Science for Sport Podcast

326: Creatine’s Next Chapter with Steve Jennings

This week on the Science for Sport Podcast, Richard Graves welcomes back Steve Jennings for part two of one of the most fascinating stories in sports nutrition. Earlier this year, Steve joined us to tell the story of how creatine first entered the world of elite sport ahead of the Barcelona 1992 Olympic Games. In this follow-up conversation, Richard and Steve look at where creatine goes next. For decades, creatine has been viewed primarily as a strength, power and high-intensity performance supplement. But Steve believes the next phase of creatine will move far beyond the gym, the track and the changing room. In this episode, Steve discusses the emerging research around creatine, cognition, fatigue, brain function, sleep deprivation, concussion, ageing, women’s health, shift work and everyday human performance. He also explains why education is now critical, particularly for youth athletes, parents, schools and practitioners who need to understand creatine in the right context. The conversation also explores the future of creatine as an ingredient technology, with Steve outlining how new forms of creatine could be used in functional foods, gummies, drinks and other products designed for wider health and performance benefits. This is a conversation about sport, science, innovation and the changing role of creatine in human performance. In this episode you will learn How creatine moved from elite sport into mainstream performance nutrition Why Steve believes the biggest future breakthroughs may come outside traditional sports performance The potential role of creatine in cognition, fatigue, brain function and sleep deprivation Why education is so important when discussing creatine with youth athletes and parents How practitioners can better frame creatine use in the right context Why Steve believes three grams per day can be enough for many users How creatine needs may change across the lifespan Why creatine is becoming a major topic in women’s health, ageing and longevity The challenges of creating liquid-stable and food-based creatine products How ingredient technology could shape the next generation of creatine products About Steve Jennings Steve Jennings is one of the most influential figures in the history of sports nutrition. A former professional racing cyclist, Steve founded Maxim Sports Nutrition in the early 1990s and played a key role in introducing creatine supplementation to elite sport ahead of the Barcelona 1992 Olympic Games. Over the last three decades, Steve has built, launched and developed nutrition brands across performance sport, active lifestyle and human health. Today, through Jenerise, he is focused on the next chapter of creatine: helping expand its role beyond traditional strength and power performance into cognition, vitality, healthspan and everyday human performance. Steve brings a rare combination of lived sporting experience, commercial innovation and deep understanding of how science can be translated into practical, real-world use. FREE 7d SCIENCE FOR SPORT ACADEMY TRIAL SIGN UP NOW: https://bit.ly/SFSepisode241 Learn Quicker & More Effectively Optimise Your Athletes' Recovery Position Yourself As An Expert To Your Athletes And Naturally Improve Buy-In Reduce Your Athletes' Injury Ratese Save 100's Of Dollars A Year That Would Otherwise Be Spent On Books, Courses And More Improve Your Athletes' Performance Advance Forward In Your Career, Allowing You To Earn More Money And Work With Elite-Level Athletes Save Yourself The Stress & Worry Of Constantly Trying To Stay Up-To-Date With Sports Science Research

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325: Building Sports Science Systems That Coaches Use

