Science for Sport Podcast

323: The Unseen Work of S&C and Sports Science

June 8th, 2026  |  29 mins 16 secs

athletic performance, catalan dragons, coaching, decision making, elite rugby, elite sport, gps data, high performance, high performance puzzle, leadership in sport, leicester tigers, matt parr, performance data, performance environment, performance leadership, performance teams, player management, return to play, richard graves, rugby league, rugby performance, rugby union, s&c, science for sport, sports medicine, sports performance, sports science, sports science podcast, strength and conditioning, training load

Richard Graves welcomes Matt Parr back to the Science for Sport podcast to explore the invisible work behind elite performance. Matt discusses why data, GPS reports, and training plans only tell part of the story, and why relationships, trust, standards, alignment, and decision-making are often what determine whether performance systems truly work. Drawing on his experience across Leicester Tigers, Catalan Dragons, and High Performance Puzzle, Matt offers practical insight for sports science, S&C, medical, and coaching staff working in elite sport.

316: Neuroscience and Coaching in High Performance Sport

April 20th, 2026  |  33 mins 43 secs

athlete development, athlete wellbeing, behaviour in sport, brentford fc, coaching, coaching science, decision making, elite sport, football coaching, football performance, high performance sport, human performance, nervous system, neuroscience, performance consistency, performance psychology, self awareness, sports psychology, sports science

This episode explores how human development, neuroscience, and coaching are converging in elite football. Dr Sally Needham explains how understanding the nervous system, self-awareness, and behaviour can unlock more consistent performance, while offering practical insights for coaches and practitioners looking to integrate these concepts into real-world environments.

130: Can Training Visual Cues And Decision Making Take Your Performance To The Next Level?

September 26th, 2022  |  24 mins 20 secs

american football, choices, coaching, decision making, football, insight, nfl, soccer, sport, teaching, training, vision, visual cues

Come with us as we delve into the mysterious and exciting world of sports science…

This entertaining podcast explores:

• The science behind the world’s best athletes.
• Current issues and events in the world of sport.
• How to master the art and science of coaching.

Every Monday, Matt Solomon chats with various experts to uncover the science and secrets behind what makes the best athletes in the world so damn good at what they do. They’ll also dive into global issues and events effecting the world of sport, such as COVID-19 and gene doping.

Though anyone is welcome to join us on this journey, this podcast is primarily for:

• S&C coaches/sports scientists
• Physiotherapists
• Nutritionists/Dieticians
• Physical education teachers
• Sports enthusiasts
• Knowledge-seeking athletes

If you’re any of the above, we challenge you to listen to an episode and not fall in love with this laugh-out-loud, brain-swelling podcast.