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:
#Bitesize - Barriers encountered by women in strength and conditioning with Sophia Nimphius, Brian Gearity and Lorena Torres
Optimising athlete recovery and managing load effectively across multiple sports with Carmen Colomer
Maximising resisted sprint training and speed training with youth athletes with Micheál Cahill
#Bitesize - How to maximise heart rate variability (HRV) data quality with Marco Altini
Blood flow restriction training: Applications in rehab, recovery and strength training with Stephen Patterson
#Bitesize - What is maximal aerobic speed (MAS) and how it can be used to programme conditioning with Nathan Heaney
Developing and maintaining an injury risk reduction strategy at the Kansas City Royals with Austin Driggers
How to develop an NBA player: Assessments, programmes and methodologies with Nathan Spencer
#Bitesize - Data visualisation principles with Johann Windt
Deceleration testing and training: Applying the research in college football with Joey Guarascio
#Bitesize - How to programme and coach resisted sprints with Håkan Andersson
Maximising the impact of RPE data and other subjective measures with Shaun McLaren
Science and application of velocity based training with Dan Baker, Lachlan Wilmot and Jonathon Weakley
#Bitesize - Managing tendinopothies with blood flow restriction training and isometrics with Luke Vella
Maximal aerobic speed vs. Tempo: Which is optimal for team sport aerobic fitness (?) with Nathan Heaney
#Bitesize - The current state of hamstring rehabilitation practice with Jurdan Mendiguchia
Maximising the use of eccentric training for sports performance with Pete Burridge, Mike Young and John Wagle
A critique of the “knees over toes” phenomenon and maximising cross training prescription with Nathan Kiely
#Bitesize - Managing and monitoring the menstrual cycle in World Cup winning athletes with Dawn Scott
Anaerobic speed reserve: Individualising conditioning in team sports with Phil Scott
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