Performance Strategies & Stumbles

In this episode of Performance Strategies and Stumbles, I'm joined by Tim Roberts — Sports Medicine Manager at UFC Performance Institute, Mexico City — for a conversation about rehabilitation in combat sport and what it actually takes to get a fighter back to competing.
At the heart of this conversation is a deliberate shift in language: return to fight, not return to play. It sounds like semantics until you sit with what a fight actually demands — a weight cut, a date that can't move, an opponent whose job is to find the thing you've just rehabbed. Tim's argument is that if the language doesn't reflect the end point, neither will the process. Rather than starting with protocols, he starts with the impairment itself and what the athlete is actually being asked to return to.
We get into the psychological side of rehab and why it isn't a bolt-on to the physical work — including how keeping an injured fighter around the gym protects the identity that injury tends to strip out. From there, Tim walks through the distinction between early and mid-stage rehab and why collapsing the two is where a lot of programmes come unstuck, how he thinks about structuring intensity and volume as the athlete progresses, the value of simulating fight situations rather than testing in clean conditions, and what a genuine set of return-to-fight criteria looks like when it accounts for physical, technical and mental readiness rather than just one of the three. He's also candid about the time pressure combat athletes carry compared to team-sport environments, where a missed camp isn't a missed weekend — and about the communication and collaboration between sports medicine staff and coaches that has to hold up under it.
There's a real thread of humility running through this conversation — the sense that good rehab is less about owning a protocol than about asking better questions of the athlete in front of you, and Tim's point that mentorship in this space is worth more to a practitioner than almost anything else they can go looking for.
Episode Sponsor — Absolute Performance
This episode is supported by Absolute Performance — gym facilities designed to inspire, built to perform. Absolute Performance design and build performance spaces that push boundaries, set standards, and inspire greatness, maximising potential and performance for people and teams in every space they touch.
Their website is HERE.
Stay up to date about our future performance workshops!
Get first access to upcoming workshops built for high performance coaches and practitioners. Real-world skills, applied immediately. Click here to learn more https://collaboratesports.activehosted.com/f/79

In this episode of Performance Strategies and Stumbles, I'm joined again by Tom Clough for a conversation about the mistakes that have shaped our careers and in particular, the ones that happen in the interview room.
At the heart of this one is a reframe that runs through everything Tom says: mistakes should shape us, not define us. Interviews get treated as a test you pass by being composed and measured, when in practice they're a very short window in which energy, passion and authenticity do most of the work. Tom is candid about how often that got him early on how a demeanour he thought read as calm and considered was interpreted as disinterest, and how many opportunities went elsewhere before he understood what was actually being assessed.
From there we get into the practical side of that: why preparation isn't about scripting answers but about being able to recall the right examples under pressure, and why role-playing common questions out loud, with someone else, not in your head, is the difference between having the experience and being able to convey it. Tom also turns the lens the other way and looks at the interviewer's job, which is harder than it's given credit for, especially online where building any genuine connection in forty-five minutes is a real challenge. He's not sparing about job descriptions either, and makes a strong case that the rigid, sprawling, twenty-point person specification is quietly filtering out exactly the candidates you'd want to meet.
The conversation lands on feedback, giving it and asking for it and the argument that it's a gift rather than a verdict. It's the thing most likely to fast-track a change you'd otherwise take years to make on your own, and Tom's willingness to talk openly about where he got it wrong is the clearest illustration of that in the episode.
 
Stay up to date about our future performance workshops!
Get first access to upcoming workshops built for high performance coaches and practitioners. Real-world skills, applied immediately. Click here to learn more https://collaboratesports.activehosted.com/f/79

In this episode of Performance Strategies and Stumbles, I'm joined by Tom Clough — Head of Performance at Newcastle Red Bulls — for a conversation about systems thinking and what it actually looks like in a performance sport environment.
At the heart of this conversation is a simple but powerful reframe: systems thinking isn't a problem-solving technique, it's a way of seeing. Most of what we treat as problems are really symptoms of interactions we haven't mapped — and until you look at the whole system rather than its individual parts, you end up solving the wrong thing well. Rather than starting with solutions, Tom starts with the question of whether the problem has even been correctly identified — and this episode is a detailed look at what that philosophy involves in practice.
We get into why identifying the actual problem is harder and more valuable than generating answers to it, and why the instinct to simplify a complex problem is so often the thing that keeps it unsolved. From there, Tom walks through feedback loops and how they shape behaviour in a department whether or not anyone is paying attention to them, the practical use of causal loop diagrams to get those interactions out of your head and onto paper where a group can interrogate them, and the role leadership plays in building a culture where this kind of thinking is possible rather than theoretical. He also makes the case for collaboration as a genuine input to better decision-making, not a nice-to-have.
There's a real thread of curiosity running through this conversation — the idea that practitioners don't need better answers so much as deeper questions about the environments they work in, and that awareness of how the parts interact tends to do more for outcomes than any single intervention.
Episode Sponsor — Absolute Performance
This episode is supported by Absolute Performance — gym facilities designed to inspire, built to perform. Absolute Performance design and build performance spaces that push boundaries, set standards, and inspire greatness, maximising potential and performance for people and teams in every space they touch.
Their website is HERE.
Stay up to date about our future performance workshops!
Get first access to upcoming workshops built for high performance coaches and practitioners. Real-world skills, applied immediately. Click here to learn more https://collaboratesports.activehosted.com/f/79

