The Petey Performance Podcast: Recent Episodes
Peter Wright
The ramblings of a slightly irate Strength, Conditioning & Rugby Coach on a diverse range of topics.
In this episode of The Petey Performance Podcast, I explore the vision, mission, and values that drive both my personal life and my business. Discover how these elements intertwine and the incredible benefits of living in alignment with your core values.
I also share an overview of my journey as a business owner, highlighting key lessons learned along the way. Whether you’re passionate about sports, coaching, fitness, or athletic development, this episode offers valuable insights and inspiration to elevate both your personal and professional journey.
In this solo episode, I provide an update on the future of the podcast and the overall direction of my business. I share 20 invaluable lessons I’ve learned over the years about injury, rehabilitation and athlete’s returning to play.
It’s packed with personal insights and practical advice, making it a must-listen for anyone involved in sports performance and athlete development.
This week I’m joined by Gerard O’Donnell, a renowned coach guiding Ireland’s elite athletes towards the Olympics and international championships. We delve into the intricacies of coaching, with a detailed discussion on athletics and the emergence of a golden generation of Irish athletes.
Gerard shares his insights on the significance of personal branding for athletes and what the Irish public can expect from their representatives at the upcoming Olympics. Tune in for an inspiring conversation filled with expert advice and forward-looking perspectives on the future of Irish athletics.
You can find out more about Gerard and his coaching philosophy over at godspeed.ie
In this episode, I discuss the benefits, and offer insights into hybrid coaching, which combines online guidance with in-person sessions, illustrating its effectiveness through my recent hands-on training and return to play with various athletes, including discussions on rehabilitation and performance enhancement across different sports.
I also provide personal insights into coaching philosophies and the nuanced approach needed for individual athlete development.
The second part of the episode features a Q&A segment, addressing topics such as managing on-field sessions, adjusting running technique with the goal of improving efficiency, and tips for starting a sports performance-related social media page online.
Time-Stamps:
01.06 - Hybrid Coaching
11:29 - Fast to Fit protocol & Game simulation
20:15 - Q& A
21:19 - Programming Templates
45:20 - Mistakes I've Made on Social Media
In this solo episode I discuss the importance of personal branding and social media utilisation for athletes, highlighting how creating a strong personal brand can open opportunities for both professional and amateur athletes worldwide.
I discuss the mechanics of building a personal brand, the impacts on one's career and business, and the broader implications on the sports' popularity, particularly focusing on the sports of the GAA.
Special insights are drawn from Gaelic football, hurling and ladies Gaelic football with a comparative look at athlete branding practices in Australia. I also use some examples of Irish athletes that have created strong personal brands for themselves, which have in turn benefitted both themselves and their sport at large!
Time-Stamps:
02:11 - Comparative Branding Insights from Australia
03:02 - Personal Branding: Opportunities and Challenges
05:52 - Insights from Gaelic Football and Hurling
06:34 - Impact on Sport Popularity and Marketing
10:16 - The Business of Personal Branding
31:22 - Future Directions for Athletes and Branding
This week I’m joined on the podcast by Fermanagh Senior Footballer and online S&C coach, Brenda Bannon.
We begin with a conversation around her current hamstring tendinopathy and what she has been doing to address it and get back to full fitness! Brenda opens up about the challenges and triumphs of her rehabilitation so far. She shares the nitty-gritty of her current tailored rehab regimen, what she’s learned through the injury and the nuances of her hamstring rig sessions provided by the GPA.
We follow that by going into the intricate balance of maintaining her athletic performance while juggling her commitment to helping others as an online coach. We delve into the mental side of performance and leadership. With the wisdom of someone who has navigated the peaks and valleys of a long competitive career so far, she speaks to the power of maintaining a growth mindset.
Her transition from radiography to strength and conditioning coaching illustrates a bold leap, guided by passion and a desire to impact the lives of athletes more profoundly. This is a particularly individual journey and one that Brenda is proud to speak about candidly.
Tackling personal challenges like social anxiety and professional pressures, Brenda offers an unflinchingly honest look at the hurdles of building a personal brand and the emotional toll of a public persona. This episode peels back the layers on how she manages these aspects and the importance of her use of therapy and sports psychology in the past. Brenda speaks about the ebbs and flows of personal development and finding gratitude amid adversity.
We finish off with a discussion about her burgeoning career in S&C coaching, providing a beacon of inspiration for those navigating their paths in sports, leadership, or any field driven by a quest for excellence.
Time-Stamps
0:00 - Hamstring Rehab and Performance Strategies
9:57 - Growth Mindset in Sports and Leadership
15:39 - Transitioning to S&C & Career Pressures
27:48 - Social Anxiety and Personal Development
38:47 - Journey of Growth and Gratitude
45:42 - Passion for Strength and Conditioning Coaching
1:00:26 - Personal Growth and Coaching Journey
How does an elite athlete in one sport, that’s just won the ultimate prize of the All-Ireland Final, transition into a completely new sport, as a beginner, in just under a week?
How does that athlete then go on to not only develop new skills and earn a position in the starting team, but go on to win a Premiership with her new club in her first season?
Jennifer Dunne is a trailblazer, a first of her kind and an incredibly open conversationalist, which is why this conversation is a must not miss for any athlete or fan in Ireland or Australia.
Join us as Jennifer, the primary school teacher and All-Ireland winning Dublin-midfielder, shares her extraordinary journey of triumph in Ireland followed by an adventurous chapter and ultimately successful first season in Australia in the AFLW.
From the whirlwind of her All-Ireland victory celebrations to the subsequent plunge into the Australian lifestyle and the Aussie Rules fields, she paints a picture of 2023 that would make any athlete jealous. However, her heartfelt reflections on the challenges and exhilaration of the transitions are as inspiring as they are insightful.
Navigating the world of elite sports requires more than just physical prowess; it's a mental game that champions like Jennifer find balance in with grace and resilience. In our conversation, we unpack the complexities of adapting to different team cultures, the art of compartmentalising emotions for peak performance, and the humility needed to approach each new season as a fresh start.
Jennifer's perspective on the Irish influence in the AFLW, coupled with the debate over capping international talent, offers a thoughtful look at the cultural and professional enticements of playing abroad versus the innate passion for representing your club and county in the amateur world of Gaelic games.
Jennifer gives us a glimpse into the significant role off-field relationships play in on-field success with both Dublin and Brisbane Lions. Playing with your teammates is one thing, playing with your best friends is something entirely different and more powerful.
Through her experiences, we touch on broader themes of travel, emigration, and striking a balance between life as an athlete and the necessity for breaks and self-care. As Jennifer expresses her pride in promoting Ladies Gaelic Football and her hopes to inspire the next generation, listeners will find themselves moved by a story that transcends sports, embodying the universal values of adaptation, connection, and resilience.
Time-Stamps
0:00 - Moving Overseas
7:32 - Transitioning Between Gaelic Football and Aussie Rules
17:38 - Irish Players in AFLW
23:20 - Parallels between Brisbane Lions & Dublin GAA
30:01 - Building Team Bonds for Success
41:40 - Time Off and Traveling Abroad
44:25 - Irish Athlete's Experience in Australia
51:24 - Promoting Ladies Gaelic Football
56:56 - Achievements, Lessons, and Role Models
Caught off guard by a health scare on my journey back to the Ireland, I share some insight into what lessons I have learned from navigating that particular challenge. I also share some of my plans for the coming months at home and talk about what excites me about being back on Erin’s isle.
However, the focus of this episode is not on myself, it’s on the challenges of athlete rehabilitation in the online space, where the blend of quality and consistency sets the tone for how quickly they can recover and return to competition.
There are many nuances to effective coaching and one of the most important is how we communicate. It’s power is underestimated and the skill of communication is often under-trained and not focused on by coaches and practitioners alike.
Every word, every gesture carries weight, and finding the right balance is both an art and a science.
I also explore the coach-athlete relationship, delving into the psychological factors and resilience needed in the face of injury and the skills of listening, empathy and trust that help the athlete to succeed in their struggles against adversity.
Time Stamps
0:00 - Health Scare Traveling Home
7:00 - Quality and Consistency in Rehabilitation
16:52 - Athlete Training and Coaching Dynamics
31:06 - Optimism, Resilience, and Athlete Recovery
36:37 - Effective Communication Strategies in Coaching
40:08 - Mentorship
47:24 - Athlete Recovery and Coaching Opportunities
This week I share my extraordinary experiences with two of the world’s most successful rugby 7s teams, the All Blacks Sevens and the Black Ferns Sevens, and the profound professional and personal insights gained from my couple of days spent shadowing with them in Mount Maunganui.
My adventures this month didn't stop there; the lessons learned from the GWS Giants and the dynamics in AFL teams like Collingwood Magpies and NRL’s finest, Wests Tigers have profoundly influenced my approach to teamwork and leadership.
With valuable contributions from Peter Hughes in NZ and other experts in Oz, we delve into the critical balance of collaboration and privacy in the workplace, helping athletes to fulfil their potential while maintaining a focus on connecting with them on a personal level as well.
Within this episode, I unravel the art of fostering a family-first culture that aligns with the team’s and community’s values. I share my experiences from two very different professional setups and hopefully impart some wisdom that I have been so lucky to garner on my travels around Australasia.
Hopefully you’ll learn the importance of fostering athlete autonomy and the necessity for coaches to build trust with their athletes first before imparting their wisdom and seeking to help.
Join me for these stories and strategies that might just change the game for you too.
Time-Stamps
00:00 - Professional Development and Cultural Insights
13:45 - Key Lessons From GWS Giants
18:44 - Effective Communication and Leadership in Sports
30:40 - Developing Positive Habits in Athletes
38:08 - Leadership, Culture, and Skill Development
45:15 - Life Updates
When life hurls a curveball, some of us catch it and change the game. That's exactly what Ian Reeves, formerly of the Gaelic Players Association and now with the South Sydney Rabbitohs, did when he joined the world of Australia’s National Rugby League.
Join us for an intimate conversation where Ian gets candid about the highs and lows of his international leap in coaching psychology, and the unexpected conversations that catapulted him from Ireland to Australia.
Discover the day-to-day grind that powers a top NRL team and the personal anecdotes that map Ian's incredible journey of adaptability and learning on the fly.
Ian goes into detail on the multifaceted role of a psychologist working with elite athletes and walks us through the evolution of athlete support, detailing the fine balance between enhancing mental skills for peak performance and providing therapeutic aid.
Ian offers insights into how he fosters an environment that encourages athletes to be open, how he builds and maintains strong relationships and offers his playbook for maintaining mental well-being amidst the pressures of professional sports.
Wrapping things up with robust insights, Ian Reeves emphasises the importance of nurturing a life beyond the field.
He spotlights NRL star Latrell Mitchell's approach to dual career development, illustrating the power of having diverse interests and preparing for life after sports.
Tune in to this episode for a blend of heartfelt storytelling and actionable advice that's sure to provide you with some actionable insights for the long game ahead.
Time-stamps
0:07 - Transition From GPA to NRL
8:11 - Supporting Athletes Through Mental Skills
19:05 - Building Relationships and Communication
32:14 - Personal Development and Relationships Abroad
36:34 - Setting Boundaries in Conversations With Athletes
47:24 - Professional vs Amateur Approach
52:39 - Athletic Identity and Dual Career Development
This week I sit down with All-Ireland winner and new GWS Giant recruit Éilish O’Dowd.
Éilish’s story is an interesting one as she is the only All-Ireland winner to have transferred to her adopted county of Dublin and won the championship in the same-season!
Following a stellar year last year, she’s swapped the Gaelic football field for the Australian Rules oval and has just begun her journey with the Giants in the AFLW.
Éilish provides us with unprecedented insights into the complexities of adapting to new teammates year after year as she fills us in on her journey.
Éilish discusses the challenges of mastering a new sport and how her Gaelic prowess gives her an edge in some aspects of AFLW.
Having just beaten the Giant’s previous record in the 1.6km time trial, she goes into depth on why she enjoys the aspects of the game that allow her to run in open field.
Her anecdotes paint a vivid picture how she aims to grasp the sport's intricacies and the parallels between the elite athleticism demanded in both AFLW and Gaelic football.
Advice from fellow Irish players who've navigated this path into Aussie rules has had a profound impact on Éilish. With the standout message being the journey is as much about patience and joy as it is about skill and strategy.
Transitioning isn't just about learning the sports tactics; it's a full-on emotional rollercoaster.
Uprooting from Dublin to Sydney is no easy decision and Éilish goes into detail on the many variables that she had to consider before taking her next step.
We also touch on her beginnings in Leitrim, her love of her home county and her initial concerns with transferring club from Ballinamore to Na Fianna. Her candid insights into the realities of burnout in sport paint a real picture of why many athletes have chosen to change clubs in recent years and highlight the dangers of pursuing a route that doesn’t serve you for too long.
This podcast provides fantastic insights for any young athletes that are struggling with similar issues or are venturing on similar journeys.
Time-Stamps
0:00 - Transitioning into the GWS Giants
7:26 - Learning a New Sport
19:15 - From Dublin to Sydney
28:32 - Club Transfer & Culture Shock
43:10 - Community, Athletics, and Family
This week I sat down with Niamh Kelly of the Adelaide Crows, to talk about her experiences over the off-season, travelling home to Ireland and back Oz, before she’s expected back for pre-season.
Niamh shares how she aims to achieve balance between taking a mental break and staying in top shape for the upcoming season.
We speak in-depth about all that Niamh has learned over the last 4 years in Australia playing in the AFLW. We also cover her relationships with other AFLW players, such as her sister Grace and former podcast guests, Paris McCarthy & Julie O’Sullivan.
Niamh touches on the mentorship that players receive smooths the transition into the league, the evolution of her game, and the focus areas that are critical to her ongoing success.
We delve into how Niamh stays grounded and the importance of a strong support network in coming back from serious injuries through the trials of rehabilitation.
We go into the added spice that comes with playing against her sister and former Mayo teammates in a new professional sport, and the 'banter' that often comes as part and parcel of the game.
Niamh’s positive attitude and clear passion for her athletic endeavours make it apparent why she has been successful, both on and off the field.
Join us for an episode that makes it clear just what it takes to succeed as a professional athlete in a country away from home!
Time-Stamps
0:00 - Niamh’s Off-season Training and Adventures
3:57 - Learning and Growing in the AFLW
9:58 - Niamh’s Journey Towards AFL Success so far
21:59 - AFLW from an Irish Perspective
29:28 - Australian vs Irish Culture and Self-Belief
41:54 - Ideas to Grow Both AFLW & Ladies Gaelic Football
49:39 - Balancing Work and Life in Sport
This week I speak on a couple of topics that I and others have probably been reluctant to speak about in the past.
However, authenticity is really important to me and I’ve made a conscious decision to be open and honest on this podcast about the wins that I have, as well as the struggles that I’ve been dealing with.
Some of these struggles will be familiar to fellow coaches, podcasters & business owners, and maybe even those not in this space as well.
I speak about the struggles of booking guests and how I frame this barrier in my mind.
I touch on the resistance faced on a daily basis by content creators, the dedication it takes to polish interviewing skills and the self-criticism and commitment that sometimes is necessary to be a standout in your own field.
This episode peels away the glamour to expose the persistence and personal growth required to steer the ship of self-employment. Join me as I reflect on the lessons learned from both the triumphs and the setbacks, and how leading a team adds weight to every decision I make.
Online coaching is often thought about as an incredibly lucrative career path and even though it comes with its perks, there are many unspoken problems that coaches face when moving into the online space. I make an attempt to touch on a couple of them today.
Speaking on the self-criticism and doubt that comes with clients departing and the therapeutic challenge of knowing you're enough, I do my best to be as candid as possible with the hope that it will help someone else in a similar position.
And as well as that, I speak about the balancing act of fostering deep connections and managing social anxiety while holding space for others.
