Performance Strategies & Stumbles

• Ep32 - Liam Connor Strategy - Asking Deliberate Performance Questions

  In this episode of Performance Strategies and Stumbles, we are again joined by Liam Connor, Head of Performance at Newcastle United Women’s Football Team. Together, we explore the importance of answering performance questions deliberately and accurately int his performance strategy episode. When we recorded this episode, Liam. was working with England Badminton. From his time there, he breaks down the common errors practitioners make — such as retrospectively trying to answer questions without the right data, overlooking critical variables, or jumping to conclusions that aren’t supported by evidence. We discuss why the process should always begin with the question, not the data, and how to identify exactly what information is needed to answer it properly. The conversation also highlights the importance of involving coaches and key stakeholders to ensure alignment, clarity, and practical relevance. Liam shares a powerful example from a project investigating how travel and extended periods away from the training environment influence physical markers and performance — including a noticeable drop after three weeks away. This episode is ultimately about intentionality, collaboration, and being proactive rather than reactive when tackling performance questions. Before diving in, listen to the details we share on our Future Ready Employability Mentorship, proudly sponsored by TeamBuildr — a 12-week FREE employability mentorship for 15 coaches, designed to help emerging coaches bridge the gap between education and employment through practical learning, self-awareness, and industry insights. Applications are now open by visiting: www.collaboratesports.com/sponsored We hope you are enjoying the return of the show! Are you signed up to our newsletter? If not, join us by clicking HERE - each week we send out advice for performance practitioners and share up and coming events!

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• Ep31 - Paul Talty Stumbles - "I got my demonstrations all wrong..!"

  Welcome back to the podcast! In this episode, Paul Talty joins us again and shares his experiences and reflections on the mistakes he has made throughout his coaching career. He emphasises the importance of balancing strength and conditioning training, the necessity of reflective practice, and the value of communication in program design. Paul discusses recent stumbles in his coaching, particularly in managing training loads for athletes, and offers advice for young practitioners to embrace their mistakes as learning opportunities. We hope you enjoy the episode!  

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• Ep30 - Alan Murdoch Stumbles - Not all speed is equal...

  Listen time - 29mins In this episode, Alan shares his stumbles and mistakes as a strength and conditioning coach. He discusses a hamstring strain injury and the lessons he learned from it. He reflects on the importance of preparing the nervous system and understanding that not all speed is equal. He also talks about programming mistakes, including a focus on linear periodization and force generation rather than force application. Alan shares his experience of trying to influence a program and the importance of choosing the right battles. Overall, the episode highlights the importance of continuous learning and adapting in the field of strength and conditioning. Lessons from the episode: Prepare the nervous system for high exertion and high-intensity running to prevent injuries. Not all speed is equal; consider the positions and movements that can lead to injury. Avoid focusing solely on force generation in the gym; prioritize force application in specific movement tasks. Choose your battles wisely when trying to influence a program; consider the relationships and dynamics within the team. Continuous learning and adaptation are essential in the field of strength and conditioning. If you are enjoying ht podcast, and want to benefit from additional weekly insights from Collaborate Sports, consider subscribing to our newsletter. Click the link HERE to find out how it will help you! Dan

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• Ep29 - Andrew Usher Strategy - Rethinking Conditioning.

  Listen Time: 33mins In this conversation, I welcome Andrew Usher to discuss the importance of understanding oxygen utilization in sports performance. We challenge the traditional focus on VO2 max as a measure of aerobic capacity and highlight the significance of muscle extraction and utilisation of oxygen. We dig into the benefits of extracting oxygen quickly and efficiently and it being more important than the volume of oxygen consumed. Andrew shares his research findings on the impact of supermaximal training on mitochondrial function and oxygen utilization. We also discuss the implications of these findings for injury recovery and team sports performance. Takeaways VO2 max is not the sole determinant of aerobic capacity; muscle extraction and utilization of oxygen are equally important. The ability to extract oxygen quickly and efficiently is crucial for sports performance. Supermaximal training can significantly improve mitochondrial function and oxygen utilization. Understanding oxygen utilization can have implications for injury recovery and team sports performance. If this episode challenged you to rethink conditioning work in any way, consider checking out the "Clarity in Conditioning" mentorship we have just launched. Visit www.collaboratesports.com/thegroupmentorships As always, don't hesitate to reach out and hope you are enjoying the show! Dan  

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• Ep28 - Richard Husseiny Stumbles - Trying to make impact too soon!

  Listen Time 28mins Richard Husseiny shares his journey from the UK Sports Institute to working with Chinese diving teams in this Performance Strategies and Stumbles podcast episode. He reflects on the cultural differences, initial mistakes, and the importance of building relationships over making immediate impacts. Richard discusses the pressures of performance, the challenges of communication in a new environment, and the significance of self-awareness and personal fulfilment in coaching. He emphasises the need to overcome imposter syndrome and the importance of work-life balance, ultimately advocating for a collaborative coaching and career development approach. Some key talking points we cover: Transitioning to a new environment can reveal unexpected challenges. Cultural differences can significantly impact communication and collaboration. Building relationships is more important than making immediate impacts. Self-imposed pressure can hinder performance and decision-making. Imposter syndrome is common among coaches and practitioners. It's important to ask questions and seek clarity in your role. If you enjoyed the podcast, do like and share on your networks, and if you'd like to see more about the Group Mentorship work we do at Collaborate Sports, please visit www.collaboratesports.com Tune in again next week! Dan

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