VALDCAST

In this episode of VALDCAST, Dawn Scott reflects on her journey from introducing sport science to England's Women's National Football (Soccer) Team in the early 2000s to helping drive performance innovation with the U.S. Women's National Soccer (Football) Team during an era that included multiple World Cup and Olympic successes.
The conversation explores:
• How women's football has evolved over the last 25 years
• Building sport science programs when resources and technology were limited
• The introduction of athlete monitoring, GPS and performance profiling in elite football
• Why individualization is essential for athlete development
• Bridging the gap between national teams and club environments
• The importance of education, athlete buy-in and contextual decision-making
• Applying a female-athlete lens to performance and athlete management
• Lessons learned from working across multiple generations of elite athletes
 Whether you work in sport science, strength & conditioning, rehabilitation or athlete performance, this episode offers valuable insights into building systems that evolve with both the sport and the athlete.

What does effective sport science actually look like in practice?
In this episode of VALDCAST, host Dylan chats to Anna Cruse, Assistant Athletic Director for Applied Health and Performance Science at the University of Utah. They delve into the systems, relationships and decision-making processes that underpin successful sport science programs — explaining why collaboration, data quality and athlete-centered thinking are essential for turning information into meaningful action.
The conversation explores:
• Why sport science looks different in every organization
• Building collaborative performance teams that break down silos
• The importance of data hygiene and reliable testing processes
• Why collecting more data isn't always the answer
• Communicating performance insights effectively to coaches
• Balancing athlete-specific information with team-wide decision-making
• Creating flexible systems that adapt to the realities of high-performance sport
Whether you work in sport science, strength & conditioning, rehabilitation or athlete performance, this episode is packed with practical insights on building systems that help practitioners make better decisions while keeping athletes at the center of the process.

What does it actually take to work in elite sport environments? 
In this episode of VALDCAST, Braylon Tatum discusses athlete profiling, objective data and the realities of operating in high performance sport. From managing elite athletes to building systems that support performance decision-making, this conversation dives into how modern practitioners approach performance, monitoring and development at the highest level.
The conversation explores:
Athlete profiling in elite sport
Using objective data to guide decision-making
Key physical qualities practitioners should monitor
The realities of working in high performance environments
Building systems around athlete performance and readiness
Lessons from operating in elite sport settings
Whether you're a coach, sports scientist, physio or practitioner looking to work in elite sport, this episode offers valuable insight into modern performance systems and athlete management.

What does elite ACL rehab actually look like in 2026?
In this episode of the VALDCAST, Ziad from Ignite Phyzio breaks down how objective data, athletic development and clinician education are reshaping modern rehab.
 From using ForceDecks and ForceFrame testing to guide decision-making, to integrating sport-specific drills early in the rehab process, this conversation explores what it really takes to return athletes to performance — not just participation.
 The discussion also dives into:
Why EQ matters more than IQ when hiring clinicians
How data changes exercise prescription and rehab progression
Why isometrics are essential in early ACL rehab
The role of athletic development in return to sport
Using technology to improve outcomes and clinician growth
Building culture and leadership inside high-performance rehab teams
If you work in sports medicine, physiotherapy, rehab or performance, this episode is packed with practical insights.

In this episode of VALDCAST, high‑performance leader Dave Hamilton shares insights from over 25 years across Olympic sport, collegiate athletics and the NFL. From his early days at the UK Institute of Sport to leading performance units in elite team environments, Dave breaks down how he cut's through complexity and builds performance models that genuinely move the needle.
Dave explains why simplicity beats dashboards full of noise, how objective testing like jump metrics can reveal readiness and fatigue and why intent, context and human behaviour matter just as much as data. Drawing on real‑world examples from team sports, he unpacks how performance staff can balance monitoring, recovery and competition demands across long seasons.
The conversation also unpacks:
Why simple performance models outperform overengineered systems
How CMJ and RSI can be used to monitor fatigue and readiness
How hormonal and biomarker data can inform preparation and recovery
Why fresh athletes, not just fit athletes, win games
The importance of soft skills, communication and influence in high performance
Dave also reflects on career longevity, lessons learned from elite environments and what emerging practitioners should actually focus on if they want to succeed in performance sport.