in the world at Duke University with Aaron Getz (Associate Director for Performance [Football] at Duke University)

In this episode of the Pacey Performance Podcast, I am speaking to Head of Performance at Feyenoord Rotterdam, Rick Cost. After speaking to previous podcast guest, Callum Walsh about how much of an influence Rick has been on his practice, it was essential to get him on the podcast. After winning the Olympics with Netherlands field hockey, Rick switched sports, however, he brought a lot of what he had learned with him. He clearly has made a huge impression at Feyenoord and has developed a deep understanding of the demands of the game. In this episode we get a glimpse into the inner workings of 15 times winners of the Eredivisie. In this episode, we discussed... Who is Rick Cost (background, experience and current role)? Periodisation Philosophy Influences Rotation of players Philosophy Objective vs subjective decision making Results and evidence of success Small sided games ...vs full sided games Benchmarks Linking physical and technical outputs Quality, intensity and volume Rick can be found on LinkedIn HERE. Keep up to date with everything that is going on with the podcast by following on Twitter @strengthofsci or visiting strengthofscience.com. Enjoy PP

From Olympic hockey gold to European football: what we can learn from other sports with Rick Cost (Head of Performance at Feyenoord)

The Pacey Performance Podcast aims to bring together the minds of the best strength and conditioning coaches & sports scientists from the world of professional sport.