The Game Changer by Kitman Labs: Recent Episodes
The Game Changer by Kitman Labs
Kitman Labs is leading the convergence of data science, sports science and computer science, creating a new era of injury and performance analytics.
In this podcast series Kitman Labs' team of experts and an extended network of professional sports practitioners share their insights and experiences in the sports and technology industries.
In this episode, we delve into the challenges of fostering effective communication and collaboration across sports in the NCAA. As athletic departments continue to expand - in staff size and expectations for holistic student-athlete care - the separation between various sports, disciplines and departments present unique obstacles that demand innovative solutions. We’ll hear from NCAA leaders who have implemented strategies to break down silos and promote synergy by consolidating and centralizing people, process and data; integrating data-driven and evidence-based insights; and cultivating a culture of collaboration and engagement. Topics for discussion:* The evolving dynamics of NCAA sports programs and their impact on communication and collaboration in and across sports - with players, practitioners and administration * The role of centralized data and insights about health, mental well-being, performance, athlete status and more in providing cross-departmental, actionable insights that align staff * Strategies for fostering a collaborative mindset among coaches, athletes, and staff members, emphasizing the shared goal of athletic excellence * Exploring emerging trends and innovations in data and technology that have the potential to further transform communication and collaboration within collegiate sports programs Guests:Jason Avedesian, Ph.D Director of Sports Science for Olympic Sports, Clemson UniversityEric Rash, Director of Applied Performance, Baylor UniversityMatt Robinson, Athletic Trainer, Texas Tech
In this episode of Game Changer from Kitman Labs, CEO Stephen Smith is joined by Renee Kleszczynski from Michigan State University and Josh Rucci from the University of Georgia to discuss their respective approaches to change and transformation and the role of technology, data and analytics in improving the health and well-being of their student-athletes, increasing staff efficiency and success and enhancing collaboration across the medical, performance, and coaching teams.
Topics include
- Michigan State University & University of Georgia's vision for holistic student-athlete care in the context of the NCAA Transformation Committee’s new standards
- The value of a centralized data and analytics platform in unifying the Athletic Department and supporting objective, collaborative decision-making and communication across all practitioners and sport
- Thinking beyond the confines of a traditional EMR and AMS - when, where, and how to start the process of deploying an integrated operating system; lessons learned and pro tips for those ready to embark on the journey
- Keeping it simple - how to painlessly leverage technology to optimize current practices and procedures; generate practical insights and unlock athlete performance
Baylor University is at the forefront of the transformation of student athlete health and well-being. From their vision and organization to their technology infrastructure and day-to-day engagement with student-athletes, Baylor is continuously innovating and evolving their delivery of a top notch student-athlete experience that balances holistic care and performance excellence.
In this webinar, Stephen Smith is joined by Kenny Boyd, Executive Senior Associate Athletics Director of Student-Athlete Services, to discuss the myriad changes in NCAA athletics and Baylor’s unique approach to student-athlete care.
Topics include:
- Baylor’s vision for the student-athlete experience and how they are driving and accelerating change with administration, coaches, practitioners and student-athletes
- The new NCAA Transformation Committee requirements for holistic care, increased access to services and medical coverage, and player health and safety measures
- Student-athlete care as a competitive advantage for player recruitment and retention
- How the changing conference landscape is impacting Baylor’s strategy for talent recruitment, retention, and approach to performance
- The importance of building systems and structures to support the holistic care model
- The value of data and technology to empowering each member of the student-athlete ecosystem to continuously deliver and innovate on the student-athlete experience
Guest:
Kenny Boyd, Executive Senior Associate Athletics Director of Student-Athlete Services, Baylor University
Host:
Stephen Smith, CEO & Founder, Kitman Labs
In this episode of the Game Changer podcast, learn about the leadership philosophy of Athletic Director Mike Harrity, Haldeman Family Director of Athletics and Recreation at Dartmouth College. With a 20-year career, leading athletic departments at West Point, Notre Dame and more, Mike shares how to break down silos to elevate the care and performance of NCAA athletes. Hear leadership lessons from Harrity’s new book Coaching Wisdom, offering an insider’s perspective on the greatest challenges in leadership and how to overcome them.
In this podcast, you’ll learn: * How to invest in the right technology for your organization * Why you need to create a shared vision for your athletic program * Cross-department communication strategies for large sports organizations
Kitman Labs Performance Scientist Greg Sammons talks with England Rugby’s Men’s Pathway Athletic Performance Manager Robin Eager about the athletic development process for Under 18/Under 20 players, the importance of alignment and long-term planning for optimal physical development, and advice on when and how to use data insights to complement practitioners’ intuition and experience.
