Performance Strategies & Stumbles

Multi-directional speed is one of the most talked-about qualities in performance sport - but is it one of the most misunderstood? In this episode, Tim Kettenring, President of Maverick Human Performance (https://www.instagram.com/tim_kettenring/) makes the case for why so much speed development work misses the mark, and what a more principled approach actually looks like. With over a decade of experience working across developmental and professional sport, Tim has a gift for getting to the root of what drives genuine speed improvement — and this conversation is a clear example of that. At the heart of Tim's framework is the plyo step — a linking movement that he argues underpins everything else in multi-directional speed. From there, we explore why every change of direction should be understood as a restart for acceleration, and how that reframe changes the way you coach and cue. We also get into the role of perception and action in speed development, how these principles translate to the specific demands of baseball, and why video feedback remains one of the most underused tools for coaches working in this space. Output Sports are the sponsors of today's episode. One portable sensor, one platform — helping coaches test, track and programme athletes with velocity-based training and real-time performance assessment. They'll be at Collaborate 360 this July, so if you're coming along, you'll have the chance to get hands-on with the technology in person. If this episode got you thinking about how you design sessions around speed and skill acquisition, that's exactly the territory we'll be exploring at Collaborate 360 in July. Our design section, led by Matt Sayce, will give you the chance to work through better, within-session decision-making in a room full of great coaches. Early bird tickets have sold out, but if you're a listener of the pod, use the code event25 at checkout before the end of the month and you'll get that early bird price. Link below. Collaborate 360 tickets: www.collaboratesports.com/360 Enjoy the episode!

In this strategy-focused episode of Performance Strategies and Stumbles, Dan sits down with Pete McKnight - one of the most respected performance consultants and strategists in elite sport. With nearly 25 years of experience across Olympic programmes, football, rugby, and motorsport, Pete is known for transforming how organisations structure their performance systems. Together, Dan and Pete explore the strategy behind developing sport science and medical teams, especially in emerging or developing club environments. They break down the auditing process, how to prioritise what’s essential versus what’s merely desirable, and how to build integrated systems that connect people, processes, and facilities. Pete introduces the principles behind his Performance Interplay framework and discusses the pivotal moments where strategic decisions shape long-term success - including cultural transitions, new ownership, major investment, and infrastructure upgrades. The conversation also touches on the realities of consultancy: understanding budgets, interviewing key staff, identifying gaps, and creating alignment across stakeholders. This episode is packed with practical insight for anyone working in performance systems, leadership, or sport science. Don't forget to apply for employability mentorship HERE if that is something you could benefit from, and our emails go out weekly offering performance advice that you are free to sign up for too, HERE!

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!

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

Listen Time - 30mins In this episode, I interview Paul Talty about strength and power development for swimming. Paul was Head of Performance for Swim Ireland leading into Paris 2024 where they delivered medal-winning performances. We discuss Strength & Power development in swimmers and Paul emphasises that swimming is different from other sports due to the unique environment it takes place in. Throughout this interesting episode you will experience the following takeaways from Pauls insight: Swimming is different from other sports due to the unique environment it takes place in. Increasing mass and force production in swimming requires careful consideration, as excessive mass can hinder performance in the water.Identify specific areas for improvement, such as starts, turns, or free swimming speed, and tailor the training program accordingly. Focus on basic strength and conditioning principles and use a tier system to structure sessions. Consider the trade-off between emphasizing weaknesses and emphasizing strengths in the training program. Use swim-specific isometric strength training and exercises that mimic block starts to enhance transfer to the pool. Be mindful of the limited energy available to swimmers and avoid excessive fatigue from the strength and conditioning program. As mentioned in the episode, please take a look at both the group mentorships we are now enrolling practitioners for, on a first come first serve basis (www.collaboratesports.com/thegroupmentorships) and the great block article from Jordan Welsh (www.collaboratesports.com/blog/jordanwelsh) If you enjoyed the episode, feel free to like and share with those in your network! Dan

Listen time 29mins I welcome Alan Murdoch to the podcast to discuss his strategies towards rehab called Fast to Fit, which focuses on the underpinning physical qualities and coordination required for high-intensity actions in team sports. I have been a huge advocate of Alan's work for some time so it was great to finally get some time to hone in on his core principles! Some key takeaways from the show are: Takeaways Fast to Fit is a rehab approach that focuses on the physical qualities and coordination required for high-intensity actions in team sports. The development and tolerance of speed are prioritized in the rehab process.The 10-30 protocol is used to gradually build speed through upright running drills. Non-negotiables, such as no pain, no response, technical threshold of exectution, and physical outputs all guide decision-making in the rehab process. Game simulation is used to create conditioning sessions tailored to the athlete's strengths and weaknesses. Take a listen and do let us know what you think across social media! Alans online course "Fast to Fit" built in conjunction with Sportsmith can be found here: https://www.sportsmith.co/courses/fast-fit-a-speed-based-approach-to-lower-limb-rehab-and-training/ I hope you enjoy the show Dan