Catapult High Performance Podcast

Discussing all things tennis and technology, Matt Little (Andy Murray's Strength and Conditioning Coach) joins Catapult's very own tennis specialists. They explore how and why technology is used in Tennis whilst also touching on the benefits it can provide organisations, coaches and athletes. From objective data supporting coaching to increasing the entertainment value of the sport, listen for more interesting insights from one of tennis' most recognisable coaches.

This episode sees us catch up with John-Paul Caia. JP is the Football Technology Manager at the NRL (National Rugby League). His role is unique in sports as it works with centralised data from the Catapult devices used by all players in the NRL. The opportunity to work with league-wide data in this way enables JP and the NRL to detect trends and performance change using a high number of data points. JP discusses all things data, technology, and performance in an NRL context with Catapult’s very own Kieran Howle. Check out the podcast for more…

In this episode, Dr Hugh Fullagar and Catapult Sports Scientist Kieran Howle discuss the applicability of sports-based research, how technology can help to bridge the gap between performance departments and the importance of reflective learning in both applied- and research-based settings.

This episode sees us caught up with Joe Shaw. Joe is a Performance Scientist at the Royal Opera House and currently undertaking a PhD in ‘Quantifying Workload in Elite Ballet Dancers’ at St Mary’s University, in Twickenham, London. Prior to his work at the Royal Opera House and PhD, Joe spent time at the English Institute of Sport, Loughborough University’s Men’s football team and Nottingham Forest Football Club. In this episode, Joe discusses with Catapult’s Will Ambler about the Royal Opera House’s performance infrastructure, culture of sports science in ballet and dance and the key performance metrics he analyses in his role as a performance scientist.

On the 11th episode of the Catapult High Performance podcast, we spoke to Ian Carry. Ian is a former professional soccer player who has since spent more than 15 years in both professional and college coaching. He is currently the head coach of the University of Kentucky Women’s Soccer program. Ian started his coaching, post an impressive professional playing career. His first coaching role was with the Scottish National team, and then he moved on, to spend over 4 years with Celtic Football Club and has more recently spent time with the Irish National team, Central Michigan University. In this episode, Catapult’s Will Ambler quizzes Ian about his implementation of Catapult's video analysis solution, Catapult Vision. They continue by discussing how Ian has achieved greater player engagement in performance analysis sessions and why the technology has enabled Ian and the staff at the University to professionalise many aspects of their sporting infrastructure.

Nik ‘Coach Pop’ Popovic boasts an extensive resume within high-level basketball around the world. Having worked in various highly respected roles for the likes of the Australian national basketball team (the Boomers), the Sydney Kings, and now Melbourne United, Nik talks about his time in basketball, shifting between leagues in Australia and China and the tactical, physical, and managerial differences between leagues and the roles within them.

In episode nine, Dean Heffernan talks to Kieran Howle about his time playing football for the Wollongong Wolves, Sydney United, and UK League One team, Huddersfield Town. Now a coach at the Western Sydney Wanderers in the W-League, Dean reflects on the vast changes in player monitoring, technology, data collection, and player management over the past decade.

Episode eight of the podcast sees Catapult sports scientist, Kieran Howle, interview the Orlando Magic’s Head Strength & Conditioning Coach, Nathan Spencer. Previously of the St. George Illawarra Dragons, Nathan delves into the intricacies of player management during pre-season periods, recovery priorities, and player load management.

This week we've got the second of three audiobooks we're sharing via this feed during season one of the podcast. From engaging your athletes with video, to building relationships with coaches and being prepared for every eventuality - "5 Steps to Success in Video Analysis" is a short guide to the key points for consideration when introducing video technology to your team. Whether you're working in a professional environment or introducing video analysis at grass roots level, this audiobook should help to shape some of your thinking as you look to support your team's objectives.

We've got something a bit different this week as we share one of Catapult's '5 Steps to Success' e-books in audiobook form. Designed for people who are exploring performance technologies for the first time, 5 Steps to Success in Athlete Monitoring should help you shape some of your thinking as you look to support your team's performance objectives.

This week we're going back in the archives to bring you a discussion with Professor Ben Jones. In discussion with Chris Barnes, Ben talks about balancing the wants and needs of academics and practitioners, the value of pooling data and research with leagues, and building a research culture in Rugby League.

This week we're bringing you an interview with Professor Craig Twist from the University of Chester. In discussion with Chris Barnes, Craig talks about the culture of the applied research group at Chester, key performance questions in Rugby League, and how academic aims can best be designed to impact practice in sport.

Today we’re going back in the Catapult archives to 2016 to hear from Dr. Paul Brice, a vastly experienced biomechanist who has worked with a host of leading athletes and federations to help reduce injury risk and optimise performance over the last decade. In his discussion with Chris Barnes, Paul talks about the purpose of biomechanics, the work he’s done in elite track and field, building relationships with coaches, and what it takes to run fast.

Our guest for episode two is Simon Dunn, Head of Academy Performance Analysis at Luton Town FC. During his seven years at Luton, Simon has seen a lot of change both at the club and in the application of analysis in elite football. In his discussion with Catapult’s Will Ambler, Simon talks about engaging young athletes with performance analysis, how analysis has evolved over the last decade, and what the future may hold for its technologies and the people who use them.

This week's guest is Ross Burbeary, Performance Manager at Rotherham United FC. In a wide-ranging discussion, Ross talks about defining a culture within his department, the importance of people in driving processes, and explains the benefits Rotherham have found from employing a sleep expert to work with the players.

Introducing the Catapult High Performance Podcast