2w ago00:32:05Tap to summarize

This week, Richard Graves is joined by Anna Cruse, Assistant Athletics Director for Applied Health and Performance Science and Director of Football Performance Science at the University of Utah. Anna’s route into sports science began as an international-level rower. Her interest in training, performance and data eventually took her from competing for the United States to helping develop the systems that support athletes across 19 sports at Utah. In this episode, Anna explains how Utah has moved from manual data exports and generalised reporting to faster, integrated workflows that deliver relevant information to coaches and practitioners. She discusses why collecting more data is not always the answer, the importance of educating decision-makers and how greater context can prevent practitioners from drawing the wrong conclusions from a metric. The conversation also explores individual athlete baselines, the limitations of fixed asymmetry thresholds and the need to make data specific to the athlete, position and sport. Anna also shares her perspective on artificial intelligence, including where it can improve performance workflows and why it should never replace qualified human judgement. In this episode you will learn How Anna moved from international rowing into applied sports science Why Utah only collects data it can use to support athletes or performance How the university delivers performance information across 19 different sports Why coaches and support staff must understand the context behind every metric How Utah has developed more sport-, position- and athlete-specific reporting Why fixed thresholds can be misleading when assessing asymmetry How integrated performance teams can make better use of limited resources Where AI can support practitioners without replacing their expertise Why athlete welfare must remain central to every performance decision How strong systems create more time for meaningful analysis About Anna Cruse Anna Cruse is Assistant Athletics Director for Applied Health and Performance Science and Director of Football Performance Science at the University of Utah. A former elite lightweight rower, Anna represented the United States at the World Rowing Under-23 Championships before moving into coaching, performance science and data analytics. Her career has included experience with the Philadelphia Union, Penn State and exercise intelligence company Svexa. At Utah, Anna helps lead the systems used to collect, interpret and communicate performance information across the university’s athletic programme. Her work focuses on turning data into useful decisions while ensuring that technology and analysis remain grounded in good science and the needs of the individual athlete. FREE 7d SCIENCE FOR SPORT ACADEMY TRIAL SIGN UP NOW: https://bit.ly/SFSepisode241 Learn Quicker & More Effectively Optimise Your Athletes' Recovery Position Yourself As An Expert To Your Athletes And Naturally Improve Buy-In Reduce Your Athletes' Injury Ratese Save 100's Of Dollars A Year That Would Otherwise Be Spent On Books, Courses And More Improve Your Athletes' Performance Advance Forward In Your Career, Allowing You To Earn More Money And Work With Elite-Level Athletes Save Yourself The Stress & Worry Of Constantly Trying To Stay Up-To-Date With Sports Science Research

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324: Joe Truman: Training of a GB Track Sprinter

3w ago00:24:02Tap to summarize

This week on the Science for Sport Podcast, Richard Graves is joined by Great Britain track cyclist Joe Truman. Joe has spent nearly a decade as a full-time professional athlete with British Cycling, progressing through the pathway from a talent ID session at 15 to becoming a senior member of the GB sprint squad. After years of European, World Championship and Commonwealth medals, Joe recently claimed his first major individual title with European gold in the kilo, setting a British record in the process. In this episode, Joe gives a fascinating insight into the training methods, decision-making and performance science behind elite track sprinting. He explains how studying sport and exercise science changed the way he understood his own body, why he now has greater input into his own programming, and how that shift has helped drive a significant increase in performance. Richard and Joe also discuss the practical use of blood flow restriction training, how BFR moved from a rehab tool after back surgery to a staple part of Joe’s training, and why lower-load, lower-volume methods can still create meaningful performance adaptations when used intelligently. In this episode you will learn How Joe Truman progressed from British Cycling talent ID to the senior GB podium squad. Why his first major individual gold medal felt like a weight off his shoulders after years of silver and bronze medals. How sport and exercise science changed the way Joe approaches his own training. Why understanding the “why” behind a session can be a major motivational tool for elite athletes. How Joe uses blood flow restriction training in the gym and on the bike. Why BFR became a key tool after back surgery and later evolved into a performance method. How Joe balances peak power, glycolytic capacity and race-specific cadence. Why tapering can determine whether an athlete reaches their true performance ceiling. How training quality, recovery and freshness influence maximal sprint output. Why athletes should trust their own knowledge and listen closely to their body. How Joe is preparing for the next phase of the Olympic cycle towards LA 2028. About Joe Truman Joe Truman is a Great Britain track cyclist and one of the senior members of the GB men’s sprint squad. Originally from Portsmouth, Joe was identified by British Cycling at the age of 15 and has been part of the British Cycling pathway ever since. He progressed through the under-16, under-18 and under-23 squads before joining the podium programme full-time after his first World Championships in 2017. Across his career, Joe has competed in the team sprint, individual sprint, keirin and kilo, winning medals at European, World Championship, World Cup and Commonwealth level. In 2026, he claimed his first major individual senior title with European gold in the kilo, setting a British record and going under 58 seconds. Alongside his career as an elite athlete, Joe has studied sport and exercise science and now takes an active role in shaping his own training programme. His approach combines physiology, race-specific preparation, strength training, blood flow restriction training, recovery and athlete self-awareness. FREE 7d SCIENCE FOR SPORT ACADEMY TRIAL SIGN UP NOW: https://bit.ly/SFSepisode241 Learn Quicker & More Effectively Optimise Your Athletes' Recovery Position Yourself As An Expert To Your Athletes And Naturally Improve Buy-In Reduce Your Athletes' Injury Ratese Save 100's Of Dollars A Year That Would Otherwise Be Spent On Books, Courses And More Improve Your Athletes' Performance Advance Forward In Your Career, Allowing You To Earn More Money And Work With Elite-Level Athletes Save Yourself The Stress & Worry Of Constantly Trying To Stay Up-To-Date With Sports Science Research