In this episode of Performance Strategies and Stumbles, I'm joined again by Peter Hughes — a rehabilitation specialist at the Gallagher Chiefs in New Zealand — this time for a conversation about the mistakes that shaped him.
At the heart of it is a reframe that runs against how most practitioners are trained to operate: mistakes aren't something to be minimised or hidden, they're the primary mechanism by which you actually get better. Peter is refreshingly open about his own, and this episode is a detailed look at what he took from them.
We get into the early-career trap of believing more is always better, and why that belief is so seductive for young coaches. Peter walks through the single stressor approach in rehab — why isolating one variable at a time is often the only way to know what's actually driving a problem — and how he manages expectations with coaches when athlete welfare and selection pressure pull in opposite directions. He also makes the case for mentorship as a genuine accelerator, and for self-reflection and journaling as practical defences against confirmation bias.
There's a real thread of humility running through this conversation — the idea that trust with athletes is built through genuine care rather than technical credentials, and that a team culture only grows when people are willing to challenge each other respectfully and be challenged in return.

In this episode of Performance Strategies and Stumbles, I'm joined by Peter Hughes — a rehabilitation specialist at the Gallagher Chiefs in New Zealand, whose role uniquely combines physiotherapy with strength & conditioning to deliver a truly performance-driven approach to rehab.
At the heart of this conversation is a simple but powerful reframe: rehabilitation isn't just about restoring what was lost — it's one of the biggest opportunities for performance gains an athlete will ever have. Rather than treating rehab as a holding pattern, Peter builds programs designed to return athletes better than they were before injury — and this episode is a detailed look at what that philosophy involves in practice.
We get into why understanding the injury mechanism is the foundation of effective rehab, including assessing the movement patterns that existed before the injury ever occurred. From there, Peter walks through his approach to intensity in rehab (and why it doesn't simply mean adding load), the value of early exposure to game-like scenarios for reintegration, and how he isolates individual qualities before integrating them back into the whole. He also makes the case for why movement quality is so often sacrificed for quantity — and what a whole-system approach to rehabilitation really looks like.
There's a real thread of pragmatism running through this conversation — the idea that the best rehab plan isn't the one that simply clears an athlete to return, but the one that restores, rebuilds, and enhances their capabilities so they're genuinely ready for the demands of the game.
Episode Sponsor — VALD Performance
This episode is supported by VALD Performance — makers of the NordBord, ForceFrame, ForceDecks and HumanTrak. VALD Performance systems are built with the high-performance practitioner in mind, translating traditionally lab-based technologies into engaging, quick, easy-to-use tools for daily testing, monitoring and training.
Their website is HERE.
Collaborate 360 — Our First In-Person Event
Collaborate 360 is coming this July. A full day built around applied practice, group thinking, and getting hands-on with technology that can genuinely change how you work. If you want to be in the room, see what we have planned and grab your ticket HERE!