Director of Performance Science Darcy Norman chats with University of Colorado’s Adam Ringler, who openly shares best practices and lessons learned from CU’s innovative journey to a University-wide implementation of their strategic vision - a data-driven approach to enhancing the WHOLE athlete and the athlete experience.
This week, we’re excited to welcome both Michael Cheika (World Rugby Coach of the Year award recipient) and Brad Harrington (NTT Docomo Red Hurricanes) as they join Kitman Labs Performance Scientist John Dams in an engaging discussion on creating solid collaboration between performance staff and coaches (despite occasional differences) to maximize performance on a consistent basis. Key insights include:
- Building relationships that can withstand conflict
- Successfully developing trust
- How to deliver data that resonates with coaches
- Tips to help coaches think about data and collaboration in a new way
University of Colorado Athletic Director Rick George and Kitman Labs CEO Stephen Smith chat about creating success and driving progress through an interconnected organization and an interconnected approach to managing the WHOLE athlete. They explore the importance of a strategic plan, getting everyone on the same page, and partnering with the right vendor to execute on the vision and plan.
Highlights include: * Creating a shared vision and mission with 30+ stakeholders/differing viewpoints * Aligning 17+ sports on a shared view of athlete development * Using data and technology to bring departments together, create a view of the WHOLE athlete and support individual athlete development * Cultivating a culture of continuous improvement
In this second segment of a two-part series, Kitman CEO Stephen Smith continues his conversation with Chicago Cubs High performance Director Adam Beard who gives advice on modernizing high performance organizations. Other highlights include:
- Leveraging data and analytics for decision-making
- Moving faster to success as a team
- How a partner can support you in thinking fast and slow
- The yin and yang of player development and well-being
In the first of an exclusive two-part series, Kitman CEO Stephen Smith talks with Chicago Cubs High Performance Director Adam Beard who provides highlights from his research on performance, discusses the role of high performance directors, and more.
Having worked in the AFL, Olympic sports, international rugby, NFL and MLB, Adam has brought his unique perspective to each organization and shares his thoughts with us on:
- How to increase collaboration and reduce organizational silos
- Why a shared understanding of a team’s vision/mission is critical for success
- Bridging the gap between research and practice
- The value of differing opinions and perspectives
- The role of the modern high-performance director
- Why “we own the adaptation, not the methods”
NTT Docomo Red Hurricanes’ High Performance Manager, Brad Harrington, speaks to Kitman Labs Performance Scientist John Dams about high performance and shares his advice on how the performance department can more effectively engage with coaches.
Key takeaways for this podcast include: * Debunking the myth that coaches don’t care about performance; * The importance of building a good relationship between coaches and the performance department * Understanding a coach's context and communicate in the right way at the right level * Identifying the data that matters most to coaches and facilitate objective conversations
Stephen Smith, Founder and CEO of Kitman Labs welcomes Martin Buchheit, a renowned sports science researcher and published author, to Kitman Labs as the new Head of Performance Research. In this lively discussion the two talk about the past, present and future of performance science, data, sports research, and how teams create highly collaborative, data-driven organizations.
Key discussion points:
- How research can improve to help teams advance - on and off the field - in a more practical and compelling way
- The evolution of thinking about data and roles, to thinking about questions and problems
- The importance of asking the right questions with the right context at the right level
- Ego, humility, fear, trust and transparency!
- Are we stuck in satisficing mode?
- The keys to building a highly collaborative environment
- What it takes to have a seat at the strategic table
In this episode of The Game Changer Podcast, we spoke Dr. Charlotte Cowie, the Football Associations' Head of Medicine. Here's what you'll take away: * exclusive insight into the FA’s approach to testing, venue biosecurity and returning to play * guidance on the checklist for returning to play by DCMS * a look through the FA's Covid-Lens to return to play
Join us in this exclusive episode, of the Game Changer Podcast where we interview England and Wales Cricket Board's (ECB) Head of Sports Science, Medicine and Innovation, Raph Brandon.
He shares his experiences on: * Tackling the challenges of Covid-19 for International Teams * the preparation to return to the international stage * their approach to symptom monitoring and safely returning to play * medical and legal liability to manage and mitigate risk
Phil Clarke, Co-Founder and Operations Manager for The Sports Office and Andrew Whitelam, The Sports Office PR Consultant interview Sean O’shea from AIK Fotball.
On this episode, we gain insight on overcoming the unique challenges in adapting to return to play, as Sean shares insight on how the coaching team are: * Adapting training schedules and environments * Conditioning players with new fitness programs * Overcoming disruption and mental barriers the team face in challenging times * Creating a fun environment whilst engaging and evaluating progress for players * preparing to return to play
Stephen Smith, Founder and CEO of Kitman Labs hosts a dynamic group discussion on how elite sports teams are navigating the uncertain waters created by the novel coronavirus.