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323: The Unseen Work of S&C and Sports Science

4w ago00:29:16Tap to summarize

This week on the Science for Sport podcast, Richard Graves welcomes Matt Parr back to the show for a deeper look at the work that really drives performance in elite sport. Matt is the Head of Athletic Performance at Leicester Tigers, a former professional rugby player, and the founder of High Performance Puzzle. Having worked across both rugby union and rugby league, including Leicester Tigers and Catalan Dragons, Matt brings a rare combination of playing experience, coaching insight, leadership responsibility, and high-performance strategy. In this episode, Richard and Matt explore the “invisible work” that sits behind successful performance environments. Not the gym programme. Not the GPS report. Not the testing data. But the conversations, decisions, relationships, standards, and judgement calls that determine whether the physical work actually lands. They discuss why data needs context, how performance teams can align with coaches under pressure, what good decision-making looks like when information is incomplete, and why trust remains one of the most important currencies in elite sport. For sports science, S&C, medical, coaching, and performance staff working in elite environments, this episode is a valuable reminder that high performance is not built by data alone. It is built through people, relationships, standards, and the ability to make good decisions when the pressure is on. In this episode you will learn Why the work that drives performance often sits outside the formal programme, session plan, or data report How conversations between coaches, medical staff, S&C, sports science, and players provide vital context What good alignment looks like in a high-performance environment How to manage differing opinions between technical and performance departments Why frameworks are essential when emotions and pressure start to influence decision-making How to make better decisions when you do not have the complete picture Why trust between the head coach, medical team, and performance staff is critical How to use data without becoming over-reliant on it Why standards often slip in small ways before they show up in performance outcomes How relationships can make or break the effectiveness of even the best performance systems Why gut feel still matters, provided it is shaped by experience and reflection How elite practitioners can reflect more effectively on their own decisions and behaviours Why discipline is a habit, not just a personal trait What Matt has learned from working across rugby union and rugby league Why the best players want honest feedback when standards start to slip About Matt Parr Matt Parr is Head of Athletic Performance at Leicester Tigers and founder of High Performance Puzzle. Before moving into strength and conditioning, Matt spent around 14 to 15 years as a professional rugby player, representing clubs including Sale Sharks, Saracens, London Irish, and Leicester Tigers. His transition into performance coaching began at Leicester Tigers, where he initially combined a player-coach role with S&C responsibilities before moving fully into the performance department. Matt has since built extensive experience across both rugby union and rugby league. After progressing through the performance setup at Leicester Tigers, he joined Catalan Dragons as Head of Performance, before returning to Leicester as Head of Athletic Performance. Alongside his role in professional rugby, Matt has launched High Performance Puzzle, a consultancy focused on high-performance strategy, systems, leadership, and integration. FREE 7d SCIENCE FOR SPORT ACADEMY TRIAL SIGN UP NOW: https://bit.ly/SFSepisode241 Learn Quicker & More Effectively Optimise Your Athletes' Recovery Position Yourself As An Expert To Your Athletes And Naturally Improve Buy-In Reduce Your Athletes' Injury Ratese Save 100's Of Dollars A Year That Would Otherwise Be Spent On Books, Courses And More Improve Your Athletes' Performance Advance Forward In Your Career, Allowing You To Earn More Money And Work With Elite-Level Athletes Save Yourself The Stress & Worry Of Constantly Trying To Stay Up-To-Date With Sports Science Research

