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    <fireside:genDate>Sat, 20 Jun 2026 04:05:11 +0000</fireside:genDate>
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    <title>Science for Sport Podcast - Episodes Tagged with “Training Load”</title>
    <link>https://scienceforsport.fireside.fm/tags/training%20load</link>
    <pubDate>Mon, 15 Jun 2026 06:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
    <description>Discover the Secrets Behind Elite Performance. Join us on the Science for Sport Podcast, where every episode dives into the cutting-edge world of sports science and the untold stories behind the best athletes and teams on the planet. Hosted by Richard Graves, we bring you exclusive insights from elite athletes, world-class coaches, and leading sports scientists who are shaping the future of global sport. This isn’t just another sports podcast—this is your backstage pass to: The science powering record-breaking performances. The trends, challenges, and breakthroughs redefining the game. Mastering the balance of art and science in coaching. Whether you’re a sports scientist, coach, physio, nutritionist, teacher, or just a passionate sports fan, this is your chance to learn from the pros and stay ahead of the curve. Tune in every Monday and uncover what it takes to make the best, better.</description>
    <language>en-gb</language>
    <itunes:type>episodic</itunes:type>
    <itunes:subtitle>Behind the Scenes of Elite Performance – Unlocking the Science, Stories, and Strategies That Make the Best Even Better</itunes:subtitle>
    <itunes:author>Science for Sport</itunes:author>
    <itunes:summary>Discover the Secrets Behind Elite Performance. Join us on the Science for Sport Podcast, where every episode dives into the cutting-edge world of sports science and the untold stories behind the best athletes and teams on the planet. Hosted by Richard Graves, we bring you exclusive insights from elite athletes, world-class coaches, and leading sports scientists who are shaping the future of global sport. This isn’t just another sports podcast—this is your backstage pass to: The science powering record-breaking performances. The trends, challenges, and breakthroughs redefining the game. Mastering the balance of art and science in coaching. Whether you’re a sports scientist, coach, physio, nutritionist, teacher, or just a passionate sports fan, this is your chance to learn from the pros and stay ahead of the curve. Tune in every Monday and uncover what it takes to make the best, better.</itunes:summary>
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    <itunes:explicit>yes</itunes:explicit>
    <itunes:keywords>sport, science, sports, sports science, education, coach, coaching, athletes, performance, strength, conditioning, strength &amp; conditioning, S&amp;C, recovery, nutrition, entertainment</itunes:keywords>
    <itunes:owner>
      <itunes:name>Science for Sport</itunes:name>
      <itunes:email>contact@scienceforsport.com</itunes:email>
    </itunes:owner>
<itunes:category text="Education"/>
<itunes:category text="Sports"/>
<itunes:category text="Science"/>
<item>
  <title>324: Joe Truman: Training of a GB Track Sprinter</title>
  <link>https://scienceforsport.fireside.fm/324</link>
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  <pubDate>Mon, 15 Jun 2026 06:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
  <author>Science for Sport</author>
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  <itunes:episode>324</itunes:episode>
  <itunes:title>Joe Truman: Training of a GB Track Sprinter</itunes:title>
  <itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType>
  <itunes:author>Science for Sport</itunes:author>
  <itunes:subtitle>Richard Graves welcomes Great Britain track cyclist Joe Truman to discuss the science, training and decision-making behind elite track sprinting. Joe reflects on his journey through the British Cycling pathway, his first major individual European title, and the British record performance that marked a major breakthrough in his career. The conversation explores how studying sport and exercise science has shaped Joe’s training philosophy, why he now takes a more active role in his own programming, and how methods such as blood flow restriction training, tapering, cadence management and race-specific preparation are helping him push performance forward. For practitioners, this episode offers a detailed look at how an elite athlete blends science, experience and self-awareness to keep improving at the highest level.</itunes:subtitle>
  <itunes:duration>24:02</itunes:duration>
  <itunes:explicit>no</itunes:explicit>
  <itunes:image href="https://media24.fireside.fm/file/fireside-images-2024/podcasts/images/e/ed3f06f4-af55-41d4-87cf-0e484d2d9fef/cover.jpg?v=3"/>
  <description>&lt;p&gt;This week on the Science for Sport Podcast, Richard Graves is joined by Great Britain track cyclist Joe Truman.&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;Joe has spent nearly a decade as a full-time professional athlete with British Cycling, progressing through the pathway from a talent ID session at 15 to becoming a senior member of the GB sprint squad. After years of European, World Championship and Commonwealth medals, Joe recently claimed his first major individual title with European gold in the kilo, setting a British record in the process.&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;In this episode, Joe gives a fascinating insight into the training methods, decision-making and performance science behind elite track sprinting. He explains how studying sport and exercise science changed the way he understood his own body, why he now has greater input into his own programming, and how that shift has helped drive a significant increase in performance.&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;Richard and Joe also discuss the practical use of blood flow restriction training, how BFR moved from a rehab tool after back surgery to a staple part of Joe’s training, and why lower-load, lower-volume methods can still create meaningful performance adaptations when used intelligently.&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;In this episode you will learn&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;How Joe Truman progressed from British Cycling talent ID to the senior GB podium squad.&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Why his first major individual gold medal felt like a weight off his shoulders after years of silver and bronze medals.&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;How sport and exercise science changed the way Joe approaches his own training.&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Why understanding the “why” behind a session can be a major motivational tool for elite athletes.&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;How Joe uses blood flow restriction training in the gym and on the bike.&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Why BFR became a key tool after back surgery and later evolved into a performance method.&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;How Joe balances peak power, glycolytic capacity and race-specific cadence.&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Why tapering can determine whether an athlete reaches their true performance ceiling.&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;How training quality, recovery and freshness influence maximal sprint output.&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Why athletes should trust their own knowledge and listen closely to their body.&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;How Joe is preparing for the next phase of the Olympic cycle towards LA 2028.&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;