Life as an entrepreneur is a journey of continuous learning, and I speak again about the importance of self-improvement in accelerating your career development and practice.
I finally touch on my attempt to add value to the industry in laying out the blueprint of my online mentorship program, designed to guide others in mastering their craft, be it speed development or effective team communication.
If I can help a few people that were in the position I was in a few years ago, then it’ll be more than worthwhile to choose optimism, creation and putting my process out into the world, rather than choosing to stay pessimistic, cynical and closed-off.
Drop me a message with the word “Mentorship” if you’re interested in hearing more about what I’ve put together!
Time-Stamps
0:00 - Struggles of Being an Entrepreneur
13:02 - Navigating Personal Growth and Social Anxiety
26:13 - Importance of Learning and Personal Development
32:51 - Optimism in Creating Mentorship Programs
39:11 - Performance Mentoring and Rehab Opportunities
My decision to move down under to Australia was made with long-term personal and professional growth in mind.
My recent experiences in Oz have been incredibly valuable and I thought it appropriate to give the listeners a little life update in relation to everything that’s been happening in both my professional and private life.
With a conscious effort being made to grow the online business of Petey Performance, I have a number of online client victories and personal milestones to share with you guys.
I'm thrilled to unpack these narratives, from the gutsy rehabs to the thrilling triumphs of athletes preparing for county trials and new opportunities.
Each step and each story only fuels my desire to continue helping more people and providing new and informative content for my clients, followers and listeners.
Navigating the complexities of competition, I've realised that self-awareness is undoubtedly one of the most valuable qualities in a coaches arsenal.
I touch on that, but I also dive into detail around my own process for goal-setting and feedback, diving into the art of self-assessment and the importance of recognising the thin line between self-perception and reality.
I speak again about how a relevant needs analysis can unmask your potential and the transformative impact of consistent practice and new behaviour implementation.
Finally, I give you guys insights into the many valuable shadowing opportunities that I’ve had so far in Oz. I provide insights into my trips to NRL club, Wests Tigers, the South Sydney Rabbitohs and my experience in Melbourne with AFL club, Collingwood FC and two private gym facilities as well.
These insights cut through the noise, painting a picture of what it takes to nurture a growth mindset within the bustling ecosystem of a performance team.
Join me as I share what lessons I’ve learned on my travels so far, with many more to come I’m sure!
Time-stamps
0:00 Update and Success Stories in Australia
6:29 Goal Setting and Seeking Feedback
9:46 Personal Growth and Sporting Experiences
22:36 Coaching, Culture, and Performance Staff Importance
31:22 Coaching and Gym Observations and Experiences
44:17 March Membership Availability and Mentorship Introduction
Join us on episode 135 of the podcast as we are joined for a conversation on athletic mastery by Shane Lehane, esteemed athletic development coach for the Sydney Swans.
From the rugged fields of Leicester Tigers to the exhilarating pitches of the Melbourne Rebels, Shane shares his 18-year journey through the world of S&C, blending physical prowess with tactical understanding of game-demands.
Discover the cultural fabric and communication styles that Irish coaches like Shane weave into the Australian sports tapestry, enhancing team dynamics and coaching effectiveness in ways that textbook strategies never could.
Shane recounts his transition from elite rugby union to his current role Australian rules football. His candid reflections on self-discovery and the challenges of mastering a new sport provide valuable lessons for any young coaches entering the industry.
Discover how his Irish heritage shapes his coaching philosophy and fuels his courage to share innovative methodologies with peers and players alike.
Shane recounts insightful reflections on strength and conditioning, and his invaluable advice for aspiring athletes and coaches navigating the competitive landscape.
Each chapter of our conversation unveils philosophical insights that embrace fluidity over rigidity, respecting the nuanced artistry of training.
Join us for an enlightening episode that transcends physical training, delving into the essence of coaching and how we can effectively combine game models, physical preparation and psychological conditioning to develop well-rounded athletes that are capable of playing the game at the highest level possible.
Time-Stamps
0:00 Exploring Systems Thinking in Team Sports
11:54 The Evolution of Athletic Development Coaching
19:59 Team Performance in a New Environment
28:52 Tactical Periodization and Evaluating Athletic Role
36:57 Coaching Skills and Overcoming Presentation Reluctance
40:15 Multiple Perspectives in Strength Conditioning
52:56 Understanding Context and Nuance in Training
1:06:22 Advice for Breaking Into the Industry
Joining the conversation this week is Graeme Morris. Graeme is an Athletic Development Coach & leads the Rehab program at NRL powerhouse, Wests Tigers.
This is Graeme’s second appearance on the podcast, so we had a lot to talk about, as we sat down in the Tigers’ facility for a conversation about all things to do with his role, the coaching team and the amazing culture at the Tigers!
With the competitive season on the horizon, we spoke about what excites Graeme the most about waking up for work every morning and his aspirations for the season ahead.
Graeme also leads the speed and agility portion of the Tigers’ program, so we spent some time conversing about what he’s been interested by and has been observing of late.
We delve into the art of tailoring training to the individual, while never losing sight of the team's overarching game plan.
It's a delicate dance of precision and adaptability, and we offer a peek behind the curtain of what it takes to keep an elite rugby league squad at its peak, both physically and psychologically.
But beyond the field, we chart Graeme’s personal journey over the last couple of years as he’s transitioned from working for himself, to landing his dream job in team-sport.
If you’re a coach or athlete involved in team-sport, then this episode should have some nuggets of wisdom within the incredibly real conversation we had!
What a way to kick off season 4!
Time-Stamps
0:07 Authenticity, Rehab, Speed, and Excitement
13:56 Professional Athlete Training and Team Culture
23:19 Speed and Agility Coaching in Rugby
35:17 Coaching Approach and Authenticity
39:11 Authenticity and Purpose in Coaching
51:02 Lessons Learned in Coaching and Life
1:00:13 Advice for Younger Self Lessons Learned
Get ready to be transported from the rolling green fields of Kerry to the dynamic, fast-paced world of Australian Rules Football.
We have two former Kerry footballers, Paris McCarty and Julie O'Sullivan, who now don the red and white of Sydney Swans, sharing their incredible journey on this podcast.
They offer a sneak peek into their training regime, their Irish origins, and the stark reality of limited professional sports opportunities in Kerry that spurred their move Down Under.
Drawing parallels between Gaelic football, Australian Rules Football, and basketball.
This isn't a mere chatter about their transition from Gaelic football to AFL, but a profound conversation on pre-season training, recuperation from injuries, and the relentless pursuit to stay on top.
It's about the grit, the sweat, and the sheer willpower, wrapped in motivational anecdotes.
The episode doesn't stop there. We also delve into the nuances of different coaching styles across continents.
Our guests open up about the transparency, personal connection, and relentless drive their Australian coach brings to the game while highlighting the stark contrast with the US coaching style experienced by Paris during her D1 collegiate basketball career.
The conversation eventually navigates to their strengths, weaknesses, unforgettable moments, and their aspirations.
So, tune in and immerse yourself in the world of women's AFL, the life of professional athletes, and their indomitable spirit.
Time-Stamps
0:07 - AFLW and Kerry Football Journey
10:21 - Athletes' Experience in New York
15:52 - Skills in AFL and Gaelic Football
25:25 - Pre-Season Challenges and Game Importance
30:25 - Management and Coaching Styles
34:41 - Women's Australian Rules Football Strategies
47:54 - Irish Athletes on AFLW and Journeys
1:01:03 - Take Opportunities, Never Settle
With my impending move to Australia on the horizon, today’s solo episode covers my plans for the immediate future as transition the bulk of my business online.
I'll share the ups, downs, and all the in-betweens of this huge life shift, including potential opportunities this move might bring and the importance of prioritising mental health amidst change.
You'll also hear about my exciting plans to launch a virtual course/ mentorship program this coming January.
I cover athletic development and coaching eye in detail and outline how you can create a comprehensive and time-efficient process for improving speed and change of direction.
I'll share my experiences, insights, and some practical tips on topics like understanding biomechanics, effective communication with athletes, goal setting, and the gap that often exists in the middle to late stages of rehab and return to performance.
We'll also discuss the different archetypes of athletes and how to tailor their training to individualise their process and thus improve their performance.
I also go through the infrasternal angles and how knowing what to look for in relation to athlete characteristics has influenced my thought-process for development of speed and change of direction abilities.
We'll talk about how wide ISAs have a natural advantage in change of direction tasks due to their wider stance and ability to generate high forces, but we'll also discuss the potential strain and risks that come along as a result of their poorer reactivity.
I'll also reveal some common injuries seen in these athletes and discuss the impact of incorporating reactive and plyometric work into their training.
If you're currently perplexed by athlete archetypes and don’t know where to start when it comes to coaching eye for speed development, you definitely don't want to miss this.
Join Petey Performance: peteyperformance.com
Time-Stamps
0:07 - Moving to Australia and Future Ventures
12:45 - Designing a Comprehensive Athlete Training Program
20:19 - Wide ISAs and Running Mechanics Effects
24:41 - Gaelic Games Sprinting Techniques Analysis
35:37 - Identifying Overrotators and Underrotators
39:24 - Frontside and Backside Mechanics in Athletic
46:16 - Connections and Coaching in Australia
Get ready to lace up your football boots and step onto the pitch as Rory and I take you through his recent Monaghan Senior County Championship win.
We invite you into the team huddle as we speak about Scotstown's championship journey, revealing how he handled the post-game press, safeguarded team strategies, and navigated the recovery period.
As he reveals the highs and lows of their victory, you'll gain insight into the intense competitiveness of Monaghan Senior club football, the importance of a deep and diverse panel, and Scotstown's secrets to in-team harmony.
But the football talk doesn't stop at the club championships. We discuss how they've been preparing for the upcoming Ulster club championship, revealing the unique strategies for maintaining focus and keeping intensity high.
We also delve into the evolving goalkeeping role, with Rory sharing his thoughts on shot stopping, kicking, and high balling techniques that feature prominently in modern games.
As we wrap up, Rory and I take a break from the game to share some of the life lessons he's gleaned from his career on the pitch so far.
He underscores the importance of life beyond football, and discusses how to strike the balance between being a competitive athlete and maintaining his mental health.
This conversation is a testament to the complexities of football and life, revealing how to navigate the challenges and celebrate the victories in both.
So, strap on your shin guards, press play, and join us for an engaging, in-depth conversation on the beautiful game.
Join the GAA Gamespeed Blueprint: peteyperformance.com
Time-Stamps
0:02 - Post-Championship Victory and Recovery Discussion
5:38 - Challenges and Depth in Club Championships
14:31 - Achievements, Leadership, and Future Goals
22:17 - Challenges and Expectations in Ulster Championship
26:57 - Friendship and Leadership in Gaelic Football
33:36 - The Evolution of Goalkeeper Role
44:57 - Shot Stopping and Kick Outs in Gaelic Football
52:50 - Penalty Shootouts and the Desire to Win
1:01:58 - Achievements, Athletes, and Life Lessons
1:10:05 - Scotstown's Club Championship Victory
This episode is from a guest appearance on The DGR Podcast with David Grey.
We speak about my approach to coaching and my focus on late-stage rehab, running mechanics, and return to performance.
I share my personal experiences as both an athlete and a coach and I go into detail on how coaches' words and actions can greatly influence our athletes and clients.
We speak a lot about business, exploring the hybrid model of in-person and online coaching.
We delve into why movement matters in training and why some may be oblivious to the value of external feedback through the use of video, despite it's importance.
On the same note, we talk about how to systemise late-stage rehab for maximal efficiency.
I share my insights on how to assess and improve an athlete's technique, emphasising the importance of coach-athlete relationships and how they can be used to enhance performance.
Finally, we turn the spotlight on some recent tough decisions that I've made including why I turned down an head inter-county job.
We discuss how saying “no” can open doors for personal and professional growth and how building a solid brand can influence your career trajectory.
Whether you're a coach, an athlete, or just intrigued by the business of sports performance, this episode promises to be an enlightening journey.
Join the GAA Gamespeed Blueprint: peteyperformance.com
Time Stamps
0:02 - Sports Performance Coaching and Business Insights
8:15 - The Impact of Mindset on Performance
19:43 - Impact of Online Coaching and Movement
34:30 - Improve Coaching and Systemize Rehab Programs
42:39 - Coaching and Influencing in Athletic Training
47:57 - Job Decision
59:21 - Collaboration and Equipment in Performance Training
1:04:04 - Sports Injury, Future Plans in Australia
Join us for a candid and insightful discussion with a player who I've coached for the last couple of years and a good friend/teammate, Siobhán McGrath, as we walk down memory lane, reminiscing about our past seasons and her recent retirement from senior club football.
Siobhan opens up about the mounting mental pressures her team faced after unexpected triumphs, and how they've navigated the highs and lows of the game.
As we delve deeper into our conversation, Siobhan shares riveting anecdotes from her time with the Dublin senior ladies, painting a vivid picture of the adrenaline, nerves, and pressure that colour every game.
We pivot towards the subject of mental awareness in sports, shining a spotlight on player roles and the essentiality of a warrior mentality.
We also dive into how communication influences a team's performance and how Siobhan developed her football skills over time.
Finally, we engage in an enlightening discussion about Siobhan’s decision to retire, the expectations of the Dublin panel, and her dreams of winning a senior title with Thomas Davis.
We explore the importance of goal setting, the spirit of community in Thomas Davis, and the challenges of striking a balance between work and play.
Rounding up, we emphasise the significance of embracing enjoyment in life, learning from feedback, and cherishing the people and moments around us.
Don't miss out on this comprehensive exploration of Gaelic Football, retirement reflections, and the pursuit of balance and joy in life.
Purchase the GAA Gamespeed Blueprint Here!
Time-Stamps
0:07 - Club Season and Retirement Reflections
12:28 - Pressure and Performance in Sports
17:52 - Mental Awareness in Sports
23:27 - Communication in Football Development
28:07 - Player Management in Gaelic Football Evolution
41:01 - Retirement and Reflecting on Achievements
48:41 - Goal Setting and Community Spirit
1:02:33 - Finding Balance and Enjoyment in Life
Want to maximise your athletic potential in the off-season?
What if you could turn your downtime into an opportunity for remarkable improvement?
This episode is the one-stop source for all athletes seeking to enhance their performance during the off-season.
We start by discussing the importance of taking a well-deserved break, conducting an in-depth review of the past year, and setting goals for the future.
We highlight the crucial role of coaches in providing feedback and your role in introspection to identify possible roadblocks in your athletic journey.
Looking for actionable insights on how training impacts your performance?
We’ve got you covered. We tackle the concept of negative transfer of training and its effects on athletes.
Discover how repetitive movement patterns train our bodies to excel, contributing to your sudden leaps in performance.
We stress the necessity of deliberate practice with a focus on your weak points, not just your strengths.
And yes, we talk about why pitch work in the off-season is a game-changer!
But that's not all. We delve into strategies for athletic improvement, with an emphasis on the vital role of nutrition.
Hear us discuss why carbohydrates are crucial for intensity and performance, and why professional advice from nutritionists is a must. Plus, we touch on other elements of a healthy lifestyle, like adequate sleep and recovery.
Wrapping up, we explore the GAA Gamespeed Blueprint, a tailored 16-week program to hone speed and agility.
So, are you committed to becoming a better athlete in the off-season? Jump in and let’s start this journey together.
Time-Stamps
0:02 - Mistakes in Offseason Training
10:07 - Training's Impact on Athletic Performance
17:10 - Improving Athletic Skills in the Off-Season
24:28 - Training Strategies for Athletic Improvement
38:18 - Importance of Carbohydrates in Athletic Training
43:42 - GAA Gamespeed Blueprint and Future Plans
It's all about choices and timing.
Here's a tale that takes you through the obstacle-laden road of decision-making that came my way when I was offered a Head S&C role in an Inter-county setup.
The role was a perfect fit, yet the timing couldn't have been more off.