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322: The Performance Demands of a World Cup with Dr Dave Hancock

Jun 100:25:36Tap to summarize

In this episode of the Science for Sport Podcast, Richard Graves welcomes Dr Dave Hancock back to the show. Dave has spent more than three decades working in elite sport, including roles with Chelsea, Leeds United, the England national team and the New York Knicks. He is now CEO of Apollo, where his work focuses on helping performance teams use data, technology and AI to better understand player availability, injury risk and performance. Dave begins by sharing the latest developments in his Blind Screen approach, which looks beyond traditional testing by examining movement quality, control and rotational demands. He explains how Apollo is combining screening information with AI-generated insights, practitioner feedback and individualised exercise recommendations. The conversation then turns to the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico. Drawing on his experience of working with England at the 2010 World Cup and Euro 2012, Dave discusses the challenges facing performance and medical teams across a long international tournament: heat, travel, accumulated club workload, recovery, sleep, mental freshness and the need to bring a squad together around one common goal. This is a practical discussion about the margins that matter at the highest level of sport, from interpreting data more effectively to preparing players and staff for the demands of tournament football. In this episode you will learn How Dave’s Blind Screen approach is developing and being used with elite athletes and teams. Why rotational movement may be an important missing consideration in traditional screening methods. How AI can help practitioners combine objective data with coaching and clinical insight. The key physical demands facing players heading into the 2026 World Cup. Why player preparation must become increasingly individualised after a demanding club season. The importance of sleep, recovery monitoring, travel planning and heat acclimatisation during a major tournament. Why mental freshness, squad togetherness and staff culture can influence performance at international level. What Dave learned from working with England at the 2010 World Cup and Euro 2012. About Dr Dave Hancock Dr Dave Hancock is the CEO of Apollo and an experienced performance director, chartered physiotherapist and strength and conditioning coach. Across a career spanning more than three decades in elite sport, Dave has worked as Head Physiotherapist at Leeds United and Chelsea, served on the medical staff of the England national team at the 2010 World Cup and Euro 2012, and spent seven years as Performance Director of the New York Knicks in the NBA. Through Apollo, Dave now works with sports teams around the world, using athlete management technology, data and AI to support player availability, injury risk management and performance decision-making. FREE 7d SCIENCE FOR SPORT ACADEMY TRIAL SIGN UP NOW: https://bit.ly/SFSepisode241 Learn Quicker & More Effectively Optimise Your Athletes' Recovery Position Yourself As An Expert To Your Athletes And Naturally Improve Buy-In Reduce Your Athletes' Injury Ratese Save 100's Of Dollars A Year That Would Otherwise Be Spent On Books, Courses And More Improve Your Athletes' Performance Advance Forward In Your Career, Allowing You To Earn More Money And Work With Elite-Level Athletes Save Yourself The Stress & Worry Of Constantly Trying To Stay Up-To-Date With Sports Science Research

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321: Preparing for the World Cup: Physical Performance Under Extreme Pressure