&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;About Joe Truman&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;br&gt;
Joe Truman is a Great Britain track cyclist and one of the senior members of the GB men’s sprint squad.&lt;br&gt;
Originally from Portsmouth, Joe was identified by British Cycling at the age of 15 and has been part of the British Cycling pathway ever since. He progressed through the under-16, under-18 and under-23 squads before joining the podium programme full-time after his first World Championships in 2017.&lt;br&gt;
Across his career, Joe has competed in the team sprint, individual sprint, keirin and kilo, winning medals at European, World Championship, World Cup and Commonwealth level. In 2026, he claimed his first major individual senior title with European gold in the kilo, setting a British record and going under 58 seconds.&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;Alongside his career as an elite athlete, Joe has studied sport and exercise science and now takes an active role in shaping his own training programme. His approach combines physiology, race-specific preparation, strength training, blood flow restriction training, recovery and athlete self-awareness.&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;FREE 7d SCIENCE FOR SPORT ACADEMY TRIAL&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;SIGN UP NOW:&lt;/strong&gt; &lt;a href="https://bit.ly/SFSepisode241" rel="nofollow noopener"&gt;https://bit.ly/SFSepisode241&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;​ Learn Quicker &amp;amp; More Effectively&lt;br&gt;
​ Optimise Your Athletes' Recovery&lt;br&gt;
​ Position Yourself As An Expert To Your Athletes And Naturally Improve Buy-In&lt;br&gt;
​ Reduce Your Athletes' Injury Ratese&lt;br&gt;
​ Save 100's Of Dollars A Year That Would Otherwise Be Spent On Books, Courses And More&lt;br&gt;
​ Improve Your Athletes' Performance&lt;br&gt;
​ Advance Forward In Your Career, Allowing You To Earn More Money And Work With Elite-Level Athletes&lt;br&gt;
​ Save Yourself The Stress &amp;amp; Worry Of Constantly Trying To Stay Up-To-Date With Sports Science Research &lt;/p&gt;
</description>
  <itunes:keywords>sports science, sport science, strength and conditioning, S&amp;C, performance, athlete, sport, exercise, nutrition, injury, injuries</itunes:keywords>
  <content:encoded>
    <![CDATA[<p>This week on the Science for Sport Podcast, Richard Graves is joined by Great Britain track cyclist Joe Truman.</p>

<p>Joe has spent nearly a decade as a full-time professional athlete with British Cycling, progressing through the pathway from a talent ID session at 15 to becoming a senior member of the GB sprint squad. After years of European, World Championship and Commonwealth medals, Joe recently claimed his first major individual title with European gold in the kilo, setting a British record in the process.</p>

<p>In this episode, Joe gives a fascinating insight into the training methods, decision-making and performance science behind elite track sprinting. He explains how studying sport and exercise science changed the way he understood his own body, why he now has greater input into his own programming, and how that shift has helped drive a significant increase in performance.</p>