Find out how I managed to steer clear of burnout and stress by choosing to not take up this opportunity.
A six-day coaching routine had already been taking its toll on me, and the prospect of taking up the Inter-county role felt like it would mean sacrificing precious moments with family and friends, and my love for sport.
I hope my story inspires you to make decisions that work best for you and not just align with what's expected.
As I explore alternatives, like applying for a working holiday visa in Australia, I encourage you to listen in and remember - it's your life, your decisions.
Tune in now for an insightful solo episode on the Petey Performance Podcast.
Time-Stamps
0:07 - Turning Down an Intercounty Role
16:35 - Choosing Myself Over Others
In this week's episode, we engage in a candid conversation with Sports Nutritionist, John O’Connor.
We discuss in depth the different elements of Sports Nutrition within the GAA.
John gives us insights into questions at the elite level, alcohol consumption, the HPX Conference, and his career to date.
We also cover the GAA industry as a whole from a Sports Nutrition and S&C standpoint.
Tune in now for an insightful episode with John O’Connor.
Time Stamps
0:07Body Composition and Nutrition in Sports
13:26Nutrition's Importance in Sports Performance
22:23Drinking Bans in Team Sports Impact
29:57Alcohol, Nutrition, and Body Composition
35:50Lecturing, Relationships, and Sports Nutrition
44:07Sports Nutritionist in Ireland
57:04LeBron James and Elite Mindset
1:03:07Finding Your Own Path, Avoid Comparison
In this week's episode we engage in a deep conversation with Antrim GAA football and Business Owner, Eoghan McCabe.
We explore the world of a dedicated athlete in the demanding realm of Inter-County GAA.
Eoghan gives us some insights on injury management, business growth, networking, and achieving balance in his work and personal life.
We cover a ton of valuable topics ranging from, injuries and rehabilitation strategies, training and seeking external expertise, the dynamics of business and adding value to clients, scaling and challenging oneself, embracing opportunities, building industry connections, achieving a balanced life, and adopting a mindset of abundance.
Through intriguing discussions, gain a deeper understanding of Eoghan's experiences, aspirations, and the journey to his success both on and off the field.
Tune in now for an insightful episode with Eoghan McCabe.
Time Stamps
02:07 - Networking
09:09 - How coaching has accelerated growth
15:47 - Pushing Business
22:31 - Learning from Failure
30:02 - Pushing through injuries
37:15 - The Struggle of additional sessions
43:18 - Enjoying the fruits of your labour
51:21 - Secrecy in GAA
01:02:07 - The mindset of doubting others
In this week's episode we engage in a candid conversation with Michael McKillop, whose journey weaves through the dynamic realms of the Paralympics, and the profound wisdom that emerges from living outside one's comfort zone.
Delving into the mindset of our guest, we uncover the belief that embracing challenges is the key to realising one's potential, sparking a discussion on conscious efforts to live life outside the comfort zone.
We reflect on crucial life milestones, particularly their impactful experiences in the Paralympic games, and glean the profound lessons etched in those moments.
Drawing parallels between sports and life, we examine how an athlete's mindset and belief in oneself can shape their journey towards success. We also tackle the significance of acknowledging and accepting our own weaknesses, a fundamental aspect of personal growth.
Join us as we traverse through mental health, resilience, and personal frameworks, shedding light on overcoming tough times and the questions our guest consistently asks to navigate challenges.
Additionally, we explore the pivotal relationships and support systems that played an integral role in their success, particularly the unique dynamic of the father-son coach-athlete relationship.
Tune in now for an insightful episode with 4 time Paralympic gold medalist and 4-time world championship gold medalist Michael McKillop.
Time Stamps
01:17 - A common love for Golf
03:19 - The psychology of competing
06:51 - Life in retirement for Michael
08:22 - Self Focus
10:30 - Being coached by my dad
13:16 - Being an influence to para-athletes
18:20 - Media Attention
22:01 - The shock of how quick Michael was
26:02 - The moment Michael stepped up
29:28 - Going through injuries
31:03 - Michael and his fathers relationship
39:50 - Turning a negative into a positive
41:15 - Having the mental tool box for resilience
46:06 - Being out of your comfort zone
46:55 - Advice for full time Athletes
In today’s solo episode of the podcast, I share my thoughts on coming to the end of the Championship season.
Throughout the show, I share my personal thoughts on the emotions that come with being knocked out of the championship in the GAA.
This episode is an invitation to reflect on the emotional journey following defeat, offering insights into resilience and growth and what I have found has worked for me.
Tune in now for an insightful episode on how to handle the grief of a championship defeat.
Time Stamps
00:44 - Talking about loss and defeat
03:22 - Life is unfair
05:17 - Grieving after a championship defeat
07:39 - Doing what you need to do
10:49 - Taking the negative experiences out
13:34 - Praising the team
15:53 - The Club as a Family
In this week's episode of the podcast, we chat with Jessica Barr.
Jessica is an athlete and sports psychologist based in Ireland.
Join us as we delve into her groundbreaking PhD research on mental health stigma in elite sports.
Find out what surprised her most and the challenges she faced, plus a glimpse into the future of research in this crucial area.
It gets personal as we discuss coping strategies for athletes, drawing from the host's own athletic journey.
Learn why a growth mindset is the cornerstone of mental skills development and hear about her specialties, including resilience and a positive mindset.
We'll also touch on her work at the UPMC Sports Surgery Clinic, where she helps young people and athletes make triumphant returns to play after injuries and concussions.
Tune in now to hear more about Jessica's story.
Time Stamps
03:47 - How to deliver the end of year review
05:55 - When someone gets defensive
10:20 - Using similar terminology
13:28 - Using togetherness
18:05 - When is the appropriate time for a debrief after defeat
24:53 - Coping strategies for coaches
27:24 - Athletes identity
31:20 - How athletes can help themselves
36:49 - Jessicas Approach and experiences
41:40 - Developing strong relationships with your values
52:01 - Focusing on communication
In this weeks solo podcast, I delve deep into the world of championship GAA and explore the critical "Championship Don'ts" that every athlete, coach, and team should be aware of.
Join us as I dissect the strategies and mindsets that can make or break your championship journey.
From the importance of preparation, teamwork, and player psychology to the pitfalls of last-minute changes and external distractions, I go through it all.
I break down each "Don't" and provide practical insights and advice to help you stay on the path towards success.
Whether you're a seasoned athlete, a dedicated coach, or simply a sports enthusiast, leadership, togetherness, clarity and effort are going to be extremely important if you're to achieve peak performance when it matters most.
Tune in and learn how to keep your focus, maintain a winning mindset, and make the most of the opportunity in front of your face.
Time Stamps
00:53 - Previous Episodes
01:38 - What success is in the Championship
04:45 - The 9 Championship Dont's
05:27 - 1. Don't go into the games missing any of your key players
08:26 - 2. Don't attempt to implement a new game plan overnight.
15:40 - 3. Don't try to improve fitness at the last minute.
18:16 - 4. Don't under appreciate the importance of positive language and athlete psychology in the run up to these games.
23:21 - 5. Don't let infighting and personal issues permeate the group and impact togetherness.
26:24 - 6. Don't let people outside the group have an impact on what you are doing.
27:51 - 7. Don't let anything go unsaid. Respect each other enough to tell the truth.
31:21 - 8. Don't self sabotage because it's the easy way out.
38:42 - 9. Don't miss the forest for the trees.
In this week's episode of the podcast, we chat to Ray Connellan.
We chat about the rollercoaster ride of the club season – the highs, the lows, and everything in between.
Ever wondered how it feels to rekindle that fire for the game? Ray spills the beans on how he fell back in love with GAA and what keeps that passion alive.
We're also diving into the nitty-gritty of going pro and then transitioning to the world of elite amateur sports.
Don't forget our quick fire round, where we'll get personal. Discover their proudest moment, who their sports hero is, and the golden nuggets of wisdom they've gathered in the past year.
Oh, and the advice they'd give to their 18-year-old self – it's going to be a game-changer.
Tune in now to hear more about Ray’s story.
Time Stamps
01:54 - The difference coming from the league into the championship
04:02 - The pressure of playing in a senior championship game
09:21 - Rays leadership style
12:39 - Ray falling out of love with GAA
20:15 - All in doesn’t mean all in
26:48 - Managing commitment
33:20 - Effective training at club level
39:02 - the ratio of player to coaches and the effect this has
45:07 - How golf can help with GAA
49:16 - Self awareness in the game
52:24 - Rays values
57:48 - How Rays mental health has been effected
01:03:13 - Quickfire questions
In this weeks episode of the podcast, we chat to Tipperary and Roscrea hurler Alan Tynan.
We'll chat about everything from tackling the highs and lows of the Inter-County Gaelic season to finding breakthroughs and swapping rugby boots for GAA cleats.
We'll dive into what makes our guest tick, their personal ambitions on the field, and the incredible triumphs and challenges faced in the club scene.
And don't miss our quick fire round where we get real about proudest achievements, favourite athletes, and the wisdom Alan would share with their 18-year-old self.
Tune in now to hear more about Alan’s journey
Time-Stamps
02:20 - Reflections on the season ‘23
07:18 - Tipp v Waterford
12:31 - Alan’s impact on the game
18:50 - Mindset around facing Limerick
27:58 - Difference between club and inter-county player
33:41 - Mindset
39:07 - Inter-county season
43:20 - Split season
46:21 - Comparisons between Rugby and gaelic games
49:20 - Playing with Munster
56:40 - Confidence
01:00:24 - Why Alan has done so well athletically
01:07:19 - Quickfire questions
In this episode of the podcast, we dive into an insightful conversation with founder of Atlas Performance, Stephen Walsh.
We exploring various aspects of his coaching journey, diving into all things S&C, gamespeed and performance.
Stephen talks us through how he approaches coaching up and coming athletes, as well as how he gets the best out of athletes from any sporting background. Tune in now to hear more about Stephens journey!
In today’s solo episode of the podcast, I share my thoughts on working with those who want to work with you
Throughout the show, I delve into a myriad of insightful strategies aimed at enhancing your skillset as a professional.
From honing those skills to seeking wisdom from mentors and colleagues to carving out daily moments for expanding your expertise and abilities.
While establishing healthy boundaries remains crucial to prevent exhaustion, embracing that extra step can wield remarkable results in garnering client engagement.
Small gestures can yield substantial dividends, setting you apart from the crowd and garnering the admiration of your clients, ultimately cultivating a sterling reputation within your field.
Our ultimate aspiration centres on elevating the calibre of strength and conditioning within the GAA realm. A collective effort necessitates personal improvement, a stepping stone to fostering a positive industry-wide transformation.
Tune in now for an insightful exploration into how you can amplify your professional skill, accompanied by the remarkable rewards that follow suit!
In today’s solo episode of the podcast, I share my thoughts on taking pride in doing good work.
Throughout the episode, I touch on several key strategies to elevate your performance as a practitioner. From upskilling to seeking advice from mentors and fellow professionals, to dedicating time every day to broaden your knowledge and skills.
While setting boundaries is important in order to avoid burnout, going the extra mile can make a huge difference to your client buy-in. A little goes a long way and putting in extra effort sets you apart from those who don’t, earning the appreciation from your clients and helping you to establish a good reputation in the field.
With the end goal being to improve the overall quality of S&C in GAA, we each need to improve our own quality of work to have a positive impact on the industry.
Tune in now to learn more about how you can elevate your performance as a practitioner, and the benefits of doing so!
Time-stamps:
00:45 - The benefits of doing good work
02:40 - Mentors
04:55 - Putting in the work
09:25 - Establishing a good reputation
19:25 - Referring out to other practitioners
21:10 - Improving the standard of S&C in GAA
In this episode of the podcast, we dive into an insightful conversation with David Hawkshaw, exploring various aspects of his journey.
From his experiences in GAA and his transition from Leinster rugby to Connacht, we get an inside look at his remarkable career so far.
David shares insights into his leadership role as captain of the Irish 20s and his influence at Belvedere College.
We delve into the significance of mindset, discovering how David maintains his focus on the pitch to perform at his best.
Additionally, we explore the impact of family in shaping David's character from a young age.
Tune in now to hear more about David’s journey!
Time-stamps:
01:25 - David’s off-season
08:45 - His involvement with the GAA
16:30 - The importance of mindset
25:30 - Coming back from an injury
30:45 - Team dynamics
39:25 - His role models
45:10 - Starting a new season with Connacht
55:45 - David’s role as a leader
58:45 - His family’s impact on him
Today’s episode of the podcast is a conversation with Performance Nutritionist, Amy McGuire. Amy primarily works with the Tipperary senior football team alongside working in a managerial position in TUS.
This in-depth conversation went down many routes and covered a variety of topics including communicating with athletes, staying in your lane, knowing when to refer out, and being vulnerable as a practitioner.
We spoke about GAA athletes’ energy availability, eating disorders, and Amy provided some valuable information with regards to pre-game and post-training nutrition.
Whether you’re a coach, an athlete, or a practitioner within the industry, there’s something for you to take from this informative conversation!
Time-stamps:
01:25 - Amy’s current endeavours
07:10 - Energy availability Vs Overtraining
12:00 - Staying in your lane
24:20 - Extreme dieting
33:20 - The psychology of fuelling
46:40 - Creating buy in from athletes
56:00 - Dealing with different athletes
58:45 - Up-skilling as an athlete
1:01:55 - Pre-game and post-training nutrition
On episode #113 of the podcast we had an engaging conversation with Tadhg Leader, the founder of Leader Kicking.
Tadhg brings a wealth of experience as a former professional rugby player, Canadian football player, and American football player. He has now embarked on a mission to facilitate the transition of GAA players, rugby players, and Irish athletes into American football.
During our discussion, Tadhg shared valuable insights on identifying athletes who have the potential to secure college scholarships in the United States. He emphasised the significance of this opportunity, which allows athletes to further their athletic careers while obtaining a college degree.
A major focus of our conversation revolved around coaching, specifically highlighting the art of kicking. Tadhg delved into the characteristics that make a skilled kicker and explored various aspects of coaching techniques in this domain.
Tune in now to hear this incredibly interesting and informative conversation!
Time-stamps:
02:00 - Tadhg's current work and endeavours
08:10 - Exploring the intricacies of kicking
20:25 - The recruitment process for Leader Kicking
29:20 - The purpose behind Leader Kicking
34:15 - Coaching kicking techniques
42:10 - The importance of confidence and positive self-talk
54:20 - Future goals and aspirations for Leader Kicking
Today’s Solo Podcast addresses the thought-provoking question: “Can we take credit for our athletes’ success?”
This topic arose following a recent discussion I had with another coach, as we deliberated over who deserves recognition for the accomplishments of athletes.
Improving an athlete’s performance involves a number of factors and the involvement of various individuals, making it challenging to ascertain who truly deserves credit.
Nonetheless, as S&C coaches, we play a significant role in improving the standards of athletic performance. While evaluating our impact may be difficult, it remains crucial to acknowledge and appreciate our contributions.
Tune in now to gain insight into my perspective on this matter, and I eagerly await hearing your opinion on the subject!
Time-stamps:
01:55 - Who deserves the credit?
06:35 - Importance in taking credit where it’s due
12:00 - Role as an S&C coach
20:40 - Improving as an S&C coach
25:55 - Improving the standard of the GAA
29:30 - S&C Mentorship for GAA
In today's episode of the podcast, we sit down for an engaging conversation with performance coach Stephen Rice. Stephen’s expertise is in coaching professional golfers, while also working with different athletes across various sports.
Drawing from his own experience as a former competitor in javelin throwing and long drive, Stephen brings a unique perspective to the discussion. The conversation explores a wide range of topics, delving into the technical aspects of golf, the significance of speed in the game, and the challenges of athlete burnout.
Despite some minor audio recording issues, this episode delivers a truly valuable and high-quality conversation that appeals to a diverse audience. Whether you're a golf enthusiast or simply interested in performance coaching, there's something here for everyone to take away.
