In this episode of the Pacey Performance Podcast, Senior Adjunct Fellow at University of Technology Sydney, Tania Spiteri discussed the pivotal considerations surrounding agility and change of direction (COD) training and testing. Tania brings forth her extensive experience, ranging from grassroots to elite and Olympic level athletes, to provide listeners with a comprehensive understanding of these crucial athletic components.
Tania delineates the difference between agility and COD, establishing that while both are integral to athletic performance, they are distinctly different in their application and assessment. Agility is defined as the ability to alter velocity or direction in response to a stimulus, thereby incorporating a decision-making element. In contrast, COD pertains to the physical and technical capacity of an athlete to change direction, assessed through pre-planned drills, devoid of a decision-making component.
The discussion further delves into the constraints that influence agility performance, exploring the multifaceted interactions between the athlete, task, and environmental factors. Tania emphasizes the imperative of understanding and quantifying the underlying mechanisms and constraints that facilitate enhanced performance and injury mitigation. She underscores the necessity for training drills to be representative of the sport, ensuring they are progressively overloaded, specific, and varied to optimize development and transfer to competitive settings.
Tania's expertise provides a rich resource for coaches, athletes, and sports scientists seeking to optimize training and testing protocols for agility and COD, ensuring they are both effective and reflective of the dynamic demands of competitive sport.
Main talking points:
Anaerobic speed reserve: Individualising conditioning in team sports with Phil Scott
#Bitesize - Testing changing of direction ability: Is it worthwhile with Alistair McBurnie and Tom Dos’Santos
Training the lower limb to improve performance and reduce injury risk with Colin Griffin
#Bitesize - Using run-specific isometric strength training with youth athletes and different populations with Alex Natera
Data science, data visualisation and evaluating the effectiveness of a programme with Johann Windt
#Bitesize - What impact strength actually has on speed with Peter Weyand
Debunking 5 myths on speed training and getting team sport athletes FAST with Pete Burridge
#Bitesize - How to evaluate sports technology with Xavi Schelling
Heart rate variability: What we know and how it can be used to inform training prescription with Marco Altini
Mental skills training: The untapped strategies to help athletes perform with Colleen Hacker
#Bitesize - Designing the optimal warm up with Rett Larson
Mentoring and building the skills needed to succeed in performance sport with Craig White
#Bitesize - Whoop vs Oura and which device to choose with Sian Allen
Coaching agility using a constraints led approach with Shawn Myszka
#Bitesize - Gym based assessments to help guide speed training with Ryan Grubbs
Linking a strength & power programme to a game model to maximise on-field performance with Shane Lehane
#Bitesize - Tackling common sleep problems in athletes with Luke Gupta
Training tendons: What really matters for performance and rehabilitation with Seth O’Neill
#Bitesize - Implementing Frans Bosch’s methods and the importance of hip lock with Leigh Egger
Data management & analysis: The essentials skills needed for the future S&C coach with Ryan Curtis
Create your
podcast in
minutes
It is Free
Coach Carvalho Podcast
From Corner2Corner
Golf Podcast: next on the tee
The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz
The MeatEater Podcast