Science for Sport Podcast

291: Managing Workload and Performance in the NHL

October 27th, 2025  |  31 mins 39 secs

ai in sport, applied research, athlete monitoring, catapult, coaching, data analytics, high performance, ice hockey, load management, new jersey devils, nhl, performance analysis, phd research, recovery, return to play, sports data, sports science, sports technology, strength and conditioning, workload management

In this episode, New Jersey Devils Sports Scientist Steven Nightingale joins host Richard Graves to discuss how data, workload management, and recovery strategies are applied in the NHL’s demanding 82-game season. He shares insights from his global career and PhD research, revealing how science and practical experience combine to keep athletes performing at their best.

286: NFL’s Digital Athlete – How Data is Transforming Player Health & Safety

September 22nd, 2025  |  26 mins 27 secs

athlete monitoring, aws, biomechanics, computer vision, concussion prevention, data analytics, digital athlete, injury prevention, load management, machine learning, nfl, performance analysis, player health, player safety, rule changes, sports data, sports innovation, sports performance, sports science, sports technology

This episode dives into the NFL’s groundbreaking Digital Athlete, as host Richard Graves speaks with Dr Mackenzie Herzog (NFL) and Julie Souza (AWS) about how data and AI are transforming player health, safety, and performance.
Discover how advanced analytics, computer vision, and machine learning are driving injury prevention, rule changes, and equipment innovation across the league.

280: Sports Science at the Intersection of Youth and Professional Football with Luke Harris

August 11th, 2025  |  31 mins 32 secs

a-league, athlete recovery, athletic performance, elite athlete development, football coaching, football fitness, force plates, gps tracking, injury prevention, physical preparation, player development, sports data, sports performance, sports science, sports science insights, sports science technology, sports technology, strength and conditioning, women’s football, youth football, youth to pro transition

Luke Harris, Head of Strength & Conditioning and Sports Science at Adelaide United, manages the development of both youth and women's teams, focusing on individualized athlete care and performance optimization. With expertise in integrating technology and building player relationships, Luke is dedicated to driving success through a balance of team goals and personal development.

272: Inside Catapult: Global Trends, Common Pitfalls & the Future of Sports Science

June 16th, 2025  |  43 mins 21 secs

athlete monitoring, athlete performance, catapult sports, coaching insights, data analytics in sport, elite sport, fatigue monitoring, gps tracking, high performance, performance analysis, performance trends, professional sport, sports data, sports science, sports science careers, sports scientist, sports tech, sports technology, training load, wearable technology

Catapult’s VP of Customer Success, Chris Polley, joins the show to share global trends, common pitfalls, and real-world insights from working with 4,400+ elite teams. Discover how the world’s best apply sports science tech to gain a competitive edge.

259: Every Impact Matters: The Game-Changing Initiative

March 17th, 2025  |  28 mins 55 secs

athlete development, athlete monitoring, athletic performance, coaching technology, denver broncos, football safety, impact analysis, injury prevention, nfl, performance data, player safety, smart technology, sports analytics, sports data, sports education, sports innovation, sports research, sports science, sports technology, youth sports

Join us as we explore how the Denver Broncos Foundation and Riddell are revolutionising youth sport through an unprecedented state-wide smart helmet initiative. Discover how real-time impact data from 13,000 athletes is transforming player safety and coaching methodology, potentially creating the blueprint for the future of contact sports. This groundbreaking programme isn't just changing football in Colorado - it's reshaping how we think about youth sport safety worldwide.

258: League Two to Premier League: Football's Greatest Underdog Story

March 10th, 2025  |  36 mins 6 secs

athletic performance, athletic recovery, athletic training, elite athletics, elite performance, elite sport, football analytics, football coaching, football development, football fitness, football injuries, football management, football performance, football psychology, football science, football training, gps training, luton town, mental resilience, performance analysis, performance coach, player development, premier league, premier league fitness, professional football, professional soccer, recovery techniques, sports data, sports innovation, sports leadership, sports medicine, sports performance, sports psychology, sports recovery, sports science, sports technology

Former Luton Town Head of Performance Jared Roberts-Smith takes listeners behind the scenes of football's remarkable evolution, sharing insider insights from his 14-year journey from League Two to the Premier League while revealing the cutting-edge performance methods that are transforming the modern game.

256: Catapult: Rugby's Game-Changing Data Revolution

February 24th, 2025  |  34 mins 49 secs

athlete management, athlete monitoring, catapult, concussion prevention, data analytics, elite sport, gps tracking, high performance, injury prevention, performance analysis, performance metrics, player analytics, player load, player safety, player welfare, professional rugby, rugby development, rugby performance, rugby technology, rugby union, smart mouthguard, sports broadcasting, sports data, sports innovation, sports science, sports technology, sportstech, tom may, training load, womens rugby

Join former international rugby player Tom May, now Head of Global Rugby at Catapult Sports, as he reveals how cutting-edge technology is revolutionizing rugby from traditional 'brute force' approaches to data-driven decision making. From GPS tracking to smart mouthguards, discover how advanced analytics are transforming player performance, safety, and the future of the sport at all levels

252: How to Maximise Athlete Performance & Recovery

January 27th, 2025  |  29 mins 21 secs

athlete recovery, athlete wellness, coaching insights, elite athlete training, elite performance, fitness optimisation, football training, high-performance sport, injury prevention, leinster rugby, performance apparel, performance coaching, peter tierney, professional sports training, recovery strategies, recovery techniques, rugby performance, sports analytics, sports coaching, sports data, sports innovation, sports nutrition, sports performance, sports science, sports science podcast, sports technology, strength and conditioning, stuart lancaster, training intensity, wearable technology

From winning the Heineken Cup with Leinster Rugby to shaping the future of athlete recovery and performance data, Dr Peter Tierney shares key insights from his diverse career. Discover the biggest mistakes in replicating success, the science behind tailored recovery strategies, and how wearable tech is transforming sport.

249: The Untold Evolution of Sports Medicine

January 6th, 2025  |  32 mins 9 secs

ai in sports, athlete performance, dave hancock, elite sport, injury prevention, injury recovery, leeds united, new york knicks, performance teams, personalised care, podcast, professional sport, richard graves, science for sport, sports data, sports innovation, sports insights, sports management, sports medicine, sports rehab, sports science, sports technology, strength and conditioning

Join host Richard Graves as he talks to sports performance pioneer Dave Hancock, whose career spans over three decades in elite sport. From Leeds United to the New York Knicks, Dave shares insights into how data, AI, and personalised athlete care are revolutionising sports science. Discover the challenges and opportunities shaping the future of elite athlete management in this must-listen episode.

179: Why Data Visualisation Can Be The Key To Unlocking Elite Performance

September 4th, 2023  |  26 mins 9 secs

communication, data, data visualisation, sport science, sports analytics, sports data

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.