<p>Richard and Joe also discuss the practical use of blood flow restriction training, how BFR moved from a rehab tool after back surgery to a staple part of Joe’s training, and why lower-load, lower-volume methods can still create meaningful performance adaptations when used intelligently.</p>

<p><strong>In this episode you will learn</strong></p>

<ul>
<li>How Joe Truman progressed from British Cycling talent ID to the senior GB podium squad.</li>
<li>Why his first major individual gold medal felt like a weight off his shoulders after years of silver and bronze medals.</li>
<li>How sport and exercise science changed the way Joe approaches his own training.</li>
<li>Why understanding the “why” behind a session can be a major motivational tool for elite athletes.</li>
<li>How Joe uses blood flow restriction training in the gym and on the bike.</li>
<li>Why BFR became a key tool after back surgery and later evolved into a performance method.</li>
<li>How Joe balances peak power, glycolytic capacity and race-specific cadence.</li>
<li>Why tapering can determine whether an athlete reaches their true performance ceiling.</li>
<li>How training quality, recovery and freshness influence maximal sprint output.</li>
<li>Why athletes should trust their own knowledge and listen closely to their body.</li>
<li>How Joe is preparing for the next phase of the Olympic cycle towards LA 2028.</li>
</ul>

<p><strong>About Joe Truman</strong><br>
Joe Truman is a Great Britain track cyclist and one of the senior members of the GB men’s sprint squad.<br>
Originally from Portsmouth, Joe was identified by British Cycling at the age of 15 and has been part of the British Cycling pathway ever since. He progressed through the under-16, under-18 and under-23 squads before joining the podium programme full-time after his first World Championships in 2017.<br>
Across his career, Joe has competed in the team sprint, individual sprint, keirin and kilo, winning medals at European, World Championship, World Cup and Commonwealth level. In 2026, he claimed his first major individual senior title with European gold in the kilo, setting a British record and going under 58 seconds.</p>

<p>Alongside his career as an elite athlete, Joe has studied sport and exercise science and now takes an active role in shaping his own training programme. His approach combines physiology, race-specific preparation, strength training, blood flow restriction training, recovery and athlete self-awareness.</p>

<p><strong>FREE 7d SCIENCE FOR SPORT ACADEMY TRIAL</strong></p>

<p><strong>SIGN UP NOW:</strong> <a href="https://bit.ly/SFSepisode241" rel="nofollow noopener">https://bit.ly/SFSepisode241</a></p>

<p>​ Learn Quicker &amp; More Effectively<br>
​ Optimise Your Athletes' Recovery<br>
​ Position Yourself As An Expert To Your Athletes And Naturally Improve Buy-In<br>
​ Reduce Your Athletes' Injury Ratese<br>
​ Save 100's Of Dollars A Year That Would Otherwise Be Spent On Books, Courses And More<br>
​ Improve Your Athletes' Performance<br>
​ Advance Forward In Your Career, Allowing You To Earn More Money And Work With Elite-Level Athletes<br>
​ Save Yourself The Stress &amp; Worry Of Constantly Trying To Stay Up-To-Date With Sports Science Research</p>]]>
  </content:encoded>
  <itunes:summary>
    <![CDATA[<p>This week on the Science for Sport Podcast, Richard Graves is joined by Great Britain track cyclist Joe Truman.</p>

<p>Joe has spent nearly a decade as a full-time professional athlete with British Cycling, progressing through the pathway from a talent ID session at 15 to becoming a senior member of the GB sprint squad. After years of European, World Championship and Commonwealth medals, Joe recently claimed his first major individual title with European gold in the kilo, setting a British record in the process.</p>

<p>In this episode, Joe gives a fascinating insight into the training methods, decision-making and performance science behind elite track sprinting. He explains how studying sport and exercise science changed the way he understood his own body, why he now has greater input into his own programming, and how that shift has helped drive a significant increase in performance.</p>

<p>Richard and Joe also discuss the practical use of blood flow restriction training, how BFR moved from a rehab tool after back surgery to a staple part of Joe’s training, and why lower-load, lower-volume methods can still create meaningful performance adaptations when used intelligently.</p>

