In this episode of the Pacey Performance Podcast, after 7 years since he first appeared on the show, Rob is joined by High Performance Consultant, Kelvin Giles. With a career spanning decades in both the UK and Australia, Kelvin brings a wealth of experience and insight into the challenges and successes of coaching. This episode takes an in-depth look at the shifting landscape of youth sports, focusing on the critical need for a holistic approach to training and well-being.
Kelvin, starting as a volunteer coach and rising to work with professional athletes, shares his journey and the lessons learned along the way. He delves into the changing culture in sports, particularly how the emphasis on results and rankings is negatively impacting young athletes' health, leading to increased injury rates and a decline in technical robustness.
The conversation then shifts to the detrimental effects of prioritizing competitive winning over overall health and well-being. Kelvin highlights the decline in fundamental movement skills among young people and stresses the importance of addressing this issue in schools and sports programs.
Recognizing the need for a paradigm shift, Kelvin discusses the necessity for coaches to prioritize individualized training and mentorship. He emphasizes the importance of developing movement literacy and foundational skills in young athletes, ensuring their physical health and performance are equally catered for.
In a profound reflection on the state of high-performance sports, Kelvin points out the often-overlooked consequences these programs have on the majority's health and well-being. The discussion underscores the need for a balanced approach, one that values foundational movements and physical activity in the education and training of young athletes.
Moreover, Kelvin provides practical advice on creating flexible and adaptive training programs. He advocates for a focus on personal bests and providing meaningful feedback, rather than just concentrating on outcomes. This approach, he argues, is vital for the holistic development of young athletes.
Towards the end of the episode, Kelvin stresses the significance of sharing resources and knowledge for the betterment of youth athlete health and performance. His commitment to this cause is evident through his work and the impactful resources he has made available to the broader coaching community.
Main talking points:
Training tendons; implications for sprinting, jumping and rehabilitation with Keith Baar (Professor of Molecular Exercise Physiology at University of California, Davis)
EPL > NHL > NFL; lessons from working in three of the biggest sports in the world with Jo Clubb (Sports Performance Consultant)
Contextual strength & coordination training, traditional strength training and intelligent science with John Pryor (Senior S&C Coach at Rugby Australia [Wallabies])
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)
Assessing growth and maturation, developing an LTAD framework, and talent identification with James Baker (Senior S&C Coach at Aspire Academy)
Murderball & training intensity; creating the fittest team in the Premier League with Benoit Delaval (1st Team Fitness Coach at Leeds United FC)
Eccentric training; the why, when and how with Angus Ross (Senior Strength & Conditioning Specialist at High Performance Sport New Zealand)
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)
From Olympic hockey gold to European football: what we can learn from other sports with Rick Cost (Head of Performance at Feyenoord)
What is data science (and what isn't), data informed decision making, and the gamification of coaching with Sudarshan Gopaladesikan (Head of Sports Data Science at S.L. Benfica)
Winning the Rugby World Cup, alcohol periodisation, and conditioning rugby players with Aled Walters (Head of Physical Preparation at Leicester Tigers)
The future of fitness qualifications in football, 24/7 support staff and what happened to the 'fitness coach' (?) with Paul Balsom (Fitness Coach for the Swedish National Football Team)
From NFL > esports: working in esports as a performance coach, what coaches can bring, and how can you pivot into this area with Taylor Johnson (Chief Performance Engineer at Statspace)
Expectations of sports science, the rise of the PhD, and the 'problem' with research with Barry Drust (Industrial Professorial Fellow at University of Birmingham)
Performance recovery, working with Olympic sprinters, and growing industry trends with Robin Thorpe (Sports Performance Scientist)
Recovery, load monitoring and a decade working at the biggest football club in the world with Robin Thorpe (Sport Performance Scientist)
Blood flow restriction (BFR) training; more than just a rehabilitation tool with Chris Gaviglio (Senior S&C Coach at the Queensland Academy of Sport)
Isometric training; the why, when and how with Danny Lum (Head of S&C at Singapore Sport Institute)
Shifting the training 'ideal' when working in the NBA with Carl Bergstrom (Head Performance Coach at Golden State Warriors)
Bridging the gap between competition demands & physical capabilities in footballers with Ben Rosenblatt (Physical Performance Coach at The FA) & Martin Evans (Physical Performance Coach at The FA)
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