In this episode of the Pacey Performance Podcast, Rob is joined by James Bunce, Performance Consultant & Owner, XG Performance. James shares his journey, starting from Southampton, where he climbed up to head of the department from initially starting as an intern in the academy, through his transition to the Premier League to develop a high-performance department, to taking on challenges in the US and Monaco. Reflecting on his experiences, James discusses the excitement and challenges of setting up his consultancy, including working on the 30th MLS franchise in San Diego.
The episode delves into the essence of succeeding in the competitive sports industry, highlighting the need for hustle, differentiation, and continuous learning. It underscores the importance of professionalization and modernization of coaching practices, alongside advocating for a focus on athletic development and player performance pathways. The discussion also covers the challenges of transitioning to consultancy roles, the value of professionalizing football environments, and the need for education and awareness in talent identification and development.
Rather than just being a bio, James dives into the detail of some key areas that he is particularly proud of during his career. He describes what the catalyst was which enabled him to transition from intern to head of department at Southampton FC. Then he answers a lot of questions on why the Premier League close to support certain rules like the necessity for BASES accreditation for its academy staff, while also diving deep into the reasons why growth and maturation monitoring is so key for the development of elite players. His time at Monaco is also an area where James provides some really actionable insights, particularly around data collection and implementing standards.
If you're working in football and are looking for insights into what its really like working at a Premier League club, a league or federation, this episode with James Bunce is for you.
Main talking points:
Speed training for youth athletes: Lessons from the national high school S&C coach of the year with John Garrish
#Bitesize - A new way to rehabilitate hamstring injuries with Jack Hickey
From S&C coach in Germany to Director of High Performance in the MLS in 5 years - Lessons from moving up the ladder with Max Lankheit
#Bitesize - CBD oil and its potential benefits and risks with Graeme Close
Daily monitoring and the industry’s cautious approach to performance enhancement with Phil Glasgow
#Bitesize - Developing and living by a coaching philosophy with Des Ryan
Speed training: What we know, what we think we know and what is a good guess with Peter Weyand
#Bitesize - Keeping the main thing the main thing and winning the Rugby World Cup with Aled Walters
Jump testing: Looking at metrics that matter and learning from some of the best jumpers in the world with Eric Leidersdorf
#Bitesize - How to get the most out of your RPE data with Aaron Coutts
Improve your athlete testing by breaking down the mechanics of your sport with Adam Petway
#Bitesize - What impact can performance coaches have on esports athletes and their performance with Taylor Johnson
Getting, keeping and excelling in a strength and conditioning role in pro sport with Des Ryan, Dave Slemen and Chris Bishop
#Bitesize - Speed and its place in the return to play process with Alan Murdoch
Working across multiple sports vs one sport for career longevity with Jeremy Bettle
#Bitesize - Where to start with programming and monitoring resisted sprints with Ken Clark
Coaching sub-10 sprinters: What works and what doesn’t with Steve Fudge
#Bitesize - The problems and solutions to over-cueing and over-regressing speed and agility drills with Jon Goodwin
Using jump profiling to answer performance questions with Joseph Coyne
#Bitesize - Working with some of the best footballers in the world with Ben Rosenblatt and Martin Evans
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