<p><strong>In this episode you will learn</strong></p>

<ul>
<li>How Joe Truman progressed from British Cycling talent ID to the senior GB podium squad.</li>
<li>Why his first major individual gold medal felt like a weight off his shoulders after years of silver and bronze medals.</li>
<li>How sport and exercise science changed the way Joe approaches his own training.</li>
<li>Why understanding the “why” behind a session can be a major motivational tool for elite athletes.</li>
<li>How Joe uses blood flow restriction training in the gym and on the bike.</li>
<li>Why BFR became a key tool after back surgery and later evolved into a performance method.</li>
<li>How Joe balances peak power, glycolytic capacity and race-specific cadence.</li>
<li>Why tapering can determine whether an athlete reaches their true performance ceiling.</li>
<li>How training quality, recovery and freshness influence maximal sprint output.</li>
<li>Why athletes should trust their own knowledge and listen closely to their body.</li>
<li>How Joe is preparing for the next phase of the Olympic cycle towards LA 2028.</li>
</ul>

<p><strong>About Joe Truman</strong><br>
Joe Truman is a Great Britain track cyclist and one of the senior members of the GB men’s sprint squad.<br>
Originally from Portsmouth, Joe was identified by British Cycling at the age of 15 and has been part of the British Cycling pathway ever since. He progressed through the under-16, under-18 and under-23 squads before joining the podium programme full-time after his first World Championships in 2017.<br>
Across his career, Joe has competed in the team sprint, individual sprint, keirin and kilo, winning medals at European, World Championship, World Cup and Commonwealth level. In 2026, he claimed his first major individual senior title with European gold in the kilo, setting a British record and going under 58 seconds.</p>

<p>Alongside his career as an elite athlete, Joe has studied sport and exercise science and now takes an active role in shaping his own training programme. His approach combines physiology, race-specific preparation, strength training, blood flow restriction training, recovery and athlete self-awareness.</p>

<p><strong>FREE 7d SCIENCE FOR SPORT ACADEMY TRIAL</strong></p>

<p><strong>SIGN UP NOW:</strong> <a href="https://bit.ly/SFSepisode241" rel="nofollow noopener">https://bit.ly/SFSepisode241</a></p>

<p>​ Learn Quicker &amp; More Effectively<br>
​ Optimise Your Athletes' Recovery<br>
​ Position Yourself As An Expert To Your Athletes And Naturally Improve Buy-In<br>
​ Reduce Your Athletes' Injury Ratese<br>
​ Save 100's Of Dollars A Year That Would Otherwise Be Spent On Books, Courses And More<br>
​ Improve Your Athletes' Performance<br>
​ Advance Forward In Your Career, Allowing You To Earn More Money And Work With Elite-Level Athletes<br>
​ Save Yourself The Stress &amp; Worry Of Constantly Trying To Stay Up-To-Date With Sports Science Research</p>]]>
  </itunes:summary>
</item>
<item>
  <title>323: The Unseen Work of S&amp;C and Sports Science</title>
  <link>https://scienceforsport.fireside.fm/323</link>
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  <pubDate>Mon, 08 Jun 2026 06:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
  <author>Science for Sport</author>
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  <itunes:episode>323</itunes:episode>
  <itunes:title>The Unseen Work of S&amp;C and Sports Science</itunes:title>
  <itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType>
  <itunes:author>Science for Sport</itunes:author>
  <itunes:subtitle>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&amp;C, medical, and coaching staff working in elite sport.</itunes:subtitle>
  <itunes:duration>29:16</itunes:duration>
  <itunes:explicit>no</itunes:explicit>
  <itunes:image href="https://media24.fireside.fm/file/fireside-images-2024/podcasts/images/e/ed3f06f4-af55-41d4-87cf-0e484d2d9fef/cover.jpg?v=3"/>
  <description>&lt;p&gt;This week on the Science for Sport podcast, Richard Graves welcomes Matt Parr back to the show for a deeper look at the work that really drives performance in elite sport.&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;Matt is the Head of Athletic Performance at Leicester Tigers, a former professional rugby player, and the founder of High Performance Puzzle. Having worked across both rugby union and rugby league, including Leicester Tigers and Catalan Dragons, Matt brings a rare combination of playing experience, coaching insight, leadership responsibility, and high-performance strategy.&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;In this episode, Richard and Matt explore the “invisible work” that sits behind successful performance environments. Not the gym programme. Not the GPS report. Not the testing data. But the conversations, decisions, relationships, standards, and judgement calls that determine whether the physical work actually lands.&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;They discuss why data needs context, how performance teams can align with coaches under pressure, what good decision-making looks like when information is incomplete, and why trust remains one of the most important currencies in elite sport.&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;For sports science, S&amp;amp;C, medical, coaching, and performance staff working in elite environments, this episode is a valuable reminder that high performance is not built by data alone. It is built through people, relationships, standards, and the ability to make good decisions when the pressure is on.&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;In this episode you will learn&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Why the work that drives performance often sits outside the formal programme, session plan, or data report&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;How conversations between coaches, medical staff, S&amp;amp;C, sports science, and players provide vital context&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;What good alignment looks like in a high-performance environment&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;How to manage differing opinions between technical and performance departments&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Why frameworks are essential when emotions and pressure start to influence decision-making&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;How to make better decisions when you do not have the complete picture&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Why trust between the head coach, medical team, and performance staff is critical&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;How to use data without becoming over-reliant on it&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Why standards often slip in small ways before they show up in performance outcomes&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;How relationships can make or break the effectiveness of even the best performance systems&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Why gut feel still matters, provided it is shaped by experience and reflection&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;How elite practitioners can reflect more effectively on their own decisions and behaviours&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Why discipline is a habit, not just a personal trait&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;What Matt has learned from working across rugby union and rugby league&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Why the best players want honest feedback when standards start to slip&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;