May 2500:46:34Tap to summarize

The 2026 Men’s World Cup will place unprecedented demands on international teams: 48 nations, 104 matches and a tournament staged across Canada, Mexico and the United States, with teams required to manage heat, humidity, altitude, travel and limited recovery time. In this episode of the Science for Sport Podcast, Richard Graves is joined by Dr Ben Rosenblatt, Founder of 292 Performance and former Lead Men’s Physical Performance Coach at The Football Association. Ben draws on his experience preparing the England men’s football team for two World Cups and a European Championship, alongside his work with Olympic athletes, GB Hockey and elite performers across a range of sports. The conversation explores what it really takes to prepare athletes for tournament football at the highest level. Ben discusses why physical preparation cannot begin when players arrive in camp, how small doses of training can create meaningful change during a tournament, and why “available” is very different from “ready to compete” when returning players from injury. He also explains the physical and psychological challenges of competing in extreme environments, from heat and altitude to fatigue and pressure, and shares how the best performance teams use data, observation, communication and athlete understanding together to make better decisions. For practitioners working in elite sport, this episode offers a detailed insight into preparing players not simply to take part in major tournaments, but to perform when the demands are at their highest. In this episode you will learn Why effective tournament preparation starts months before the first game. How England used micro-dosed strength training during the 2018 World Cup to improve players’ power and hamstring strength. Why athletes must continually adapt and “reinvent” themselves to sustain performance at the highest level. How Ben used daily monitoring with GB Hockey to prepare players for the demands of eight matches in 13 days at the Rio Olympics. Why data should be considered alongside observation, athlete feedback, staff conversations and practitioner judgement. The difference between returning a player to availability and preparing them to compete in the decisive stages of a major tournament. How performance teams can prepare players for heat, humidity, altitude and travel during the 2026 World Cup. Why recovery, nutrition, strength training and sprint exposure must be individualised rather than delivered as a single team-wide solution. How clarity, trust and pressure training help athletes execute when the stakes are highest. What the best high-performance environments look and feel like behind the scenes. About Dr Ben Rosenblatt Dr Ben Rosenblatt is the Founder and Director of 292 Performance, a multidisciplinary performance consultancy supporting elite athletes and organisations. He previously served as Lead Men’s Physical Performance Coach at The Football Association, where he supported the England men’s senior team through two World Cups and a European Championship. His career has also included work with the British Olympic Association, GB Hockey, elite football and Olympic athletes across multiple Games. Ben holds a PhD in biomechanics and motor learning, and his work focuses on helping athletes and teams prepare for the most demanding moments in high-performance sport. FREE 7d SCIENCE FOR SPORT ACADEMY TRIAL SIGN UP NOW: https://bit.ly/SFSepisode241 Learn Quicker & More Effectively Optimise Your Athletes' Recovery Position Yourself As An Expert To Your Athletes And Naturally Improve Buy-In Reduce Your Athletes' Injury Ratese Save 100's Of Dollars A Year That Would Otherwise Be Spent On Books, Courses And More Improve Your Athletes' Performance Advance Forward In Your Career, Allowing You To Earn More Money And Work With Elite-Level Athletes Save Yourself The Stress & Worry Of Constantly Trying To Stay Up-To-Date With Sports Science Research

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320: The Challenges of Modern Collegiate Sport

