Steph Mock, Assistant AD for Sports Performance at the University of Pittsburgh is on this week's episode of the Pacey Performance Podcast. Steph traced her journey from high school sports to a collegiate volleyball career at West Virginia University. She later transitioned into strength conditioning, working at Clemson University and Mississippi State University, before returning to her alma mater. Her mentors, especially Rick Franzblau, played a crucial role in her professional development.
The discussion turns to the experience of being a woman in the predominantly male field of strength and conditioning. Steph highlights the importance of viewing the role as one of leadership, emphasizing skills such as relationship building and managing complex situations, which are gender-neutral. She acknowledges the influence of female leaders within the University of Pittsburgh, including the Chancellor and the Athletic Director, in her career development. This segment underscores the evolution in the field, where gender is becoming less of a defining factor in defining one's leadership and professional capabilities.
A significant portion of the podcast is devoted to the topic of microdosing in training, particularly its application in collegiate sports. Steph delves into her first exposure to the concept at a conference in 2018 and how it influenced her approach to training the volleyball team at the University of Pittsburgh. She explains how microdosing, or splitting training sessions into shorter, more frequent sessions, is particularly effective for in-season training. This approach helps to navigate the constraints of athletes’ schedules, including practices, competitions, and academic commitments. She emphasizes that this methodology allows for more focused, specific stimulus in training sessions, aiding in better preparation and recovery for athletes. The adoption of microdosing was already in place at the University of Pittsburgh, thanks to the head volleyball coach, making it easier for Steph to implement and enhance the practice.
If you're looking to introduce micro dosing into your programming, check out this episode with Steph.
Main talking points:
Translating knowledge of speed from other sports to soccer with Tom Taylor
Jump training & the importance of “deep tier” jumps with Matt McInnes Watson
Integrating speed training into an athletic development programme with Joey Bergles
The EXOS way to develop fast athletes with Brent Callaway, Anthony Hobgood and Nic Hill
#Bitesize - Tackle technique and what American Football can learn from rugby with Andy Ryland
Reflections from working across the elite football trifecta: Premier League club, league and federation with James Bunce
Utilising a data driven approach to rehab with Alan Murdoch, Jason Avedesian and Nick Court
#Bitesize - Flat foot versus ball of the foot landings in jump training with Eamonn Flanagan
How to prepare players for the NFL with TedRath
Learnings from building a performance department from scratch with Adam Parr
How to profile performance staff. What does “success” look like for different roles with Martin Buchheit
How to coach and programme “true” plyometrics with Eamonn Flanagan
Isometrics for performance enhancement and rehabilitation with Connor Schoepp
How to assess and rehab hip and groin injuries with Steve Short
#Bitesize - How to test neck strength with Gavin Pratt
Changing the narrative around health and performance of young athletes and people With Kelvin Giles
#Bitesize - How to test and train curvilinear sprinting with Alberto Filter
Optimising tackle technique and building confidence in contact with Andy Ryland
Using GPS to understand HOW someone moves, not just where they move through SpeedSig with Jason Weber
Managing and maximising the rise in individual athlete support teams with Ben Rosenblatt and James Collins
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