&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;About Matt Parr&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;br&gt;
Matt Parr is Head of Athletic Performance at Leicester Tigers and founder of High Performance Puzzle.&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;Before moving into strength and conditioning, Matt spent around 14 to 15 years as a professional rugby player, representing clubs including Sale Sharks, Saracens, London Irish, and Leicester Tigers. His transition into performance coaching began at Leicester Tigers, where he initially combined a player-coach role with S&amp;amp;C responsibilities before moving fully into the performance department.&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;Matt has since built extensive experience across both rugby union and rugby league. After progressing through the performance setup at Leicester Tigers, he joined Catalan Dragons as Head of Performance, before returning to Leicester as Head of Athletic Performance.&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;Alongside his role in professional rugby, Matt has launched High Performance Puzzle, a consultancy focused on high-performance strategy, systems, leadership, and integration.&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;FREE 7d SCIENCE FOR SPORT ACADEMY TRIAL&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;SIGN UP NOW:&lt;/strong&gt; &lt;a href="https://bit.ly/SFSepisode241" rel="nofollow noopener"&gt;https://bit.ly/SFSepisode241&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;​ Learn Quicker &amp;amp; More Effectively&lt;br&gt;
​ Optimise Your Athletes' Recovery&lt;br&gt;
​ Position Yourself As An Expert To Your Athletes And Naturally Improve Buy-In&lt;br&gt;
​ Reduce Your Athletes' Injury Ratese&lt;br&gt;
​ Save 100's Of Dollars A Year That Would Otherwise Be Spent On Books, Courses And More&lt;br&gt;
​ Improve Your Athletes' Performance&lt;br&gt;
​ Advance Forward In Your Career, Allowing You To Earn More Money And Work With Elite-Level Athletes&lt;br&gt;
​ Save Yourself The Stress &amp;amp; Worry Of Constantly Trying To Stay Up-To-Date With Sports Science Research&lt;/p&gt;
</description>
  <itunes:keywords>sports science, sport science, strength and conditioning, S&amp;C, performance, athlete, sport, exercise, nutrition, injury, injuries,Matt Parr, Science for Sport, Richard Graves, Leicester Tigers, Rugby Union, Rugby League, Catalan Dragons, Strength and Conditioning, S&amp;C, Sports Science, High Performance, Elite Sport, Performance Leadership, Athletic Performance, Sports Performance, GPS Data, Performance Data, Coaching, Sports Medicine, Return to Play, Decision Making, High Performance Puzzle, Rugby Performance, Player Management, Performance Teams, Elite Rugby, Training Load, Performance Environment, Leadership in Sport, Sports Science Podcast </itunes:keywords>
  <content:encoded>
    <![CDATA[<p>This week on the Science for Sport podcast, Richard Graves welcomes Matt Parr back to the show for a deeper look at the work that really drives performance in elite sport.</p>

<p>Matt is the Head of Athletic Performance at Leicester Tigers, a former professional rugby player, and the founder of High Performance Puzzle. Having worked across both rugby union and rugby league, including Leicester Tigers and Catalan Dragons, Matt brings a rare combination of playing experience, coaching insight, leadership responsibility, and high-performance strategy.</p>