May 1800:32:19Tap to summarize

This week on the Science for Sport Podcast, Richard Graves is joined by Heather Farmer, Assistant Athletics Director, Sports Science at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. Heather has been part of the UNLV athletics staff since 2016, first joining as Assistant Director of Strength and Conditioning before moving into sport science and later being promoted to Assistant Athletics Director for Sports Science in 2024. In this episode, Heather shares how UNLV has built a sport science model from the ground up, why data should inform rather than dictate decisions, and how practitioners can create real buy-in across coaches, athletes, strength and conditioning, sports medicine, nutrition and psychology. The conversation explores the realities of working in collegiate sport, from the impact of the transfer portal to the challenge of supporting athletes when timeframes are shorter and rosters are constantly changing. Heather also discusses the importance of female athlete data, the risks of over-relying on wearable technology, and why return-to-play decisions must go beyond timelines and basic fitness markers. Throughout the episode, Heather brings the conversation back to one core principle: sport science is still about people. Data matters, technology matters, and AI may help practitioners work more efficiently, but the human side of performance remains central to everything. In this episode you will learn How Heather transitioned from collegiate soccer player to strength and conditioning coach, and then into sport science Why UNLV built its sport science model around being “human first” How to use data as an input rather than treating it as the final answer Why coach buy-in is easier when practitioners build trust and show value over time The challenges of applying male-dominated performance data to female athletes How the transfer portal has changed long-term athlete development in collegiate sport Why wearable technology can support performance but also create “analysis paralysis” How UNLV approaches return to play using performance outputs, not just timelines Why AI can support information gathering and efficiency, but cannot replace human judgement The importance of speaking the language of other disciplines in a high-performance team About Heather Farmer Heather Farmer is the Assistant Athletics Director, Sports Science at UNLV. She has been with UNLV since 2016, initially working in strength and conditioning before moving into sport science leadership. Her work focuses on integrating data-informed approaches across the high-performance team while keeping the individual athlete at the centre of the process. Before her career in performance, Heather played soccer at the University of North Alabama, where time spent rehabbing from injury and working in the weight room helped shape her interest in high-performance sport. She later worked across multiple sports as a graduate assistant at Lindenwood University before joining UNLV. At UNLV, Heather has helped grow sport science into a foundational part of the athletics department, working closely with coaches, athletes and interdisciplinary support staff to create a model that fits the needs of the university, rather than copying what works elsewhere. FREE 7d SCIENCE FOR SPORT ACADEMY TRIAL SIGN UP NOW: https://bit.ly/SFSepisode241 Learn Quicker & More Effectively Optimise Your Athletes' Recovery Position Yourself As An Expert To Your Athletes And Naturally Improve Buy-In Reduce Your Athletes' Injury Ratese Save 100's Of Dollars A Year That Would Otherwise Be Spent On Books, Courses And More Improve Your Athletes' Performance Advance Forward In Your Career, Allowing You To Earn More Money And Work With Elite-Level Athletes Save Yourself The Stress & Worry Of Constantly Trying To Stay Up-To-Date With Sports Science Research

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319: Acceleration, Plyometrics and the Transfer to Performance

May 1100:34:00Tap to summarize

In this episode of the Science for Sport Podcast, Richard Graves is joined by Olympic silver medallist and high performance coach Eric Franke. Eric competed for Germany in bobsleigh, winning Olympic silver in Pyeongchang 2018 alongside multiple World Championship medals across two-man and four-man competition. Since retiring from elite competition, he has moved into high performance coaching, working with athletes in speed development, sprint mechanics and sliding sports. This conversation explores what it really takes to perform under Olympic pressure, the physical demands of bobsleigh, and why speed still doesn’t always get the attention it deserves in team sport environments. Eric breaks down the qualities needed to accelerate a heavy sled on ice, the difference between being fast and being effective in a sport-specific context, and why developing speed requires more than simply adding sprint drills into a programme. He also reflects openly on his own career, including the mistakes he made as an athlete, the value of testing and tracking progress honestly, and how his coaching philosophy has developed around communication, individualisation and helping athletes become more independent decision-makers. For sports science professionals, coaches and practitioners working in elite sport, this episode offers a detailed look at speed development, athlete management, pressure, and the transition from elite performer to high performance coach. In this episode you will learn What it feels like to compete at the Olympic Games and handle pressure when medals are expected The role of the brakeman in bobsleigh and why the start phase is so technically and physically demanding Why sprint speed does not always transfer directly into bobsleigh performance The key physical qualities behind acceleration, rate of force development and efficient movement Why speed training needs to be prioritised properly within the weekly training structure How plyometrics, jumping and coordination can support speed development Why Eric believes athletes can sometimes spend too much time in the gym The importance of testing, measuring and honestly tracking progress How Eric’s experience as a self-coached athlete now shapes the way he coaches others Why experienced athletes often need guidance, guardrails and conversation rather than simply being told what to do How coaches can adapt communication to the individual athlete in front of them Why Eric’s ultimate coaching goal is to create “sovereign athletes” who can make better decisions when the coach is not there About Eric Franke Eric Franke is a former German bobsleigh athlete and Olympic silver medallist. He competed at the highest level in both two-man and four-man bobsleigh, winning silver at the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang and multiple medals at World Championship level. Since retiring from competition, Eric has moved into high performance coaching, with a particular focus on speed development, sprint performance and athlete decision-making. He works with athletes across different performance environments, including bobsleigh and skeleton, helping them improve physical qualities while developing a deeper understanding of their own training process. His coaching approach is shaped by his own experience as an elite athlete, combining technical speed development with individualised communication, clear training frameworks and an emphasis on helping athletes become more self-sufficient. FREE 7d SCIENCE FOR SPORT ACADEMY TRIAL SIGN UP NOW: https://bit.ly/SFSepisode241 Learn Quicker & More Effectively Optimise Your Athletes' Recovery Position Yourself As An Expert To Your Athletes And Naturally Improve Buy-In Reduce Your Athletes' Injury Ratese Save 100's Of Dollars A Year That Would Otherwise Be Spent On Books, Courses And More Improve Your Athletes' Performance Advance Forward In Your Career, Allowing You To Earn More Money And Work With Elite-Level Athletes Save Yourself The Stress & Worry Of Constantly Trying To Stay Up-To-Date With Sports Science Research