Tune in now and gain insights from Stephen Rice’s wealth of knowledge and experience in the world of sports coaching.
Time stamps:
04:25 - The individualisation of golf
12:55 - His golf training philosophy
25:00 - Priming for golf
30:45 - How he got into S&C coaching for golf
41:40 - Experiencing burnout
47:20 - Stephen’s training
49:50 - Speed Vs Strategy
01:04:40 - Hip or knee dominance
01:10:00 - His current goals
Today’s solo podcast addresses the ongoing conversation in the media and amongst GAA fans on Hurling Vs Gaelic Football. The hurling side claims that Gaelic football is in the dark ages, that it’s boring, too tactical and not attracting audiences. From the football side, it’s argued that hurling is only played in a number of counties and that there are too many scores in hurling as it’s too skilful.
In this episode, I offer my personal insights on the matter and unveil the reasons why I consider both Gaelic Football and Hurling highly captivating as a spectator. Get ready to witness the true beauty and excitement of these games by learning how to observe them more closely and pay attention to the nuances that make them truly exceptional!
Time-stamps:
01:30 - Hurling Vs Gaelic Football 03:30 - Are there too many scores in hurling? 11:50 - Is Gaelic football in the dark ages? 17:40 - Positive pundits 22:30 - Enjoying the sport
Today we have compiled some of our previous guest episodes, centred around the topic of mindset in high performing athletes.
The episode delves into a wide range of topics, unveiling the thought processes of these exceptional athletes. Today we explore the profound impact of self belief and self awareness on achieving greatness, as well as overcoming adversity particularly when faced with an injury and the importance of maintaining mental health.
Our guests share their insights on the pursuit of excellence and the high standards they set for themselves, as well as managing internal pressure, combatting self-doubt and harnessing rejection as fuel for growth.
Don’t miss out on this enlightening episode, where we uncover the mindsets that propel high-performing athletes to the pinnacle of their potential.
Time-stamps:
02:10 - Georgie Kelly on self belief
05:25 - Lucy Mulhall on team mindset
07:30 - Aishling Moloney on dealing with an injury
13:05 - Sarah Quinn on coming back from an injury
14:30 - Ollie Thorley on setting high standards and looking after your mental health
22:55 - Nadia Power on a new perspective and internal pressure
27:10 - Peter Lydon on pre-game mental preparation
32:35 - Kevin Feely on visualisation
37:55 - Conor O’Brien on self awareness
41:50 - Aisling McCarthy on not making the team
46:05 - Darragh McGurn on expressing personal thoughts and feelings
51:35 - Chloe Mustaki on luck, growth and resilience
Today's solo episode of the podcast explores the topic of “Return to Play Vs Return to Performance”. In this episode, I delve into the crucial distinction between these two concepts, sharing my own perspective.
Just because an athlete is back on the field does not necessarily mean they are back to their previous level of performance
Returning to play too quickly often leads to prolonging or exacerbating the injury, so it’s crucial to follow a well-structured plan facilitating a gradual and safe return to play or return to performance process.
As practitioners, it can be difficult to accurately measure an injury, so it’s important not to generalise our approach by recognising that there is no one-size-fits all solution to a problem. Each case requires an individualised approach, tailored to specific needs and circumstances.
Tune in as I share my effective process for assisting my athletes in their recovery from injury, guiding them to reach a better level of performance than when they suffered injury.
Time-stamps:
00:50 - Increased risk of injury
04:00 - Return to Play Vs Return to Performance
13:45- Physio-S&C Coach & Rehab-Performance Spectrum
18:00 - A structured Return to Play plan
27:40 - Metrics in the rehab process
32:05 - No one-size-fits-all approach
34:45 - Gradual & Progressive Return to Play
In today’s episode, we have a conversation with Chloe Mustaki of Bristol City’s football team and the Irish Women’s National Team.
Our discussion touched on a range of topics including a conversation about the Irish Women’s National Team and their preparations for the upcoming World Cup, including the process of squad selection.
Chloe shared her experience with Bristol City, in particular their promotion to the Women’s Super League last season.
We delved into the challenges Chloe has faced, including injuries and health issues and explore the significance of maintaining a resilient mindset throughout these experiences.
Finally, we explore the development of Women's Professional Football, examining its progress in recent years and gaining insights into its promising future.
Listen as we delve into the world of women's football with Chloe Mustaki, offering an inspiring and informative discussion on her experiences, aspirations, and the captivating development of the sport.
Time-stamps:
02:40 - Education in Professional Football
11:20 - Chloe’s ambition and hard work
17:10 - Team environment
26:40 - Her injuries and health issues
33:15 - Her current goals and mindset
41:50 - The development of Professional Women’s Football
51:15 - The World Cup
In today's conversation, we sit down with Georgie Kelly, Rotherham United's striker, to explore his remarkable experiences and insights.
Georgie takes us back to his famous goal that propelled the Millers into the Championship last season, sharing the intense emotions surrounding that unforgettable moment. We also delve into his background in the Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA) and how it has shaped him as a soccer player, uncovering the invaluable skills he has acquired along the way.
We discuss Georgie's late development and the advantages it has given him as an athlete, highlighting his unwavering determination and resilience. Furthermore, we touch upon his mindset, upbringing, and the significance of education in his football career.
Georgie provides firsthand insights into the contrasting dynamics of changing rooms in the League of Ireland, League One, and the Championship, shedding light on the nuances of each level of the game.
Time-stamps:
05:05 - How GAA helped Georgie as a soccer player
13:15 - Strengths Vs Weaknesses
20:00 - Experience playing with Rotherham
25:20 - Injuries and high physical demands
33:15 - Famous goal that sealed promotion
37:35 - Differing personalities in pro football
45:05 - Mindset
47:55 - Championship Vs League of Ireland
52:55 - Background & Development
Today’s Solo Podcast focuses on the importance of communication.
Communication is essential within teams, in coaching, and in leadership. The language we use as coaches has a huge impact on how our athletes perceive our messages and retain the information we share with them.
Sometimes, as coaches, we unknowingly miscommunicate, so it’s important for our athletes to relay the information back to us, to ensure that everybody is on the same page.
It’s essential to listen to our athletes and to understand what works for them, in order to communicate with them effectively.
It’s our job to facilitate how our different athletes communicate, and it’s essential for our athletes to communicate with us and their teammates, to improve the overall standard within the team environment.
Time-stamps:
00:30 - Communication is key
06:00 - Communicating with individual athletes
14:10 - Athlete communication within a team
24:40 - Weekly/monthly planning as a coaching team
32:00 - Generational communication
Todays episode of the podcast is with Zak Moradi, the Kurdish, Leitrim hurler.
Zak is a prominent member of Thomas Davis GAA club, the club which I am also involved in coaching. We spoke a lot about the club including what it offers to the community of Tallaght and what it means on a personal level to Zak.
We discussed Zak’s book release, how it has been received over the past year and how it’s success has affected him.
We then went on to speak about his recent trip back to Kurdistan of Iraq and the impact the trip has had on him. We then went on to speak about Zak’s personal political views, including how refugees are looked at and treated in this country, and how Ireland could benefit from more education on the issue.
Time-stamps:
02:15 - What Thomas Davis GAA Club means to Zak
08:15 - GAA culture
17:10 - Increased professionalism
23:20 - Inclusivity in the GAA
31:35 - Good coaches
36:15 - How Zak’s book was received
40:40 - The fragility of wealth
44:10 - Trip to Kurdistan
48:25 - Zak’s personal political views
Today’s podcast is a conversation with Fermanagh's, Darragh McGurn.
Having suffered a recent defeat to Derry in the Ulster Championship, Darragh spoke candidly about how he’s been dealing with the defeat and how the team is refocussing on moving forward with this year's Tailteann Cup.
We had a great chat about the differences between teams that are challenging for All-Ireland and Provincial honours and the other counties that have lower but no less significant ambitions.
We spoke about leadership in the inter-county setup and Darragh’s own role within the team. We went into depth on how the group is building a new culture and how open communication is driving the team's standards to an elite-level standard.
We spoke about mindset and the physical qualities necessary for playing football at an elite-level.
We went into more detail on the importance of developing skills such as speed and change of direction, alongside the technical skills of Gaelic Football.
And finally, Darragh then spoke about his ongoing learning and education, in particular in the area of Sport-specific strength & conditioning.
Time-stamps:
01:40 - Fermanagh’s defeat to Derry
10:20 - Playing inter-county level football
14:25 - Implementing improvements within the team
21:05 - Developing leadership qualities
26:40 - Refocussing as a group
31:45 - The New Age Inter-County Player
46:10 - Education
52:30 - Busy schedule
55:55 - Mindset
Today’s Solo Podcast was a result of me leading by example for my own clients by showing up and staying consistent.While I was ready to skip this weeks podcast, I remembered that often what I see in my clients is that: consistency = more long term success.Consistency is often made easier to achieve by setting achievable minimum goals rather than setting unsustainable goals where you or your client are likely to flake off and not show up.Not showing up here and there leads to the formation of a new, less-desirable habit, reducing the likelihood of staying consistent further down the line.Set your non-negotiables, set achievable goals, show up and see results.Time-stamps:2:10 - Consistency = higher success rate 8:35 - Demonstrating consistency10:20 - Underestimate don’t overestimate 15:20 - Consistency in GAA training
Today’s Solo Podcast covers the topic of mentors and mentorship’s.
I’ve had multiple different mentors and mentorships, all which have been a positive experience for me. While some people believe it’s advantageous to have one mentor for life, I believe it’s optimal to learn from a range of different people.
Each of my mentors have taught me what I needed at that time. I believe mentorships to be a mutually beneficial relationship, with something to gain for everyone involved.
If you’re interested in developing your skills and progressing your career, there’s great value in reaching out to potential mentors who you believe you can learn something from.
Time-stamps:
02:20 - My experience with mentorships
10:50 - Sam Portland’s mentorship
17:00 - SpeedWorks’ mentorship
20:05 - Developing game speed qualities
27:35 - How mentorships have impacted my mindset
Today’s Solo Podcast marks the 100th episode of the Petey Performance Podcast!
Today’s topic is coaching feuds, communication, relationships and credibility within the industry.
I speak about the role our egos and insecurities play in the negative opinions we sometimes hold of other people.
Often, we disagree with a person’s opinion and confuse this with a dislike for that person. It’s important to separate people from their opinions.
There’s a common misconception that this industry is oversaturated and there’s not enough work to go round. It’s not necessary to undermine other coaches in order to succeed. Learn to fill your own cup without emptying somebody else’s.
Learn to view the industry with a mindset of abundance as opposed to a mindset of scarcity. The perfect client/coach for someone else will not always be the perfect client/coach for you. Be your own person and the results will follow.
Time-stamps:
00:45 - Finding value in a loss
04:00 - Relationships and credibility within the industry
07:20 - Coaching feuds
09:40 - Dealing with your own insecurities
15:05 - Perceiving the other point of view
18:30 - Be the best you
Today’s episode is with the one and only David Grey of David Grey Rehab (DGR). David’s company has had a whirlwind of growth and success in recent times.
We discussed the business side of things, the importance of providing an authentic service to clients, and the mission of DGR.
We touched on skill development, including what people may be doing wrong with regard to developing their basic skills and what they should be doing to maximise their results.
We then went onto talk about negative transfer training and the effects this can have on an athlete.
With a big emphasis on psychology there’s huge value in this episode for any GAA athletes and coaches, as well as any practitioners in the industry.
David and his team are making some meaningful changes within the industry, improving industry standards for everyone.
This was an incredibly enjoyable conversation where David and I spoke about about some of our favourite athletes while having the craic along the way.
Time-stamps:
02:40 - An authentic working environment
12:20 - Emphasis on psychology
23:25 - Skill development
34:35 - Your biggest strength is your biggest weakness
39:45 - David’s strongest qualities
43:40 - DGR’s mission
49:40 - David’s mindset
54:25 - Individualising programming for optimal results
1:08:25 - DGR’s success
More work is not better, better work is better.
This is the topic of today’s solo podcast. While some coaches throw high volume at their athletes, I feel it’s crucial to find a balance between load and quality. While increased load may be beneficial in certain cases, it’s important to not let increased load hinder the quality of execution.
Increasing the load on one skill may have a negative impact on an athletes performance, as typically, they tend to then neglect other areas in need of improvement or maintenance. This places a high importance on dividing your time, energy and attention evenly among all areas of your training.
Just like in all areas of life, time away from your training is often just as beneficial as the time you spend training. A lower attentional load often leads to increased productivity and a better overall performance.
Time-stamps:
02:55 - Balancing load and quality
13:00 - Dividing load evenly among different skills
17:35 - Focus on execution
21:45 - The value in rest days
Today’s Solo Podcast addresses the topic of online vs in-person coaching. Like most things, each have their pros and cons to consider.
With differences in terms of flexibility, effectiveness, communication, and financial considerations, there’s no one-size-fits-all. Different coaching styles work differently for different coaches and athletes depending on their goals, values and priorities.
Hopefully from my experience working with both styles, this episode helps you to identify what it is you need as a coach, or what you need in a coach as an athlete.
Time-stamps:
02:55 - The business side of coaching
06:05 - The value of in-person coaching
11:10 - Communication and building trust
15:00 - Finding a good client/coach fit
26:40 - Benefits of combining online and in-person coaching
This weeks episode is with Irish international athlete Sarah Quinn. Sarah is currently coming back from a recent stress fracture, which led us to speaking about her ongoing rehabilitation and recovery processes.
We spoke about Sarah’s coaches, past and present and how they’ve each helped her in the sport. We then went on to talk about the impact your circle has on you, in particular her training partners and her training group and how they’ve positively influenced her.
We touched on Sarah’s experience as a ballet dancer and how this has led to her being detail focussed in her sport.
We then discussed how Sarah was a late developer in terms of athletics, but has experienced a high level of success in recent years after perfecting her training habits and behaviours, enjoying the process all the while.
Finally, Sarah shared her goals for 2023, involving getting back on the track whilst prioritising her health and happiness.
Time-stamps:
01:45 - Sarah’s current training
03:30 - Recent injury
15:25 - Making time for family and friends
23:00 - Consistency in injury recovery
26:25 - Being detail focussed
31:40 - Good coaches
41:50 - The influence of your circle
49:40 - Goals for 2023
Todays podcast is a conversation with Sami Dowling, who has recently taken on two new roles as the head S&C coach with Dublin Ladies football team and Dundalk FC.
With previous experience working with the Irish hockey team and Leinster rugby as well as other GAA teams, Sami has an abundance of information and insightful lessons to share, which he has gained throughout his ongoing career.
This was an incredibly enjoyable conversation as we covered some less touched on topics including handling assistants, transitioning into managerial roles, dealing with players and connecting with a management team.
We also spoke about the importance of taking time away from coaching in order to give our best efforts to our coaching.
Sami then went on to share his opinion on the value of sharing our free time with our family and friends and how this assists us in being the best coaches we can be.
Time-stamps:
01:50 - Sami’s new roles
15:10 - Working with assistants
21:45 - Work/life balance
33:00 - Lessons learned throughout Sami’s career
38:15 - Next stage in Sami’s career
46:10 - Taking a step back to take a step forward
48:55 - Why Sami became a coach
57:15 - Applying lessons from various sports to different environments
Today’s podcast is a conversation with Aisling McCarthy. The former Tipperary GAA football captain is now plying her trade in the AFLW with the West Coast Eagles.
Aisling shared her thoughts and goals on the upcoming season and gave us an insight into her role in the leadership group. We then went on to discuss the contrast between the GAA and the AFLW match schedule.
Aisling shared her personal schedule and the processes she follows to keep herself in her optimal state to compete at a high level.
We spoke about how Aisling’s body has changed over time as she adapted to playing AFLW, and then touched on physicality within the LGFA and how it could be changed in order to improve the game.