Our guests this episode - Jim Liston from Toronto FC, Gary Walker from FC Cincinnati, and Jeremy Sauer from West Ham - share their approach, creative ideas, and challenges related to: * Managing training and caring for their athletes given the uncertainty of the downtime * Maintaining club culture and strong personal connections * Creative strategies for athlete engagement and the importance of keeping things fresh for their athletes * Unique opportunities for training, learning, and teaching that the break is providing * Planning for a return to play or return to a new season amidst uncertainty
Watch for a bonus episode featuring a behind the scenes brainstorming with our guests on a scenario planning framework.
Dr Dittmar has been with the club since 2002 and played a considerable role in the planning and organization of the medical facilities during the modernization of the BayArena.
Key Highlights Include:
- How Dr. Dittmar structured and aligned 36 staff across sports science, fitness, rehabilitation, coaching management and sports psychology.
- The strategies used to turn Big Data into digestible, actionable information for coaching and medical staff.
- The importance of key player availability for a team competing against opponents with superior financial backing.
- Striking the right balance with player load: when to taper players workload and when to push them further in search of peak match day performance.
- Quickfire Q & A on the application of data in an elite sport environment.
Celtic FC's Head of Sports Science Jack Nayler speaks with Darcy Norman around some of the key lessons he's learned through pursuing a habit of conscious self-reflection.
Key takeaways for this podcast include: * Tips on how to embrace complexity and focus on the factors you can control within the elite sports environment * Why it's important to encourage a safe psychological environment between departments for continual growth * And how to stabilise processes around data collection, communication and information sharing within your organisation.
If you have any questions or comments, please make sure you join the Game Changer Group on LinkedIn.
In this podcast performance consultant Ed Lippie shares lessons from his time building a high performance environment within AS Roma.
Key highlights include: * How to build a true high performance organisation through the right processes, people and technology * Creating a shared vision and transparency around your team's goals to ask critical questions about your current processes, this can then: + Help you to drive processes with a more focused view of success, ensuring actions are impactful. * How to maximise technology to be truly impactful within your club + Being mindful when making investment in technology and clearly identifying how it will contribute to long and short-term success * Tools to help you build a robust, successful system to mitigate against negative change and loss of institutional knowledge.
Part two of Kitman Labs Founder and CEO Stephen Smith's podcast interview with the legendary Michael Boyle.
In this podcast, Stephen interviews Mike on his 38 years of working in professional sport, including important lessons and personal philosophies that have enabled him to remain so relevant in today's rapidly changing industry.
Key highlights from this podcast include: * Mike’s own personal development and decisions that helped him to get where he is today * Tools and skillsets that are necessary for future performance practitioners * How to break down department silos within a team landscape * Further discussion from part one on the role of technology in today’s industry
This episode features legendary performance coach Michael Boyle talking to CEO and Founder of Kitman Labs, Stephen Smith.
Key takeaways from this episode include:
- The state of performance in the NHL, where it’s come from and where teams need to evolve to next to support their athletes.
- The unique challenges that coaches and performance practitioners face in the NHL, and what could be done about them.
- The place of technology in the wider industry - Is it a fad or is it really here to stay? Has it really made us undervalue the experience of our coaches and put the decision making power in the wrong hands?
You can now join Kitman Labs Game Changer Group, to post any questions, comments or podcast requests: https://www.linkedin.com/groups/13707767/
“Vision without systems thinking ends up painting lovely pictures of the future,” reflected MIT Sloan Lecturer, Peter M Senge. “It leaves no deep understanding of the forces that must be mastered to move from here to there.”
Never has this quote been more applicable in the world of business than in the business of sport. In the highly-emotive world of sport creating a vision is the easy bit. However, executing on this vision is where a lot of organisations both sporting and otherwise tend to fall short, oftentimes because they lack a logical, systematic approach that aligns the entire organisation.
In this podcast CEO and Founder of Kitman Labs, Stephen Smith interview US Head of Performance Darcy Norman about the process of systems thinking and how data can support it's successful framework. From this interview you will take away:
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An awareness of what is systems thinking and how it can support a sporting organisation
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A sense of where to begin on your own journey using systems thinking
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The important role that data plays in building this framework
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The importance of using objective data to justify new rationales and remove previous barriers created by heuristics and biases that are ever present in sport
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An understanding of what is the end goal and what does that look like
For more information, please visit www.kitmanlabs.com or follow us on social @kitmanlabs
It is no secret that mindful communication, good relationships and a healthy mindset are powerful tools in any type of business. Yet in the high-pressured, fast-paced team environment of sport they can be hard to master and maintain.
In this podcast Performance Scientist John Dams interviews communication expert John Hedley, who works with global business and sports leaders, teaching them to master their neurolinguistic skills and ultimately unlock their true potential.