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318: ACL Rehab: Training Age, Force Progression and Return to Sport with Carmen Bott

May 400:35:15Tap to summarize

This week, Richard Graves is joined by Carmen Bott, a certified strength and conditioning specialist, kinesiologist, sports performance coach and educator with more than two decades of hands-on experience working with athletes across youth, high performance and professional sport. Carmen specialises in ACL rehabilitation, return to play, collision sport athletes, multi-directional speed, and mental performance coaching. In this episode, Carmen shares the story of her career, from an unexpected switch from behavioural psychology and criminology into kinesiology, through to working with university teams, NHL athletes, national-level performers and young athletes returning from serious injury. The conversation explores what kinesiology actually means, how it sits alongside strength and conditioning, and why understanding the sport is just as important as understanding the science. Carmen also discusses the communication challenges that can arise between practitioners, coaches and athletes, particularly when return-to-play decisions are being made under pressure. Richard and Carmen then take a deeper look at ACL rehabilitation. They discuss why training age matters, how the rehab journey differs between a professional athlete and a young adolescent athlete, and why parents can play such an important role in the process. Carmen also breaks down the place of isometrics, dynamic strength training, plyometrics and force progression in ACL rehab, while offering a clear, practical view of what effective exercise prescription should look like. Finally, Carmen gives her thoughts on artificial intelligence in sports science and rehabilitation. While AI may help with programming and exercise selection, she explains why coaching, communication, technical feedback and human connection remain central to helping athletes return to performance safely and confidently. In this episode you will learn What kinesiology is and how it differs from strength and conditioning Why practitioners need to understand the language and demands of the sport they work in How to communicate more effectively with coaches during return-to-play decisions Why ACL rehabilitation must be adapted to the athlete’s training age and experience The key differences between rehabbing a professional athlete and an adolescent athlete Why parents can be critical in supporting youth athletes through injury rehabilitation How isometrics, dynamic strength training and plyometrics fit into ACL rehab Why force progression matters when preparing athletes for sprinting, cutting and collision demands Where AI can support practitioners — and where it cannot replace real coaching About Carmen Bott Carmen Bott is a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist, Practicing Kinesiologist, Sports Performance Coach and Educator based in Canada. She holds a Master’s degree in Exercise Science and has worked with athletes from learn-to-train level through to high performance and professional sport. Carmen’s work spans physical preparation, ACL rehabilitation, return to play, collision sport athletes, multi-directional speed coaching and mental performance. She is also a university lecturer and has been teaching since 2005. You can find Carmen on Instagram at @coachbott FREE 7d SCIENCE FOR SPORT ACADEMY TRIAL SIGN UP NOW: https://bit.ly/SFSepisode241 Learn Quicker & More Effectively Optimise Your Athletes' Recovery Position Yourself As An Expert To Your Athletes And Naturally Improve Buy-In Reduce Your Athletes' Injury Ratese Save 100's Of Dollars A Year That Would Otherwise Be Spent On Books, Courses And More Improve Your Athletes' Performance Advance Forward In Your Career, Allowing You To Earn More Money And Work With Elite-Level Athletes Save Yourself The Stress & Worry Of Constantly Trying To Stay Up-To-Date With Sports Science Research