Finally, Aisling touched on her own personal professional goals looking into the future.
Time stamps:
2:05 - Off-season/Pre-season
5:00 - Aisling’s schedule
10:15 - The leadership group
19:10 - The professional environment in the AFLW
25:00 - Not making the team
30:45 - AFLW vs GAA match schedule
36:40 - Things Aisling misses about GAA
38:45 - Training for AFLW
44:30 - Physicality in LGFA
52:00 - Aisling’s professional goals
In this episode I give my take on individualising GAA S&C programmes.
It may seem tough to give your athletes an individualised approach without creating 30 different programmes, but this episode explains some simple ways to cater for the different types of athletes.
Firstly, I provide some really simple and effective ways to give your athletes more autonomy in their training, to best suit their needs. This includes providing multiple rep and set ranges for the athlete to choose from, as well as various alternative exercises.
I then go on to discuss the three athlete archetypes I have identified in my athletes, which guides how I pool my athletes. These three archetypes include athletes that need to improve their strength, athletes that need to improve their stiffness or reactivity, and athletes that need to improve both.
This people-centric approach creates a framework to allow for more autonomy within the athletes training, hopefully increasing their motivation and productivity, benefiting both the individual athlete and the team.
Time-stamps:
01:00 - Grouping athletes
04:20 - Individualising a generalised plan
12:00 - Athlete archetypes
24:40 - Setting goals with individual athletes
Today‘s solo podcast attempts to answer the question; “Is it possible to be an effective and elite level dual-code GAA athlete at club level?”
First, I break down the hectic match/training schedule dual-sport athletes are faced with, and address the reality of fulfilling all events involved.
I then touch on the principle of cumulative fatigue and the training approach that I would use as a way for dual-sport athletes to get exposure to strength training within their busy schedules.
Naturally I then go on to discuss both the physical and mental fatigue most often experienced by dual-sport athletes, and the effect this can have on both the athlete and the team.
Finally, I provide what I consider the most realistic solutions to the complicated situation of juggling two sports at once.
Time-stamps:
01:00 - Dual sport athlete
02:30 - Schedule
15:30 - Principle of Cumulative fatigue & training structure
21:30 - Mental fatigue and burnout
28:15 - Solutions
Welcome back to The Petey Performance Podcast! This much requested episode focuses on pre-season S&C.
In this episode, I explain my pre-season coaching process. I discuss how long the pre-season should be, how I pool my athletes in order to give them an individualised plan based on their strengths and weakness’s, testing protocols and session-splits.
Every environment is different, but you can adapt my approach to suit your own environment and maximise your results.
Time-Stamps
04:00 - Pre-season S&C
09:50 - How long should the pre-season be?
15:45 - What do you do in pre-season?
18:45 - Pooling athletes for individualisation
28:00 - How to test/pool the athletes
42:40 - Session splits
Our final episode of the season is with former international high jumper and expert in plyometric training methods, Matt McInnes Watson.
Matt is a researcher and is currently studying for his PhD in Sports Science. He also has experience working as a PE teacher in the UAE.
Matt has been coaching multi-events in jumps for many years now and is known as The Plyo Guy on social media. He has a great social media presence and has been pushing some really valuable content over the last couple of years.
He just finished his first seminar in Ireland which he tells us about in todays podcast, sharing the things that surprised him about the process of presenting to Irish coaches and athletes.
Matt touched on his vision for his company, Plus Plyos, and where he hopes for it to go in the future.
He then spoke about adding plyometrics into a training programme for team sports athletes the benefits of doing so. Matt picked apart my own process in using plyometrics, COD and speed coaching in a team-setting for Gaelic Games.
We then got into the specifics of plyometrics and choosing the correct plyometric progressions for each athlete in relation to their position of play, in relation to rugby union and other team-sports.
Website: www.plusplyos.com
Instagram: @mcinneswatson
Time-stamps:
07:00 - Public vs private gym environment
09:40 - His seminar in Carlow, Ireland
13:40 - Reflections on the seminar
21:30 - The future of Plus Plyos
31:30 - Reframing coaches’ approaches to coaching plyometrics
37:45 - How to implement plyometrics into a training programme
46:30 - My plyometric coaching process
54:20 - Individualised plyometrics for a specific athlete’s position
This short episode wraps up season 2 by reflecting on my podcasting journey so far. I reflect on why I began this podcast in the first place, and where it’s at today.
I’ve had loads of fantastic conversations with well-respected, intelligent and influential leaders in the industry, through which I’ve formed solid connections.
The podcast has been a vehicle that I've used for personal growth and self-development, as well as reflections on my own beliefs and thought processes.
Finally, I give some advice to anyone else considering starting their own podcast, by sharing what has helped me to grow mine over the past 2 years.
Time-stamps:
02:10 - Why I started the podcast
06:50 - The guests
09:50 - Benefits of podcasting
16:00 - Podcast improvements
Today’s solo podcast covers my process for coaching change of direction and agility.
After posting a lot of content relating to speed, agility & gamespeed in recent months, I've been receiving an influx of messages from coaches & athletes alike, in relation to how I go about integrating COD & agility coaching/training.
Before I go any further I must give special mention to some coaches who have heavily influenced my development and thoughts in this area, including Sam Portland, Alan Murdoch, Jonas Doodoo, Graeme Morris, Justin Lang, and Jeff Moyer.
Over the course of this episode I explain my rationale behind a progressive approach to agility training and why I think about it the way that I do.
I go into depth on the the importance of understanding the game, as well as learning theory in relation to the stages of competence model and theories of motor learning.
I also go into detail on the part of the process that I believe is often overlooked, visual scanning, pattern recognition, perception and action.
And finally, I take you through my 8-stage process of building up to match-play from isolated change of direction movements.
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General Movement Execution
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General Movement Execution in Response to a Stimulus
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Use of Passive Defenders in a Specific Scenario
Passive Defender in GAA
Passive Defender in Rugby
- Attack-Favoured Games in a Specific Scenario
Attack-Favoured Games in Rugby
- 1-v-1 Games in a Specific Scenario
1 v 1 Games
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Team Scenario Drills & Games
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Small-Sided Drills & Games
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Match-Play
For reference to my previous blog post on the subject you can visit my website; What Coaches Get Wrong About Agility
For all related videos on useful drills & games you can visit my YouTube Channel.
Time-Stamps:
3:45 - Influential coaches
7:05 - My rationale
13:15 - Understanding the game
16:40 - Stages of competence
21:00 - Skipping the middle step
27:20 - Perception and action
29:55 - My coaching process
37:28 - Attack favoured drills and games
41:02 - 1:1 drills and games
42:16 - Team scenario drills and games
46:20 - Match play
This week’s episode is with Kevin Feely of Kildare Senior Football team.
Kevin finds himself in a unique position given that he also has experience playing professional soccer in England with Charlton Athletic and Newport County.
Kevin pursued a career in Athletic Training and Therapy and now runs his own therapy clinic in Tallaght, Kevin Feely Athletic Therapy. Kevin also has a Masters in S&C which gave us a lot to talk about.
Kevin is currently rehabbing a serious injury, as he unfortunately suffered an Achilles rupture earlier this year. He spoke about his rehab from his full reconstruction and the unique position he finds himself in as both a sports medicine practitioner and patient.
We talked about Achilles rehab and the communication aspect of therapy and rehabilitation. We spoke about the importance of goals, metrics and reaching out to other therapists for help.
We also touched on the power of self-talk and visualisation in sports therapy and sports performance.
We discussed his confidence on the field of play and how he gets himself in the best mental position to perform come game-day.
Before we finished up Kevin also spoke about the interesting differences between the atmosphere in GAA dressing rooms and professional soccer dressing rooms, along with why he finds himself to be entirely more comfortable in the former.
You can find out all necessary information about Kevin Feely Athletic Therapy over on kevinfeelyathletictherapy.ie or on Instagram via @kevinfeelyat
Time-stamps
5:25 - Kevin’s achilles rehab
7:45 - Having an injury as an Athletic Therapist
17:30 - Learning from injury
21:40 - Controlling return to play with ease
27:10 - Collaborative planning with clients
31:20 - Empathising with clients
33:30 - Kevin’s client and follower demographic
38:00 - Setting up his business outside his local area
42:30 - Visualisation
48:10 - Kevin’s rehab goals
52:00 - Confidence
1:00:35 - GAA VS professional soccer environment
This episode is with former Leinster rugby player, Conor O’Brien.
Conor was unfortunately forced to retire last season due to recurring injuries.
We went into detail on the trials and tribulations involved in being a Leinster rugby player on the peripheries of the favoured playing squad. Conor spoke candidly about dealing with injuries and his own personal growth as a result of going through those tough times.
We talked about his recent move to the business industry and the many transferable skills that he's brought with him from professional sport.
We discussed freedom on the field of play and outside of a sporting environment, the highs and lows of pro-sport, as well as the decision-making process that led him to pick rugby over GAA in his youth.
Conor spoke of the relationships he developed during his time at Leinster rugby with both the performance staff and his teammates. And we also delved deep into his personal identity as an athlete and the profound levels of self-awareness and acceptance of his present that Conor now holds.
Time stamps:
7:50 - Freedom within and outside of sport
13:25 - Breaking into the 25
18:50 - Going off a play-sheet
24:10 - Understanding the play for the whole team
29:10 - Conor’s transfer over to the business world
33:20 - Self-awareness
37:50 - Acceptance in a recurring injury
42:40 - Resilience gained from injury
45:40 - Advice to people dealing with a long term injury
53:20 - His relationship with his physio
59:45 - Conor’s experience playing GAA
This episode of the podcast is with Irish international athlete, and now horizontal-jumps coach at a collegiate-level, Colm Bourke.
Colm also hosts his own podcast, the Track and Field Performance Podcast. This led us to the conversation about the experience of podcasting and the benefits of it, as well as the aspects of self development and self-discovery that comes from that process.
Colm spent a portion of his collegiate career working in the US with the University of Louisiana Monroe. We discussed the lack of the club system in the US and the differences in training and competing in the States vs Ireland.
Colm opened up about the struggles of being isolated alone in a foreign country. He shared how he tackled those hurdles and pushed himself to perform at the highest level possible during his time in America.
We discussed the importance of having different interests outside of sport, which make up an important part of your personal identity, to take pressure off your athletic endeavours. We spoke in detail about sports psychology and it’s importance in athletic pursuits, why it’s commonly neglected, but why that’s now changing.
We touched on Colm’s return to Dublin and his current roles in DCU and NCI.
Colm also gave some incredibly invaluable advice to any athletes considering moving to the states to pursue their athletic career. If you are an athlete that is debating whether the US is the place for you to train and compete, then this is a must listen episode.
You can find out more about Colm's podcast over at The Track and Field Performance Podcast on Apple Podcasts.
Time-marks
5:40 - Podcasting
15:05 - Importance of hearing from different people from different backgrounds
19:00 - The absence of the club system in the US
25:50 - The culture shock of moving to the US
34:30 - Worrier or Warrior
39:40 - Assessing readiness prior to competition
46:00 - Importance of authenticity
58:30 - Colm’s return to Ireland
1:04:50 - Advice to athletes considering moving to the States
This episode of the podcast is a conversation around practitioner well-being with Owner of Career Blueprint, Josh Fletcher.
Josh has extensive experience within the S&C industry, working with the likes of Exos, English Institute of Sport & Hintsa Performance (F2).
However, through his years in the industry he has been through some tough times, experiencing intense burnout and as a result identifying many flaws around how the industry treats ambitious coaches.
He started his company Career Blueprint a couple of years ago to attempt to help practitioners to look after their own wellbeing, deal with conflict and find the right roles for them, thus streamlining their success in the industry.
We were lucky to catch him as he was fresh off the back of presenting on this topic at the UKSCA conference in Nottingham.
Josh was incredibly brave to share his own story over the course of this conversation, as he hopes to help others who may find themselves in a similar situation at the moment.
We had a conversation around how to identify symptoms of burnout or identify when one is at risk of becoming burned-out in the near future.
We also took some time to speak about setting yourself up for a successful career in the coaching industry, as well as preparing for job interviews and how to figure out if a role is the right role for you.
You can find out more about Josh and Career Blueprint over on their website or social media channels which I've attached below.
Website: www.yourcareer-blueprint.com
Instagram: @careerblueprint
Twitter: @coachblueprint1
Josh has also been so kind as to offer all of our listeners a discount code for their Reflective Practitioners Journals.
Use code Petey10 at checkout for a 10% discount.
Code: Petey10
Time-stamps
03:45 - UKSCA conference
07:20 - Starting the conversation about the practitioner well-being
10:20 - The responsibility involved in his role
16:20 - Finding strength in vulnerability
23:20 - Experiencing burnout
30:00 - Deciding who to work with
36:20 - Highlighting the importance of wellness within the industry
49:25 - Career periodisation
1:02:20 - Job Interview Preparation
1:05:00 - Career Blueprint
This episode of the podcast is with Kilkenny-man & Rouen Normandie Rugby star, Peter Lydon.
Peter has been playing professional rugby abroad for almost 10 years now and has become accustomed to many of the cultural differences out in France, as he plies his trade in the Pro D2.
However, one thing that he has not been able to accept is the differences in approach to home vs away games from fans and players alike. That was a big topic of conversation over the course of this conversation, as well as how important it is for him to prepare mentally in the same way for both games in Rouen and around France.
We spoke a lot about maintaining high standards and team-leadership, as well as advice he would give to younger players who have aspirations of playing at the highest level.
We also touched on the value of getting extras in outside of team-training sessions and the benefits of playing multiple sports at a young age, as well as integrating extra speed and conditioning into your own training program.
Time-Stamps
09:30 - Peter’s personal aspirations and Rouen's team-goals
15:45 - Importance of mental preparation (Home vs Away games)
20:05 - Preparing for an away game
25:45 - Having high standards
31:50 - Maintaining confidence through wins and losses
36:50 - Advice to young players around mental performance
42:05 - Developing his skills outside of team-training
46:65 - Quality vs quantity
52:30 - Advice to young players with aspirations to play at the highest level
58:25 - Benefits of playing multiple sports at a young age
1:03:20 - Speed work and S&C
This episode of the podcast is with Head S&C with the Cork Senior Hurling team, Stephen Casey.
Stephen brings a wealth of knowledge to this conversation, which went in many different directions, as all good conversations do.
We spoke about some of Stephen's more unorthodox approaches to player monitoring, his abilities to converse with players on complex topics and his abilities to negotiate with management and adapt training to suit the needs of the team.
We also touched on connecting with other coaches, games-based conditioning, building relationships and the business side of S&C.
Cork are a team on the rise and I have no doubts that they will continue to improve under the fantastic guidance of Stephen and the rest of his team. I wish them all the best over the course of next season's league and championship campaigns.
You can find out more about Stephen over on his website, Instagram or Twitter pages.
Website: http://caseyperformance.ie/
Instagram: @caseyperformance
Twitter: @StephenKC
Time-marks
05:05 - Importance of low intensity training in the off-season
11:50 - Recording RPE
18:00 - Creating a good relationship with the coach and players
27:05 - Sharing educational information with players
32:00 - Internal and external monitoring
42:00 - The business side of S&C coaching
47:52 - Games-based training
59:05 - Implementing heart rate monitoring
1:02:46 - Fitness testing
This episode of the podcast is a full breakdown of my recommendations for GAA athletes entering their off-season.
I speak about the importance of focusing on performance over outcomes during the season, before then going into detail on how long athletes should take off, when they should return to training and what they should focus on upon their return.
From gym-based training to speed & agility, skill-development to body recomposition, I cover it all here.
I hope you enjoy it and take something from it and if you are interested in getting some help with your training then feel free to drop me a message.
Make sure to do so now to avoid disappointment, as outlined in the podcast, there are limited spots available in my online coaching group.