This podcast will challenge you to think differently about communication, conflict and how to get the most from the people you work with.
In this episode Kitman Labs' performance scientist John Dams talks with Hitoshi Ipponsugi, Head of Performance for Toyota Verblitz about the state of rugby in Japan.
Key topics covered in this podcast include:
- The unique relationship between elite sport and the corporate businesses who manage the Japanese Rugby Top Teams.
- How to develop athletes into elite athletes when they were not fostered in an academy system.
- Why it's important to look outside of your own country to continue you personal development.
- How Japanese Rugby is rising to the challenge of the upcoming 2019 World Cup.
- And lastly how Kitman Labs has helped Toyota Verblitz to enhance on-field performance.
In part 2 of this episode, Founder and CEO of Kitman Labs, Stephen Smith continues to talk with Mike Potenza on how data is being used at the San Jose Sharks. Key takeaways from this talk include:
- How rule changes in the NHL have consequently changed the physiological demands for players, and therefore talent recruitment.
- How the San Jose Sharks use Kitman Labs to view longitudinal data of key players and plan for future success.
- How understanding key performance indicators can help you to improve recruitment strategies that will ensure a best fit for your team.
- How to change the process of communicating with coaches and front office management to support your own performance goals.
In this podcast Darcy Norman, Director of AS Roma and current Performance Advisor to the German National team joins Stephen Smith to challenge the view of a home-continent advantage.
After their historic World Cup win in 2014 in Brazil, Darcy shares how the German team's wise investments off the field helped them to succeed on the field. Will these same tactics pay off in their 2018 pursuit? Listen now and let us know what you think!
Pierre Barrieu, Sleep Expert and Director of Performance at MLS team the LA Galaxy, speaks with Kitman Labs' Performance Scientist Andy Shelton.
Pierre, who was also part of Team USA's previous FIFA World Cup Campaigns, shares stories on how he managed athlete wellbeing during the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.
Listen now to get game changing insights and tips on how to manage your athletes during transition periods.
For over a decade Mike Potenza has been an integral part of the National Hockey Team, the San Jose Sharks.
In this newest episode, Mike shares his own personal journey towards the NHL and some of the key performance methodologies he has developed along the way.
Part one of his talk with Kitman Labs’ CEO, Stephen Smith, will cover:
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How Mike’s experience with multiple, collegiate sports has helped to influence training methodologies with professional ice hockey players
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Avoiding the trap of maintenance and monotony in-season, and striving for training with stimulus and intensity
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Developing new, young talent as the season begins.
Stay tuned for part two where Mike will share some insights from the NHL combines and how to identify a future champion.
Jarryd Phillips who is the Head of Sports Science for MNUFC, is passionate about player individualisation for treatment and training strategies. In this episode he shares tactics for collecting, monitoring and applying data to optimise the individual athlete in the lead up to match day.
In this podcast Jarryd talks with Performance Scientist Andy about a typical day of training and game preparation for Minnesota United FC.
In this podcast Performance Scientist Andy Shelton catches up with the New York Yankees Player Development Coordinator, Mike Wickland.
Mike shares with Andy his experience on collecting meaningful data, and in particular how to understand this data to better suit the needs of the individual.
From this method, Mike has been able to apply the data, optimising the training and treatment plans of the individual athlete.
In this episode Kitman Labs' VP of Operations, Kevin McLaughlin speaker with client and elite football Physiotherapist Mikael Klotz, from Hammarby Fotball.
Hammarby Fotball is one of the most forward-thinking Fotball clubs currently in Sweden, reflected by it's organisations goals:
1. To become a top 3 club in their league
2. To be the leaders in Sports Science for Sweden
3. To have world class performance facilities
In an effort to further these goals, Mikael approached Kitman Labs, a technology leader in athlete optimisation.
In this podcast Mikael shares his journey of implementing the Kitman Labs platform, and what benefits he and the staff at Hammarby Fotball have experienced after just a few months of using the Kitman Labs system.
Kitman Labs' CEO Stephen Smith sat down with Florida State University Strength and Conditioning Coach, Jake Schuster. In this podcast Jake shares some of his personal performance philosophy around strength, speed and plyometrics. He also shares how he has been using data to help enhance performance within FSU's Athletics Department.
Kitman Labs' COO, Kevin McLaughlin recently caught up with Charlie Higgins, Head of Athletic Performance for Leinster Rugby. In this podcast Charlie and Kevin discuss their respective experiences within Rugby Union, particularly around the evolution and application of technology to support athlete performance.
Charlie Higgins is well respected within the performance industry, having worked in professional rugby (both the Southern and Northern hemisphere) for 18years, whilst Kevin previously played at an elite level for 8years, representing both Leinster Rugby and Ireland's national team.