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317: Building Effective Analysis Processes in Elite Teams with Jamie Cook

Apr 2700:30:25Tap to summarize

In this episode of the Science for Sport podcast, Richard Graves sits down with Jamie Cook, Lead Performance Analyst for Chelsea Women, to unpack the realities of modern performance analysis in elite sport. Jamie shares his journey from grassroots coaching and internships to leading analysis within one of the most successful teams in the women’s game. Across the conversation, he offers a clear, honest look at how the role has evolved, from basic video breakdowns to a complex, high-impact function that shapes coaching decisions, player preparation, and match outcomes. The discussion explores the balance between data and communication, the challenge of avoiding over-analysis, and the importance of translating complex insights into simple, actionable messages that players and coaches can actually use under pressure. Jamie also lifts the lid on working within a high-performance environment, adapting to the rapid growth of women’s football, and building processes that allow analysts to operate effectively in fast-paced, game-to-game cycles. For practitioners, this is a grounded, real-world insight into what performance analysis actually looks like at the top level, and what it takes to succeed in the role. In this episode you will learn How performance analysts support coaching decisions without dictating them The evolution of analysis in elite women’s football over the past decade Why communication is more important than data volume How to avoid over-analysis and focus on what truly impacts performance The importance of understanding individual player needs and learning styles How analysts translate complex data into actionable insights The role of process and structure in high-performance environments How to evaluate whether a game plan has been successfully executed The impact of stadiums, crowds, and environment on communication and analysis How analysts collaborate across departments to drive performance Why knowing players on a personal level improves analysis delivery The balance between individual detail and team strategy Key considerations when working with female athletes How leadership and decision-making shift on the pitch in high-pressure environments Practical advice for aspiring analysts looking to break into elite sport About Jamie Cook Jamie Cook is the Lead Performance Analyst for Chelsea Women, where he has worked for over a decade. Starting his career in the club’s foundation programme, Jamie progressed through coaching, scouting, and internship roles before securing a full-time position within the first team setup. He has played a key role in the club’s sustained success, supporting coaching staff and players through detailed performance analysis, opposition insights, and strategic planning. Jamie specialises in bridging the gap between data and delivery — ensuring that insights are not only accurate, but meaningful and usable within a high-performance environment. FREE 7d SCIENCE FOR SPORT ACADEMY TRIAL SIGN UP NOW: https://bit.ly/SFSepisode241 Learn Quicker & More Effectively Optimise Your Athletes' Recovery Position Yourself As An Expert To Your Athletes And Naturally Improve Buy-In Reduce Your Athletes' Injury Ratese Save 100's Of Dollars A Year That Would Otherwise Be Spent On Books, Courses And More Improve Your Athletes' Performance Advance Forward In Your Career, Allowing You To Earn More Money And Work With Elite-Level Athletes Save Yourself The Stress & Worry Of Constantly Trying To Stay Up-To-Date With Sports Science Research

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All episodes

326: Creatine’s Next Chapter with Steve Jennings

325: Building Sports Science Systems That Coaches Use

324: Joe Truman: Training of a GB Track Sprinter

323: The Unseen Work of S&C and Sports Science

322: The Performance Demands of a World Cup with Dr Dave Hancock

321: Preparing for the World Cup: Physical Performance Under Extreme Pressure

320: The Challenges of Modern Collegiate Sport

319: Acceleration, Plyometrics and the Transfer to Performance

318: ACL Rehab: Training Age, Force Progression and Return to Sport with Carmen Bott

317: Building Effective Analysis Processes in Elite Teams with Jamie Cook