Time-Stamps
0:55 - Off-season training
1:30 - Performance > Outcome
4:55 - How long to take off
8:15 - Returning to training after the break
14:30 - Focus in the gym
21:40 - On-pitch off-season training
31:20 - Skill work
33:50 - Body composition
This episode of the podcast is a full breakdown of how I approach in-season S&C for Gaelic Games.
I talk about how I structure the weeks & months of training, how I decide upon what will be done on each day and how I communicate that with the coaches so that they know what drills, games & exercises are appropriate for each session.
I explain how we integrate our speed & change of direction work into pitch sessions and why we perform our pitch and gym sessions on the same day.
I speak about what gym-based exercises are appropriate for each day of training, how I foster enjoyment and healthy competition amongst the group, as well as going into depth on the coaches that have influenced my coaching process and thought-patterns around in-season training.
We use a colour-coded model for training, categorising sessions as Red, Orange, Green or Yellow. This colour coding of sessions applies to both the nature of pitch and gym sessions and brief explanation can be seen below.
Red (High session) = Improve Performance of High-Speed Actions
Orange (High session) = Improve Repeatability of High Speed Actions
Yellow (Low session) = Improve Technical & Tactical Elements + Feel Good (Primer session/ Team run)
Green (Low session) = Recover from High days, Improve Aerobic Conditioning, Tissue Tolerance & Technical Skills
If you are interested in learning more about my coaching process, feel free to sign up to my newsletter below, or drop me an email @ peteyperformance@gmail.com
Newsletter Sign-Up Link
This one was an incredibly tough one to record, but ultimately an important topic to talk about.
After my recent newsletter being extremely well received, I struck up the courage to talk about something that I haven't been comfortable talking about in the past.
Mental illness, stress and mental health disorders are a bit of a taboo subject in the coaching world. We can be reluctant to show weakness and vulnerability in an effort to appear strong, optimistic and positive for our athletes. However, this may come at an expense. Sometimes we may become so client and athlete-centred that we neglect our own health and wellbeing in the process.
I'm hoping that by opening a conversation around this topic, others that are feeling this way will know that they're not alone. I also hope to see athletes and coaches talk more openly about their mental health, to see my listeners reach out to their friends and family members and ultimately I hope to become more comfortable myself, in talking about my experience & mental wellbeing in the future.
My call to action for this episode is for each listener to reach out to just one person and check in on them this week. You never know what someone is going through. Having an open conversation, listening and being there for them could make all the difference.
Time-Marks
00:50 - My personal experience with mental health
05:50 - Coaching and mental illness
09:40 - Accepting responsibility as a coach /
Placing self worth on athletes’ results
13:45 - Isolating yourself due to overworking
17:00 - Putting on a brave face
25:00 - “Self praise is no praise”
29:30 - Respecting mental illness
33:55 - Reaching out for support
This episode of the podcast is with Australian S&C Coach and founder of Metric VBT, Jacob Tober.
Jacob is an expert in velocity-based training and has spent the last couple of years developing his own VBT tracking tool in the form of a smartphone application, Metric VBT.
He is constantly putting out quality insights into the benefits and utility of VBT on his Instagram and YouTube channels, which I've attached below.
During our conversation, we spoke about why he believes VBT is a term that doesn't give an accurate description of all that the methodology encompasses.
We also spoke about how Jacob's interest in VBT was sparked and how it has evolved over time, before moving onto speaking about how Metric VBT was started and the improvements that have been made to the app over time.
We were able to touch on all of the quality VBT software that's on the market at the moment, including podcast sponsor Output Sports.
And we also had time to discuss VBT Training Zones, barriers to using VBT and its implementation in a practical setting.
You can find out more about Jacob & Metric VBT via the links below.
Instagram: @vbtcoach
YouTube: VBT Coach
Website: metric.coach
Time-Marks
6:40 - Renaming VBT
12:10 - Range of motion in VBT
15:15 - Jacob’s interest in VBT and how it has evolved
19:00 - Rating Perceived Exertion (RPE)
27:10 - Barriers to use of VBT
34:20 - Improvements on "Metric VBT"
41:15 - Separating life and work when working with family
44:00 - VBT zones
50:40 - Advice for using VBT practically
1:03:30 - Jacob’s experience working with athletes
I am delighted to be joined by Irish 7s captain, Lucy Mulhall, on this episode of the podcast.
Lucy and the Irish team are currently preparing for the Rugby World Cup of 7s in Cape Town next month. We chatted about the team's intense preparations for the competition, as well as how important it was for them to qualify in order to put Irish women's rugby 7s on the biggest stage of all.
We spoke about how competition levels have gone up in training, as well as how they have developed such a strong team during the current cycle, competing with the best of the best on the World Rugby Sevens Series circuit this season.
The squad's core values are an integral part of a setup and they come back to them often in order to put themselves in a position to perform at an elite-level standard. We spoke about how they have helped the team to place an emphasis on outstanding defence, develop a robust and resilient mindset and be ok with making mistakes in training.
Finally, we spoke about Lucy's experience playing GAA, how the skills of Gaelic football transferred to the rugby pitch and vice versa.
Lucy has achieved so much in recent years, captaining her country in 7s and representing Ireland in XV's as well, so we finished by speaking about her own personal ambitions and her interest in growing the game of 7s around the country.
We wish Lucy and the Irish team the very best of luck in Cape Town in September and hope that they can achieve their goals of a medal-placed finish.
Time-marks
5:00 - Preparation for the Rugby World Cup 7s
11:30 - Building a strong team
19:00 - Competition in training
21:50 - Mindset & Values
24:20 - Defence as a Strong Point
28:20 - Being prepared for tournaments
33:45 - Increasing standards prior to squad selection
38:40 - Importance in making mistakes in training
47:10 - Teaching and learning from younger players
51:45 - Growing 7s around the country
56:15 - Transferring skills between rugby and GAA
58:40 - Lucy’s personal ambitions
This episode of the podcast is with the founder & head of elite performance at Hytro, Dr. Warren Bradley. Before founding Hytro, Warren was a Performance Nutritionist in elite rugby union, league & association football, which meant we had plenty to talk about.
Hytro is the first blood flow restriction (BFR) wearable designed specifically to improve sports performance. We spoke about how Warren came up with the idea for the product, how it has evolved over time & how he has found the transition from elite sport into business.
Blood Flow Restriction is becoming more widespread in its use in recent years, so we had loads to talk about in relation to the benefits of the practice and how it fits into an elite performance setting.
You can find out more about Hytro & BFR at the below social media channels.
- Instagram: @hytro_
- Twitter: @hytrotraining
- Warren's insta: @warren_hytro
- Website: https://hytro.com/elite-sport/
Time-marks
5:30 - Transition from Performance Nutrition to Business
14:00 - Developing business skills
21:45 - How the product has evolved
28:00 - Purpose of Blood Flow Restriction (BFR)
31:00 - BFR for strength training
42:00 - BFR for recovery
46:30 - BFR for potentiation
51:50 - Initial feedback
57:00 - Innovative use
59:30 - BFR Protocols
This episode of the podcast is with Gloucester Rugby winger and England international, Ollie Thorley.
With the 22/23 Premiership season kicking off in a little over a month, pre-season preparations are well underway. That was a major topic of conversation for this chat, along with how athletes should set personal goals, in order to optimise their own training in the lead up to competitive fixtures.
We spoke about enhancing your strengths, as well as ironing out your weaknesses, and also how to recover optimally in order to have your mind and body in a state of peak performance.
Our chat was topped off by a conversation around mental health for athletes, Gloucester Rugby's core values and Ollie's own personal connection to the club, as well as his aspirations for the future.
Time-Marks
4:20 - Pre-Season Training
12:15 - Setting personal goals
15:30 - Working on strengths and weaknesses
17:05 - Maintaining focus as a young athlete
20:30 - Team-meetings
25:30 - Mental health
30:30 - Looking after your mind and body
38:00 - Disconnecting from your mobile phone
45:00 - Gloucester Rugby's goals for season 22/23
48:00 - Gloucester Rugby's core values
51:45 - Connection with the Gloucester fans
This episode is with Tyrone Senior Footballer, 2021 All-Ireland Winner and 2019 All-Star, Ronan McNamee.
We had a fantastic conversation about his own business endeavours, his current club training routine and the inter-county season.
Ronan gave many interesting insights into topics such as, the differences between club & inter-county players, the commitment it takes to play inter-county football & how the game of Gaelic football has changed over the years.
We also spoke about what it takes to win an All-Ireland final, what went wrong for Tyrone this season & his position as a mentor to younger players.
Time-marks
6:30 - Having his own gym
8:20 - Reformers Pilates / Being robust enough to last the season
16:15 - Training routine coming into the club championship season
20:30 - Differences in preparation of club vs county players
28:00 - Being a mentor to younger team mates
31:20 - Social aspect of playing county
41:20 - Differences between this season and last season
53:00 - Pre and post-match routine
59:20 - Favourable coaching styles
1:03:35 - How the game has improved over the years
This episode of the podcast is with AFLW superstar, Brisbane Lion & former Tipperary GAA dual-code athlete, Orla O'Dwyer.
Orla has just signed a new contract with the Brisbane Lions and is entering her 4th season with the club. We spoke about her training at the moment, her rehab process following shoulder surgery and how she recovers from training and games to perform at her best.
She has had a stellar couple of season's, picking up a Premiership medal in 2021 and being named in the All-Australian team last year, becoming the first Irish player to do so since Jim Stynes in 1993.
We spoke about how she has found the transition to Aussie Rules, the contact side of the game, technical skills, individual and group goal-setting for the new season.
We spoke about how the AFLW benefits many Irish athletes and our national sports back home, as well as her advice to the many new Irish AFLW recruits plying their trade this season.
Orla is thriving in Oz and hopefully she can continue in her rich vein of form, to garner more monumental personal and team achievements with the Lions in 2022.
Time-Marks
6:00 - AFLW Pre-season
9:15 - Orla’s rehab following a shoulder injury
18:45 - The contact side in AFL vs GAA
22:15 - Finding her rhythm in the game
25:30 - Having/being a mentor on the team
27:45 - Orla’s personal goals
30:10 - Individual technical skill work
33:00 - Irish players in the AFLW
36:10 - Recovery and downtime
43:00 - Setting goals as a group
45:45 - Major differences between the AFL and GAA
48:00 - Increasing physicality in women’s GAA
51:00 - How the AFLW benefits the GAA
54:15 - Advice to future Irish AFLW players
This episode is my first solo podcast in quite some time. As usual, it's just a diary of my thoughts over the last couple of weeks.
During this episode I ask some very important questions, such as "Do you want to win, or would you just like to win?"
I also speak about giving 100% to yourself, your teammates and your coaches, before moving onto talking about what we must be willing to do as coaches, to put our athletes in the best position to achieve their goals.
If you have any questions for me or are interested in getting some help in achieving your goals and reaching peak performance, don't be afraid to reach out on social media or via email.
As always, I hope you enjoy it.
And if you do enjoy it, please remember to like it, share it and send it!
Time-Marks
7:00 - Do you want to win or would you just like to win?
8:05 - Giving 100%
13:45 - Limiting alcohol intake
15:30 - Training to win
20:40 - Committing to teammates / Non-negotiables
23:15 - What can you give as a coach
24:40 - Creating a good environment as a coach
This episode of the podcast is with USA Football's Senior Manager in Education, former USA Eagle and D1 Collegiate Footballer, Andy Ryland.
Andy brings a unique perspective to coaching the tackle in rugby & American football, given that he played both sports at the highest level before stepping into coaching.
We talked all about contact preparation, his passion for tackling, tackling KPIs and common misconceptions in both rugby and American football.
This one is a super start for any youth rugby coaches, in how to break down the tackle before building it back up again to the sum of its parts.
We finished up by speaking about how we can make contact sports safer in the long term, by improving tackle and grapple technique with athletes of a young age.
Andy has transitioned into coach development after many year's working as a S&C coach, so there's something in this one for coaches of many specialities.
Time-Marks
5:30 - Andy’s current role
14:20 - His passion for tackling
18:20 - Misconceptions in the coaching of tackling
29:00 - Progressive drills
37:15 - Tackling KPIs
46:45 - Finishing the tackle
52:20 - Introducing youth athletes to tackling
1:07:50 - Possible safety implementations for youth athletes
This episode of the podcast is with proud Birr-native, Connacht loosehead prop & member of the prestigious 100 cap club at Leinster Rugby, Peter Dooley.
This one was a little surreal to record, as Peter and myself are very close in age and would've grown up together out at Roscrea rugby club. We would've spent may days playing against each other for many years in both rugby & hurling, representing Birr and Roscrea respectively, so there was a good deal of banter in this conversation.
We touched on Offaly vs Tipperary in the minor hurling final last weekend, chatting about what an important part of his life hurling was in his youth. We also touched on his underage rugby experiences, which included his transition to the front-row from number 8.
We talked about his excitement about his big move to Galway next week, after signing on to play with Connacht next season. We also touched on his reasons for staying in Ireland and his international aspirations.
Finally we spoke about the heavy influence his dad, Gerry, has had over his rugby career and over the development of the underage setup at Birr RFC.
Pete, has left a legacy at Leinster rugby, achieving his 100th cap last season, so we spoke about the many experiences he's had there, and how pivotal the club has been in his development as a rugby player and as a man.
Time-marks
4:15 - Peter's hurling background
14:15 - Transition from number 8 to the front row
20:00 - Early Beginning's at Leinster
22:45 - Leinster Academy
27:45 - His upcoming move to Galway
30:15 - Peter’s attraction to play for Connacht
31:10 - Goals of playing for Ireland
35:00 - Passion for scrummaging
37:15 - His Dad’s influence on his career
41:20 - How the underage club setup prepared him for his rugby career
45:10 - Mentoring young players
49:15 - 100 cap milestone
56:50 - Leaving a Legacy at Leinster
This episode of the podcast is with Sport & Performance Nutritionist, Patrick McCarthy.
Patrick is currently beginning a role with Team Biolayne in the US, having made the move to Boston, following some travelling in Costa Rica.
He has experience working with the Clare Senior Footballers, Tactical Athletes in the US and many other athletes and general population clients in a private setting.
He has previously been employed by Daniel Davey, of Davey Nutrition, and is now working under the world-renowned, Layne Norton. As a result, he brings a unique perspective on the use of language around nutrition, how he frames performance nutrition for busy athletes and how he adapts his practice, based on the culture he finds himself in.
All of these were talking points, as well as conversations around weight-loss/body recomposition for athletes, nutrition consultancy for clubs & differing attitudes towards sports nutrition in the US vs Ireland.
We also spoke about the work that he has been doing with firefighters, first responders, the military, the navy & others in the US (Tactical Athletes).
There are also some nuggets of information around content creation, writing and social media strategy for any budding nutritionists in the online space.
Other Links
Reading Research Guide - Layne Norton
Examine.com
Mike Posner - I Took a Pill in Ibiza (Acoustic)
Time-marks
9:00 - Patrick’s new role with Team Biolayne
14:30 - Creating credible content for athletes and the general population
18:15 - Varying fuel requirements for athletes
25:00 - Athletic performance vs body composition
39:00 - Benefits of sports clubs consulting a nutritionist
43:30 - Strategies to create a more positive attitude towards food
51:40 - Nutrition in Irish athletes vs US athletes
57:20 - Patrick’s social media strategy
1:02:45 - Tactical athletes
1:07:00 - Caffeine overconsumption
This episode of the podcast is with our first returning guest, S&C Coach and Mentor, Sam Portland.
Sam is currently in the process of releasing his own certification, focused on teaching coaches the fundamentals of speed coaching in a clear and actionable manner. This was a big focus point of our conversation, as well as speaking about how many coaches neglect speed coaching with their athletes, for fear of the unknown.
We also spoke about how important it is to be able to teach, in order to be a good coach, as well as how it important it is to understand basic physics, in order to coach speed effectively.