What happens when a coach is willing to admit what they got wrong? In this episode, Les Spellman, founder of Spellman Performance, opens up about the mistakes that shaped his coaching — and why vulnerability, not certainty, has been the real driver of his development. Having worked with athletes across the NFL, NCAA, MLB and Olympic sport, Les has earned the right to be confident in his methods, which makes his honesty about where he's got it wrong all the more valuable.
At the heart of the conversation is the danger of rigidity — how being too wedded to targets, technology and technical drills can quietly hold athletes back. Les reflects on his early mistakes in speed training and the shift towards a more holistic approach, including the role of eccentric work in keeping athletes fast and healthy. We also get into why context is everything in performance training, how feedback from teams has sharpened his coaching, and the often-overlooked challenge of hiring and managing staff in the private sector — and what it takes to build an environment where both athletes and coaches thrive.
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 reflect on and evolve your own coaching, that's exactly the territory we'll be exploring at Collaborate 360 in July.  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 speed episode of Performance Strategies and Stumbles, I'm joined by Les Spellman — a speed coach who has built a systematic approach to speed training and physical preparation for football athletes, with a particular focus on preparing players for the realities of training camp and the season ahead.
At the heart of this conversation is a simple but powerful reframe: training tolerance matters more than raw speed gains. Rather than chasing numbers on a timing gate, Les builds structured microcycles designed to prepare athletes for the actual demands they'll face — and this episode is a detailed look at what that planning process really involves.
We get into microcycle design for football athletes — how Les balances volume, intensity, and recovery across the week, the specific drills and session structures he uses, and how constraints and coaching cues shape movement without over-coaching it. From there, Les walks through his approach to periodization for NFL players, what progressive overload looks like in a speed context, how sport-specific conditioning and contact prep fit into the plan, and the metabolic and endurance considerations that often get overlooked in speed-dominant programs.
There's a real thread of pragmatism running through this conversation — the idea that the best training plan isn't the one that produces the biggest gains in isolation, but the one that builds athletes who can tolerate, absorb, and express their qualities when the demands of camp and season arrive.
Episode Sponsor — 1080 Motion
This episode is supported by 1080 Motion — the industry leader for motorised resistance in high performance sport. 1080's technology gives elite practitioners the ability to create precise and unique loading such as overspeed, eccentric overload, and isokinetics straight from a screen, with instant insights from athlete outputs and profiling. From speed to strength to return-to-play, 1080 Motion has everything you need to truly drive performance.Their website is HERE.
1080 Motion will also be running a dedicated learning zone at Collaborate 360 in July — our first in-person event. Tickets are available now, link below.
Collaborate 360 — Our First In-Person Event
Collaborate 360 is coming this July. A full day built around applied practice, group thinking, and getting hands-on with technology that can genuinely change how you work. If you want to be in the room, see what we have planned and grab your ticket HERE!

Tim Kettenring doesn't hold back in this episode. We go all the way back to the early days of his coaching career - the arrogance he carried in, the relationships he damaged, and a job he lost because of it. It's the kind of honest reflection that's rare in this industry, and it sets the tone for everything that follows.
What makes Tim's story particularly valuable is how he traces the turning point. Not a single lightbulb moment, but a slow and sometimes painful process of looking inward — recognising that the reason he wasn't in coaching wasn't down to bad luck or circumstances, it was down to him. We talk about the absence of structured mentorship, his sensitivity to feedback and how that kept him stuck, and the moment he started seeking it deliberately - and what happened when he asked for too much of it.
We also get into programming and how a support network for sense-checking ideas should always be proactive rather than reactive to avoid mistakes. The episode closes with a moment from Tim's time in professional rugby that might be the most memorable of the whole conversation. Tim describes how a single comment changed his entire approach, moving from a mindset of authority to one of collaboration, and realising that how athletes feel and the trust they place in you matter far more than any session you could design.
This episode is sponsored by TeamBuildr - the platform for strength and conditioning coaches to programme, track, and communicate with their athletes.
Coaches attending Collaborate 360 in July get a full month of free access. To get your tickets to our first in-person live set of workshops, visit www.collaboratesports.com/360
We'd love to see you there!
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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 stumbles episode of Performance Strategies and Stumbles, I'm joined again by Jesse Green — a sports scientist whose career has taken him from Australian rules football academies to the NBA and NHL — to explore the mistakes and learning experiences that have shaped how he operates as a practitioner.
This isn't a conversation about failure for its own sake. It's about what happens when you're willing to look honestly at the moments that didn't go to plan — and use them as a reference point for how you develop. Jesse covers three distinct stumbles across different stages of his career, each one revealing something important about programming, bias, and how we manage the people around us.
The first takes us back to his early days working with the Brisbane Lions Academy, where a lack of deloading before a key fitness test meant that months of solid conditioning work didn't show up in the results. It's a story about assumptions, the pressure of performance KPIs, and the cost of not asking for help when you need it. The second moves to his time at the Sacramento Kings, where a recency bias towards heavy bilateral loading — driven by research he'd been reading — led to a significant back spasm in a player whose anatomy simply wasn't suited to that stimulus. It's a sharp reminder that what works for you, or what you've just read, isn't always what the athlete in front of you needs. The third examines the challenges of middle management — specifically, what happens when you give a practitioner genuine autonomy to develop a new testing protocol, sign off on it without enough scrutiny, and then watch it fall apart in practice. Jesse unpacks the concept of fail-safe experiments: how to give coaches real ownership within a structure that protects both them and the athletes, and what he would do differently to ensure the fail is genuinely safe before anything reaches the floor.
There's an honest thread running through all of it — that mistakes are rarely the result of carelessness. They tend to happen when capable people are moving fast, trying to prove themselves, and not yet asking enough of the right questions. What matters is what you do with them.
This episode is supported by TeamBuildr — strength and conditioning software built for coaches who take programme design seriously. TeamBuildr gives you the tools to build, deliver, and track training across your entire athlete group in one platform. If you're spending more time building spreadsheets than building athletes, it's worth exploring.
Collaborate 360 — Our First In-Person Event
Collaborate 360 is coming this July. A full day built around applied practice, group thinking, and getting hands-on with technology that can genuinely change how you work. You can get your tickets via this LINK.