This week’s guest on the Pacey Performance Podcast is sports psychologist Dan Abrahams. Dan became a psychologist following a stint as a professional golfer with an interest in the mental side of the sport. After calling time on his playing career, he became a coach and followed that up by gaining a master’s degree in sports psychology. He’s been working in this capacity for 16 years now, including for England Rugby, England Golf, and numerous Premier League football clubs.
Following the recent Olympic and Paralympic Games, sports psychology has been in the spotlight more than ever. Dan discusses the impact this has had on the subject, including how an athlete’s mental state can be rated on a three-stage ‘traffic light’ system depending on their current needs. He also addresses the theory that you cannot coach attitude, effort and energy - although the athlete is responsible for their own attitude, Dan explains how coaches and sports psychologists can create an environment that engages athletes and helps them maintain all-important intensity when training. If you’re interested in the mental side of coaching and sports science, then this week’s podcast is for you.
This week’s topics:
Preparing for the rugby league World Cup; recovery, travel and getting the details right with Rich Hunwicks (Head of Performance at Catalan Dragons)
Blood flow restriction training; how are coaches using it and why you should be with Stephen Patterson (Reader in Exercise Physiology & Performance at St Mary's University)
Bondarchuk methodology; transfer of training and the integration of velocity based training with Derek Evely (Coach & Owner of Eveltrak)
The rise of the trap bar, do ladders have a place (?), and injury prevention with Mike Boyle (Owner of Mike Boyle Strength & Conditioning)
Training fighters; conditioning methods, challenges and profiling boxers with Danny Wilson & Alan Ruddock (Co-Founders of Boxing Science)
Coach health, methods to develop collegiate basketball players, and sports technology with Ryan Horn (Director of Athletic Performance for Men's Basketball at Wake Forest University)
Choosing the right force plate metrics and using them effectively with Eric Renaghan (Head of Strength & Conditioning at St Louis Blues)
Plyometrics and jump training; progressions, regressions and recovery circuits with Boo Schexnayder (Strength Coach at Louisiana State University)
Side hustles, getting a job in strength and conditioning and what is networking (?) with Keir Wenham-Flatt (Athletic Development Coach at the College of William & Mary)
What makes a good athletic development coach (from a coach's point of view) with Simon Cron (Assistant Coach at the New South Wales Waratahs)
Invisible monitoring; what is it and why all coaches should be striving towards it with Jace Delaney (Director of Performance and Sports Science at University of Oregon)
Getting and keeping a job in strength and conditioning with Nick Grantham (Performance Enhancement Specialist)
Speed training in team sports; profiling, mechanics and the importance of eccentric training with Mike Young (Owner of Athletic Lab & Director of Performance at North Carolina Courage)
The current state of sports nutrition in American collegiate and pro sport with Pratik Patel (Director of Performance Nutrition and Assistant S&C Coach at New York Giants)
Working with snow sport athletes, agile periodisation and learnings from working in schools with Rob Walsh (Head of Strength & Conditioning at Netherlands Ski & Snowboard)
Team sport athletes & track sprinters; differences, models, and profiling with James Wild (Technical Lead for Performance at Surrey Sports Park)
High intensity interval training and manipulating variables and effects with Martin Buchheit (Sports Scientist and S&C Coach) & Paul Laursen (Sports Scientist and Coach)
Developing physical qualities and reducing injury risk in-seaon in the NBA players with Ramsey Nijem (Head Performance and Strength & Conditioning Coach at the Sacramento Kings)
Strength and conditioning in general population vs professional athletes with Kevin Carr (Coach & Manager at Mike Boyle Strength & Conditioning and Owner of Movement as Medicine)
What skills coaches should be developing apart from coaching and the Pacey Performance Podcast with Rob Pacey (Host of the Pacey Performance Podcast)
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