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:
CBD for athletes: Is it safe and what are the potential benefits for recovery, sleep and brain injuries with Graeme Close
#Bitesize - Developing deceleration ability in the gym and on the field with Tom Dos’Santos and Alistair McBurnie
Helping athlete get fast with speed profiling: Is it a technical or physical adjustment that is needed (?) with Ryan Grubbs
#Bitesize - Managing, monitoring and preventing hip and groin injuries with Ed Gannon
A guide to career longevity - Lessons from 32 years as a strength coach with Joe Kenn
#Bitesize - Recovery in the NFL with Dave Hamilton
What speed training methods should team sport coaches take from track & field (and what they shouldn’t)? with Cam Josse
#Bitesize - The force vector myth with Dan Cleather
Isometric training; Assessments, progressions and regressions, and programming for different populations with Alex Natera
#Bitesize - Choosing the right plyometric exercises for your athletes with Jeremy Sheppard and Dana Agar-Newman
Choosing the right wearable tech for your athletes and which is worth the investment, Whoop or Oura(?) with Sian Allen
#Bitesize - Maintaining shoulder health with athletes and the ASH test with Ben Ashworth
Building a rehab running framework to maximise performance and minimise re-injury with Simon Harries
#Bitesize - What is blood flow restriction training and how can it be used in rehab with Chris Gaviglio
Building a genuine network and expanding your responsibilities to make yourself indispensable with Donnell Boucher
#Bitesize - Why and how to use obstacle courses with youth athletes with Jeremy Frisch
Research in real-life: Unravelling what injury prevention strategies really works in practice with Nicol van Dyk
#Bitesize - Identifying and fixing common sprint technique errors in team sport athletes with Cam Josse
The Nordic hamstring exercise; are they safe and effective for athletes (?) with Franco Impellizzeri
#Bitesize - Using Frans Bosch’s methods with Australia Rugby with John Pryor
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