We also spoke about athlete archetypes and categorisation of team-sport athletes in relation to speed, before moving onto speak about when to know that you've done enough as a S&C coach.
You can find out more about Sam's Sports Speed Certification over at coachsportland.co.uk/sport-speed-certification/ or you can contact Sam on his social media channels which I will attach below.
Don't forget to use code "PETEYPSPEED" for 15% off of the total price of the certification, and hopefully I'll see you at one of the seminars in the near future.
Instagram: @coach_sportland
Twitter: @SPORTLAND_TNF
LinkedIn: Sam Portland
Time-marks:
5:45 - Sportland Sports Speed Certification
15:30 - Teaching in order to coach
22:00 - Fear of coaching speed due to risk-to-reward ratio
26:45 - Knowing when you’ve done enough as an S&C coach
31:00 - Categorising athletes for individualised training
36:30 - Qualifications through Sam’s certifications
48:30 - Benefits of in-person seminars
52:30 - How running the mentorship has changed Sam
This episode of the podcast is with the highly experienced, Head of S&C for Bishopstown GAA & Setanta College, Ian Jones.
Ian is originally from Cork and has recently relocated home to take up his new role, following an incredibly impressive decade of coaching in American professional and elite-level college sport.
He has experience working with both the Houston Texans & Cleveland Browns in the NFL, as well as working with USA Rugby, Rugby United NY & many D1 colleges in the US.
We chatted about the big move and how his new role differs from those that he has held in the states. We also spoke about the major differences in coaching elite level athletes in the US and GAA athletes in Ireland.
The partnership between Setanta College and Bishopstown is a new one, and truly revolutionary, so we spent a lot of time speaking about how that relationship is optimised to enhance the performance of the GAA club.
We also spoke about setting standards in training from the start, the new split season model of the GAA, individualising training for athletes & improvements that can be made in the S&C industry.
Ian has been running a number of S&C workshops in conjunction with Setanta College, as well as presenting at the recent Irish S&C Conference. You can find out more about both @ www.setantacollege.com & www.irishscnetwork.com
Time-marks
6:30 - Taking on a new role
10:45 - Differences in US athletes’ and GAA athletes’ attitudes towards training
17:30 - Building blocks to improve performance over time
27:30 - Being emotionally invested in a project
30:30 - Setting standards from the beginning
36:25 - Improving funding for S&C coaches
38:10 - Individualisation of training
43:00 - Maintaining an open dialogue between his role in Setanta and the GAA club committee
53:00 - Changes he will make in his coaching approach going forward
59:15 - How the new split season model suits the GAA player
1:02:20 - Balancing his busy schedule
1:11:40 - Improving the US S&C industry model
This episode of the podcast is with Irish International 800m & 1500m runner and Tokyo 2020 Olympian, Nadia Power.
Nadia is currently returning to the track following quite a serious foot injury. She has had a tough year, dealing with COVID and other illnesses as well as her plantar fascia tear, whilst simultaneously transitioning to a new coaching setup and training group overseas.
We spoke in depth about what spurred her recent move to London, her recent training camp in South Africa and how she has coped with the rehabilitation process of her first serious injury.
We talked about the importance of having the right coach at the right time in your career, and how her personal preference for feedback has changed through the years.
We also spoke about the added pressures that come along with an elite-level athletic career, which include building a personal brand and dealing with sponsors, as well as meeting new competitors and racing against your teammates.
Nadia is an incredibly driven individual and was brave to talk about her struggles in the past in relation to her relationship towards underperformance.
She spoke candidly about how she has done great work with Sport Psychologist, Jessie Barr, and her other coaches to develop a more rational approach towards performance at this stage of her career.
We also touched on how her parents and friends have been her ultimate supporters down through the years, despite having very different approaches towards how they deliver that support.
Nadia is currently undergoing the transition back onto the track and no doubt we'll be seeing her competing at the top level again sooner rather than later.
Time-Marks
4:30 - Nadia’s recent move to London
6:30 - Nadia’s foot injury and her recovery
13:50 - Her new perspective as she returns to sport
20:00 - Aqua jogging
23:30 - Receiving external feedback on a session
29:00 - Speed vs Endurance
33:30 - The benefits of going to training camps (South Africa)
37:15 - Meeting new people through the sport
42:50 - Internal pressure
46:15 - Switching off
50:45 - Watching other athletes compete from the sideline
54:00 - Self-branding and sponsorships
1:00:50 - Nadia’s parents’ support
This episode of the podcast is with Online S&C Coach and former D1 Strength Coach, Jake Tuura.
Jake is a specialist in the rehabilitation of jumpers knee and has a number of popular online programs that focus on developing strength, size, power and vertical jump ability.
We chatted about his recent rehabilitation from an acute ankle injury and what he learned during that process. We also dove deep into the science behind patellar tendinopathy rehabilitation and how he best works to help as many people as he can.
We talked about what he misses from in-person coaching, why he transitioned to the online space and the many negatives and positives to working almost exclusively through social media.
Jake's programs can all be found over on his website jaketuura.com and you can find additional information about him through his instagram and linktree.
Time-marks
5:30 - How travelling affects Jake’s training routine / ankle injury recovery
12:30 - Jake’s ‘Don’t Be Soft’ attitude
20:30 - How his goals have changed
27:15 - The aspects of coaching he misses
29:00 - Staying authentic as a coach
41:30 - The sales side to coaching
48:45 - The wide variety of training approaches available
53:30 - The downfalls to easy access to free fitness advice on social media
56:00 - Working through an injury
1:11:40 - How to help athletes with an injury as a coach
1:13:30 - Achieving growth on social media
This episode of the podcast is with S&C coach, speed and change of direction specialist Mathew Cook.
Mathew operates his own private coaching business, Transferable Training, where he works with team-sport and track athletes to improve their acceleration, speed and change of direction ability.
We chatted about his recent holiday, which was his first as a self-employed individual. We then moved onto talking about his internship with Jonas Doodoo and Speedworks, and how that was absolutely pivotal in his development as a coach.
Both myself and Mathew have a bit of a speed bias, so we spoke about the value of training outside the gym, as well as within it. We also touched on how he's used data and testing to improve his own coaching process, and what's sparked his interest of late in terms of COD for team sports.
We finished up by having an important conversation around the benefits and dangers of social media, as Mathew has had a huge increase in his following of late.
Time-Marks
6:00 - Switching off during a holiday when self-employed
14:45 - Mathew’s work with SpeedWorks and Jonas
23:50 - Thinking critically about how and why you do things
27:00 - Changes in his views/approaches since he began working with Jonas
38:30 - Experimenting with different approaches and his learnings from that
47:00 - Using data effectively in coaching
52:00 - Slowing down in order to speed up
54:30 - His work with team sport athletes on change of direction
1:02:00 - Mathew’s growth on social media / Navigating social media
This episode of the podcast is with Tipperary footballer and LGFA All-Star, Aishling Moloney.
Aishling is currently rehabbing from an ACL rupture but it has been anything but plain sailing for her since the injury occurred back in January of 2021.
We chatted about the complications she has had during her rehabilitation and how she has used her support circle to remain positive throughout the process.
We then moved on to talk about how she has now developed a newfound appreciation for nutrition, weight-training and recovery. She also touches on how she is going to take the next few months as an opportunity to focus on improving her linear speed, as well as an opportunity to continue enjoying life away from football.
Aishling has shown incredible mental resilience over the last year and I have no doubts that she will be back on the field, setting a great example for young athletes in the near future.
This episode of the podcast is a conversation with Irish Olympian and New-York-based boxer, Emmet Brennan.
We chatted about the boxing industry as a whole and where it finds itself at the moment, touching on promoters, Canelo vs Bivol, Taylor vs Serrano and the differences between pro boxing and the amateur level.
Emmet is currently rehabbing a shoulder injury, so we spoke about that, and his aspirations of boxing at the professional level very soon. We talked about the challenges he has been presented with in trying to transition into pro-boxing from amateur, as well as how the amateur sport has changed insurmountably since he began many years ago.
We spoke about the value of understanding S&C as an athlete, figuring out what works for your body, mental strength and his plan moving forward.
We also had time to touch on the support his family has given him over the years, especially during his Olympic cycle, and how he has looked to keep his focus, with a positive circle around him.
Emmet will hopefully be moving into professional boxing quite soon, and is currently looking for sponsors to help him on his journey. If you or anyone you know is interested, you can contact him over on his instagram @emmetbrennan
This episode of the podcast is a conversation with Dr. Peter Tierney of Lululemon. Dr. Tierney is working as a Senior Research Scientist with the company in Vancouver, having experience working in elite sport with Leinster Rugby and the English FA in the past.
Thus, Peter brings a unique perspective to his role in Product Innovation with the company, and it was really interesting to chat to him about the many lessons he's learned in elite sport, which have benefitted his performance in his new role.
We had time to talk about a whole host of topics over the course of this conversation, touching on stress, sleep and recovery, teaching methods, differences between coaching in elite football and elite rugby union, sled-pulling to enhance momentum and/or acceleration performance, intensity-differences between various levels of rugby union and World Rugby's new guidelines for contact training.
Dr. Tierney has achieved quite a lot in his short career so far, and I have no doubts that he'll continue to achieve great things in his new role in Canada.
This episode of the podcast is with Hartpury RFC and Gloucester Rugby, loosehead prop, Conor Maguire.
The Skerries-born, former Boyne RFC and Old Wesley man is now thriving in the Championship with Hartpury, whilst also getting the odd run out with Gloucester in the Premiership, due to his dual-status.
Conor's journey to this point has been incredibly interesting, as he has experience in both the Leinster and Connacht systems, where he found his feet, before moving across the water to Wales, to take up an opportunity with Dragons Rugby.
He started out as a hooker but has transitioned to loosehead prop in recent years, which was a fascinating topic of conversation during the chat.
We talked about how he has looked to find an optimal weight to balance his weaknesses and strengths, scrummaging at loosehead and hooker and then advice he would give to any young players thinking of making the change.
There are tonnes of golden nuggets in here for young players with high aspirations, and it was a thoroughly enjoyable conversation with a very level-headed guy, with an incredibly vibrant character.
The most poignant part of the conversation was undoubtedly when Conor outlined why he doesn't let the sport of rugby define him as a person.
Enjoy it and remember to like it, share it and send it.
This episode of the podcast is with owner of Health Matters, Seán Kinane.
Health Matters is a Dublin-based health and fitness company, specialising in VO2 and metabolic testing, nutritional therapy and corporate care. The company work with a wide array of sports people and general population clients, from elite, international athletes to recreational runners.
We had a conversation around the importance of low intensity training and why it is commonly neglected by just about everyone. We also managed to touch on how Seán likes to present the data with his different clientele, how nutrition and under-fuelling can have a negative impact on performance and the challenges of testing triathletes and team-sport-athletes.
This is a great episode for anyone that's interested in taking ownership of their performance. It will hopefully help you to understand why optimising your training and recovery should be made a priority, if you want to get the best out of yourself.
You can find out more about Seán and Health Matters over at myhealthmatters.ie
This episode of the podcast is with Australian Sprint Coach, Jack Edwards.
Jack coaches international athletes, team-sport athletes and members of the general public down in Sydney, Australia. He operates a growing athletics coaching company with his two mates, called Track Speed Development. He has also previously represented Australia at the Junior Commonwealth Games in the 100m Hurdles.
He manages his time between, coaching, competing and his day job as a secondary school English teacher. As a result of his background in education, he brings a unique perspective to coaching, delving deep into the psychology of learning and the "how" of movement execution.
We chatted about hurdles, sprinting and acceleration in great detail, as Jack outlined a few things that he believes athletics coaches have traditionally gotten a little wrong in the past.
We went deep on hip extension, ankle stiffness, ground contact positions, timing and acceleration.
We talked about how he's come to his conclusions around sprint coaching, success he's achieved and how he goes about teaching his athletes the basics.
Jack is an incredible thinker, coach and I have no doubts that he will achieve great success as he transitions from teaching into full-time coaching over the next few years.
You can find out more about Jack and Track Speed Development over at the Track Speed Development Instagram Page
This episode of the podcast is with expert performance coach, Dr. Fergus Connolly.
He is one of the world’s foremost performance coaches with over 20 years experience working with high performers in elite corporate, sport and military. Dr. Connolly has experience working in almost every major sport, previously consulting with San Fransisco 49ers, Dublin GAA, Munster Rugby, Liverpool FC, New York Knicks, Welsh Rugby Union, University of Michigan and many more.
Myself and Fergus had a fantastic chat around all things high performance, touching on how he defines it, how he has developed his holistic approach, why it is more advantageous to become a generalist over a specialist and the powerful lessons he has learned over the 20 years he has been in the industry.
There is tonnes of value in this conversation and as a result it went on a little longer than planned. However, if you manage to listen to the whole thing, I have no doubts that you will gain an incredible insight into the mind of one of the industries most successful practitioners.
This episode of the podcast is with Online S&C coach and Antrim inter-county football star, Eoghan McCabe.
Myself and Eoghan had a fantastic conversation around the challenges that he's faced in developing and running his online business, EMC Performance Academy. We also spoke about the many benefits of transitioning to the online space and what motivated him to make such a massive change.
We then went on to discuss the great work that he's been doing with his clients in relation to speed development, education and behaviour-change.
Finally, we discussed his own training schedule and how he manages to operate the business, whilst also playing elite inter-county football with Antrim in Division 3 of the National Football League.
This episode of the podcast is with founder of Davey Nutrition, former Dublin GAA & Leinster Rugby Performance Nutritionist, Daniel Davey.
Daniel and myself had an incredibly poignant conversation around the importance of having a purpose in your work and how he has built a community around his brand, Davey Nutrition.
We also chatted about achieving autonomy in one's professional career and life in general, guiding his clients towards making real, meaningful changes and the importance of active listening.
Daniel is releasing his second book quite soon, and he is currently in the process of transitioning his whole business online, vacating his roles with Leinster Rugby & Dublin GAA. So, these were two interesting talking points, amongst many more throughout our chat.
This conversation left me feeling energised and motivated, whilst also feeling like I'd learned some valuable lessons from a deep-thinker and an intelligent practitioner.
I hope you guys enjoy it and hopefully see some great value in this educational piece of content.
You can find out more about Davey Nutrition over at daveynutrition.com
This episode of the podcast is with Arsenal Academy Strength & Conditioning coach, Charlie Norton Sherwood.
Charlie was incredibly brave to give a candid reflection of his early years in the industry, outlining the mistakes that he made as a young coach, in relation to not taking care of himself and saturating his life in S&C with a view to furthering his career.
We chatted about how this issue arises all to often with young S&C coaches and give some advice around what we would do differently if given the opportunity to enter the industry as a fresh-faced newbie again.
We also talked about the value of internships, finding what works for different athletes, driving intent in the weight-room, change of direction in youth football and Charlie's new role at the Arsenal Academy.
This special episode of the podcast is to celebrate International Women's Day, and is with Women in Sport officer for Athletics Ireland & International Athlete, Lilly-Ann O'Hora.
Myself and Lilly-Ann chatted about her own performance in the 100m Hurdles at the recent Irish National Indoor Championships, as well as how competing in such a highly-competitive field has motivated her to reach new heights again and again.
We talked about the great place that Irish athletics finds itself in at the moment, with so many stars on an international level. And we also touched on how she is working to increase participation in Irish athletics for both female and male athletes.
We touched on the absence of female coaches at an elite and sub-elite level, as well as talking about the many barriers that they face on a personal level, as well as the micro-aggressions that they may experience in the coaching industry.
We finished up by chatting about what can be done in the future to level the playing field in terms of exposure and opportunities given to both male and female sport.
I hope that you all enjoy it, and pick up a few lessons along the way. Happy International Women's Day to all of our female listeners!
This episode of the podcast is with chartered physiotherapist and S&C coach, Donie Fox.
Donie operates out of his own private practice, RTP Physio, based down at St. Judes GAA club, where he also coaches hurling and camogie.
We chatted about self-employment, communication with clients, the importance of community for small businesses and personal development within the industry.
This one was a great chat, with a top-class practitioner, so I hope you all take something away from it.
You can find out more about RTP Physio over at https://www.rtp.physio/.
This episode of the podcast is with University of North Dakota, S&C coach, Will Ratelle.
Will leads the S&C program at the university for both basketball and volleyball, whilst also assisting with their football program. He also brings a unique perspective to the role, given that he has experience as a professional football player in the NFL with the Atlanta Falcons and Kansas City Chiefs.
His private S&C service is booming and he is an absolute king in terms of social media marketing, with an array of in-depth, informational videos on his Youtube channel.
We chatted about social media, medicine ball throws, velocity-based training, periodisation and achieving buy-in in the weight-room.
A great one to kick off season 2, I hope that you all enjoy it as much as I did.
With Ireland playing the All Blacks next weekend, I thought it would be interesting to speak to someone who has experience in beating the AB’s in the past. Seamus Dennison was part of the famous Munster team that beat New Zealand back in 1978, making a famous tackle on the day. He was also the protagonist in a advertisement for Guinness in recent years. We didn’t just talk about that encounter though, speaking about his rugby career in general, including his 3 Ireland caps, and why he thinks it was a struggle for Munster players of his generation to get picked for their country. We also touched on the current Ireland and Munster setups, reviewing Saturday’s game against Japan, and previewing next weekend’s with New Zealand. Anyone who knows or has been taught by Seamus, knows that it can be hard to get information about his exploits on the rugby field out of him. So, it was a pleasure and a privilege to finally get to speak to him about his playing days so freely. I think this will be an incredibly interesting listen for any and all rugby fans, and a perfect way to wrap up this season’s podcast.
Kate McDaid is a Health and Performance Nutritionist and the founder of Nutrikate.
Kate and I talked about the growth of Nutrikate, the direction in which the company is headed and the original “why” behind its start-up. She went into detail regarding her management style and why she has always believed in a client-centred approach. We didn’t just stick to the business chat though, chatting about her basic pillars of nutrition and the importance of sleep for health and wellness.
A great chat, I’m sure people from all walks of life will be able to take something useful from this one.
This episode of the podcast is with Cork GAA Performance Nutritionist, Cork Constitution Head Coach and former Munster rugby player, Jonny Holland.
Jonny is a self-employed and works with both Cork senior hurling and football teams. We chatted all things sports nutrition touching on pre-game, in-game and post-game practices. We also touched on creatine supplementation, weight management, individualisation and meal-timing.
We then moved onto rugby chat, talking about the lessons Jonny took from his own professional career, as well as the current AIL season.
A conversation that went all over the place, there’s something in there for anyone interested in GAA, rugby, nutrition or business.
This episode of the podcast is with former Argentina 7s Physical Preparation Coach, Fernando Levy.
Fernando and myself had an insightful conversation about his impact on the Argentina 7s team’s journey to a bronze medal at Tokyo 2020. We talk about what attracted Fern to 7s, what it was like prepping for the Olympics during the COVID pandemic and the intangibles that culminated in his boys causing an upset, to come home with a medal.
A true gent, I’m sure you all will enjoy this extremely candid conversation.
This week's podcast is a conversation with Irish Paralympic Sprinter, Orla Comerford.
We had a very deep and poignant conversation about her mentality towards athletics, as well as her motivations to train, the roadblocks she has faced down through the years and the extremely difficult situation she was faced with, when she lost her phenomenal coach, Brian Corcoran, whilst away at the Paralympics earlier this year.
I thank Orla for her time, in what was a very brave chat, that I’m sure will resonate with many who knew Brian, as well as many others who have had to deal with the grief of loss in their own lives.
This episode of the podcast is with biomechanics specialist, David Grey.
He is the proud owner of his own business/clinic, David Grey Rehab, which provides individuals with therapy in both an online and in-person setting. We chatted about the benefits and the challenges of working almost exclusively online, how life has changed for him since his first stock program, Lower Body Basics, took off and some of the common challenges that he faces with his clients in relation to hip and hamstring injuries.
We also took the time to talk about Dave's own athletic career, common problems that he sees frequently in GAA, and the business skills that he's picked up along his journey so far.
So, hopefully there's something in there for everyone. I hope you enjoy it, as we both had a lot of fun during the recording.
This episode of the podcast is a conversation with Melbourne-based S&C coach, Graeme Morris.
Graeme is currently working in a private setting, as well as leading the S&C programming for the AFL referees.
We had a conversation that covered a multitude of topics including, Aussie Rules Football, rugby league, rugby union, multi-directional tempo conditioning and S&C for the combat-sport athlete. We also managed to touch on the new rugby union contact-training laws, Volkanovski in the UFC and the Wallabies as well.
This conversation flowed so well that I'm sure it will be an enjoyable listen. Graeme is an awesome practitioner and a funny guy so I'm sure there is something in there for just about everyone.
This episode of the podcast is with rugby coach, Peter Breen. Peter is the founder of Rugby Bricks, a New Zealand-based company that brings world class knowledge, skills and products to rugby players around the globe.
Pete has worked with the likes of Aaron Smith, Ben Smith, Quade Cooper, Reece Hodge and many other elite rugby players. He is currently working as a Skills & Kicking coach with the Melbourne Storm in the NRL, and as an Assistant Coach with the Wallaroos.
We had a chat about all things kicking, rugby union and rugby league. We also had time to chat about the Rugby Championship and the preliminary finals of the NRL.
Find out all you need to know about Rugby Bricks over at https://rugbybricks.com/
This episode of the podcast is with a giant within the S&C industry, Keir Wenham-Flatt, a.k.a. The Rugby Strength Coach.
Keir is the founder of the Strength Coach Network, where he now works full time. He has formerly worked with the Argentina Rugby Union, London Wasps, Sydney Roosters, Toshiba in Japan and William & Mary in the United States.
We chatted about the various coaching environments he's worked in and what separates the good from the bad. We also touched on how he works to achieve buy-in with athletes, how we actually affect performance in competition, the line between S&C and skills coaching and the application of jiu-jitsu/grapple work to contact sport.
This episode of the podcast is with Shelbourne FC S&C coach, David O'Connor.
Myself and David talked about his pillars of performance in S&C coaching for football, how he connects with his athletes and the work he has done for mental health awareness in the past.
This episode of the podcast is with Irish para-rower, PR2 national champion and 2019 World Bronze Medalist, Katie O'Brien.
We talk about her intense training schedule, her experiences at the National and World Championships, the Paralympics, her professional life as a veterinarian and her experiences growing up with Spina Bifida.
This episode of the podcast is with Head of Strength and Conditioning at Blackrock College, Lansdowne RFC and Wicklow GAA, Daniel Moore.
We talked about his work in high-performing organisations, as well as having a very deep conversation about why he coaches and what makes a successful coach.
Dan also participated in RTE's show, Ultimate Hell Week, last year. So we had a conversation about what he gained from that experience and what he learned about himself in the process.
This episode of the podcast is a conversation with Strength and Conditioning coach and former Olympic race-walker, Colin Griffin.
Colin operates out of Santry Sports Surgery Clinic and is currently completing is PhD in Achilles Tendinopathy rehabilitation, under the tutelage of JB Morin. We had an in-depth discussion on the mechanisms of injury of Achilles tendinopathy, as well as his treatment and assessment methods. We then talked about the Tokyo Olympics, his own Olympic experiences, in 2008 and 2012, and his company The Altitude Centre Ireland.
This episode of the podcast is with Dublin inter-county footballer and best-selling author, Shane Carthy.
We had a great chat about his beloved Manchester United, losing out in an All-Ireland semi-final to Mayo, his aspirations for next season, the release of his best-selling autobiography and a frank discussion about mental health in general.
This is quite a deep one so I hope someone can take something useful from it.
If anyone out there is struggling with mental health issues, remember that there are plenty of services available, so don't be afraid to talk.
This episode of the podcast is with Irish 800m runner and Olympian, Síofra Cléirigh Büttner.
Being that Síofra is a gaelgeoir we spoke in Irish for the beginning of the podcast, but transitioned into English after about 15 minutes to make it accessible to speakers of both languages.
We chatted about the Olympic experience, living and training in the United States with Team New Balance, as well as her love of the Irish language and more.
This episode of the podcast is a conversation with strength and conditioning coach and Armagh inter-county footballer, Jemar Hall.
We cover a range of topics over the course of this episode, including how Jemar manages his time between playing GAA at an elite level and running is coaching business H&H Performance.
We also touch on his beginnings in sport as a multi-sport athlete, being heavily influenced by his mother, father and uncles, before having the tough conversation regarding the racism he's experienced on the field of play.
Jemar is very open throughout this conversation and incredibly brave to talk about topics that he acknowledges, are not easy for him to talk about.
In a series that came down to the wire, there can only be one winner. In this episode of the podcast, I go over the major talking points from the final test of the Lions tour, as well as my own reflections on the tour as a whole.
Episode 33 of The Petey Performance Podcast is with S&C coach and all around businessman, Billy O'Regan.
We chat all things coaching, S&C, internships, robustness, sandbag carries and switching off. We even found time to preview the 3rd test between British & Irish Lions and the Springboks, from the comfort of our armchairs.
A short review of the spicy encounter between the Springboks and the B&I Lions in Test Week 2. I talk about the styles of play brought from both teams and the lack of discipline from both the players and coaching staff, before previewing the upcoming Test 3 decider.
The B&I Lions came away with a 22-17 win over the Springboks at the weekend. Is there scope for improvement? Did some questionable decisions go their way? Should a few changes be made to the side for the 2nd test? And how are the Springboks going to retaliate?
This episode of the podcast is a conversation with former Blue Bulls S&C, and current Singapore Rugby Union Head S&C, Henri-Charl Terblanche.
We talked about how Henri is managing his clients and athletes during COVID-19 restrictions, how he achieves work-life balance for his young family, as well as touching on the Lions tour and upcoming first test against the Springboks.
This episode of the podcast is a conversation with physiotherapist and co-host of The Measured by Success Physio Podcast, Greg Hawe. We talked about everything and anything over the course of this conversation, debating treatment tools, the line between physio and S&C, using cues in a criterion-based rehab program, as well as chatting NRL and Lions rugby.
This podcast is a conversation with Singapore-based S&C coach, personal trainer and nutritionist, Will Foden. Will recently completed a 58km charity ultramarathon in aid of Motor Neurone Disease and Cancer research, which we talked about towards the end of the conversation.
We also delved deep into the problems that coaches face on a daily basis, as they navigate the complicated world of the fitness industry. Value systems, challenges, performance-based training and getting out of your comfort zone. Nothing was off the table.
On this episode of the podcast I review the B&I Lions game vs the Sigma Lions, as well as previewing their fixture against the Sharks.
I also cover the Springboks test vs Georgia, Ireland vs Japan and England vs USA.
This episode is a conversation with Irish international 7s star, Foster Horan. We chat about the Irish team's recent qualification for the Olympics via the repechage tournament in Monaco, how their preparation is going as a team, Foster's road to getting to this point and the various players that have come through the 7s system over the years.
This podcast is a review of the British and Irish Lions first game of their 2021 Tour of South Africa, vs Japan. I go into depth, analysing both the collective and individual performances, as well as talking about Gatland's most recent call-ups, due to injuries within the squad.
This episode of the podcast is a conversation with my good-friend, former housemate and fellow S&C coach, Rob Morledge. He's currently coaching over in Cambodia with Svay Rieng FC, so we talk in great detail about the challenges he's faced and solutions he's come up with in relation to their S&C program. With Rob being English and working in football, we also had to touch on Euro 2020 and England's chances to lift the trophy. Rob is a real character so I'm sure there's something in this one for everyone.
This week's episode of the podcast is a conversation with the always interesting, Harry McNulty, of the Irish Rugby 7s and LA Giltinis.
We went all over with this conversation, touching on the upcoming Olympic Repechage tournament, Harry's swift transition back into 7s rugby, his experiences playing in LA and what it's like to travel the world creating content.
This podcast is a conversation with LA Giltinis and soon to be USA Eagles international, Luke Carty. We talked about his new life in LA, his experiences so far in the MLR and how he's getting on running a star-studded backline, featuring Matt Giteau and Adam Ashley-Cooper.
This episode of the podcast is a conversation with Irish international athlete and reigning 400m champion, Sophie Becker. We had a thoroughly enjoyable conversation around a number of topics pertaining to her athletic career. These included her recent performance as part of the 4x200m team at the World Relays in Poland, her hopes of competing at this year's Summer Olympic games and what she feels needs to be done to continue to grow the sport of athletics in Ireland.
This podcast is an interesting conversation with sports physio and media personality, Lauren Guilfoyle. We talk about how she's managing the return to play process, hamstring and achilles injuries, the psychology of injury, managing athlete and coach relationships, the return of the GAA and the recent news of the government's decision to provide equal funding to ladies inter-county GAA.
This podcast is a very casual conversation with Sligoman, Conán O'Donnell, of the Crusaders and Counties Manukau. We had a great chat about life and rugby in New Zealand, growing up in Sligo, the perils of being a student-athlete and a lot more as well.
On this episode of the podcast, I sat down for an in-depth conversation with Irish 400m runner, Brandon Arrey. We talked about his hopes and expectations for the World Championships and Olympics, his love and admiration for soccer and other field-based sports, his recent trip to Cameroon, his experience of racism in Ireland and the challenging topic of cancel culture.
This episode of the podcast is a conversation with former Melbourne Rebels Strength and Conditioning Coach, Eoin Scullion. We talk about how he is getting on with his head coaching job with Wanderers RFC in Singapore, his upcoming charity run across the island, mental health and mindfulness techniques and how he builds the athlete-coach relationship.
On this episode of the podcast I sat down for a conversation with Jack Regan, of the Highlanders, to talk about his experience of rugby in New Zealand, playing with Aaron Smith, doing the Haka, scrapping with Joe Moody and his love for the GAA.
For this edition of the podcast, I sat down for a conversation with Rouen and Canada Rugby player Shane O'Leary. We talked about life in France, playing in a Rugby World Cup, winning the Pro12 with Connacht, concussion protocols, baldness and a whole lot more.
Olie and myself had a thought-provoking conversation about youth coaching, athlete monitoring systems, problems in the fitness industry and the impact the COVID-19 pandemic has had on people's health across the world.
I sat down with Oisin Heffernan to talk about his Northampton Saints debut, Leinster Schools Rugby Development and the easing of COVID restrictions in England.
Myself and Shane Storey sat down to talk about his new life in Spain, powerlifting training during lockdown, his transition to online coaching, current issues in the Health and Fitness industry, as well as his new podcast.
A very insightful conversation about AFL and mental health with Dublin GAA star, Lauren Magee. We talk about her transition from Gaelic football to AFL, how she's getting on in Oz and she opens up about her family's experiences with the mental health services in Ireland, during the pandemic.
A slightly late edition of the podcast sees me review last weekend's Six Nations and Pro14 action, whilst also previewing this weekends European Cup fixtures.
This conversation is with my former work colleague, David Ooi. David is a black belt in jiu-jitsu and judo, who came away victorious from his match at the Singapore Grappling Invitational last week. We talk about winning that match, receiving his black belt and a lot of less serious topics, including who would win in a fight between a gorilla or a grizzly bear.
A fantastic chat with Coach Sam Portland covering the topics of change of direction for team sport athletes, strategies for developing the coach-athlete relationship and the barriers to the growth of the S&C coaching industry.
A review of the final round of the Six Nations Championship. Topics covered include lacklustre Italians, an Irish renaissance, Welsh cynicism and a British & Irish Lions squad prediction.
Lions predictions, French faux-pas and a Welsh Grand Slam opportunity are amongst the topics covered in this weeks episode.