<p>In this episode, Richard and Matt explore the “invisible work” that sits behind successful performance environments. Not the gym programme. Not the GPS report. Not the testing data. But the conversations, decisions, relationships, standards, and judgement calls that determine whether the physical work actually lands.</p>

<p>They discuss why data needs context, how performance teams can align with coaches under pressure, what good decision-making looks like when information is incomplete, and why trust remains one of the most important currencies in elite sport.</p>

<p>For sports science, S&amp;C, medical, coaching, and performance staff working in elite environments, this episode is a valuable reminder that high performance is not built by data alone. It is built through people, relationships, standards, and the ability to make good decisions when the pressure is on.</p>

<p><strong>In this episode you will learn</strong></p>

<ul>
<li>Why the work that drives performance often sits outside the formal programme, session plan, or data report</li>
<li>How conversations between coaches, medical staff, S&amp;C, sports science, and players provide vital context</li>
<li>What good alignment looks like in a high-performance environment</li>
<li>How to manage differing opinions between technical and performance departments</li>
<li>Why frameworks are essential when emotions and pressure start to influence decision-making</li>
<li>How to make better decisions when you do not have the complete picture</li>
<li>Why trust between the head coach, medical team, and performance staff is critical</li>
<li>How to use data without becoming over-reliant on it</li>
<li>Why standards often slip in small ways before they show up in performance outcomes</li>
<li>How relationships can make or break the effectiveness of even the best performance systems</li>
<li>Why gut feel still matters, provided it is shaped by experience and reflection</li>
<li>How elite practitioners can reflect more effectively on their own decisions and behaviours</li>
<li>Why discipline is a habit, not just a personal trait</li>
<li>What Matt has learned from working across rugby union and rugby league</li>
<li>Why the best players want honest feedback when standards start to slip</li>
</ul>

<p><strong>About Matt Parr</strong><br>
Matt Parr is Head of Athletic Performance at Leicester Tigers and founder of High Performance Puzzle.</p>

<p>Before moving into strength and conditioning, Matt spent around 14 to 15 years as a professional rugby player, representing clubs including Sale Sharks, Saracens, London Irish, and Leicester Tigers. His transition into performance coaching began at Leicester Tigers, where he initially combined a player-coach role with S&amp;C responsibilities before moving fully into the performance department.</p>

<p>Matt has since built extensive experience across both rugby union and rugby league. After progressing through the performance setup at Leicester Tigers, he joined Catalan Dragons as Head of Performance, before returning to Leicester as Head of Athletic Performance.</p>

<p>Alongside his role in professional rugby, Matt has launched High Performance Puzzle, a consultancy focused on high-performance strategy, systems, leadership, and integration.</p>

<p><strong>FREE 7d SCIENCE FOR SPORT ACADEMY TRIAL</strong></p>

<p><strong>SIGN UP NOW:</strong> <a href="https://bit.ly/SFSepisode241" rel="nofollow noopener">https://bit.ly/SFSepisode241</a></p>

<p>​ Learn Quicker &amp; More Effectively<br>
​ Optimise Your Athletes' Recovery<br>
​ Position Yourself As An Expert To Your Athletes And Naturally Improve Buy-In<br>
​ Reduce Your Athletes' Injury Ratese<br>
​ Save 100's Of Dollars A Year That Would Otherwise Be Spent On Books, Courses And More<br>
​ Improve Your Athletes' Performance<br>
​ Advance Forward In Your Career, Allowing You To Earn More Money And Work With Elite-Level Athletes<br>
​ Save Yourself The Stress &amp; Worry Of Constantly Trying To Stay Up-To-Date With Sports Science Research</p>]]>
  </content:encoded>
  <itunes:summary>
    <![CDATA[<p>This week on the Science for Sport podcast, Richard Graves welcomes Matt Parr back to the show for a deeper look at the work that really drives performance in elite sport.</p>

<p>Matt is the Head of Athletic Performance at Leicester Tigers, a former professional rugby player, and the founder of High Performance Puzzle. Having worked across both rugby union and rugby league, including Leicester Tigers and Catalan Dragons, Matt brings a rare combination of playing experience, coaching insight, leadership responsibility, and high-performance strategy.</p>

<p>In this episode, Richard and Matt explore the “invisible work” that sits behind successful performance environments. Not the gym programme. Not the GPS report. Not the testing data. But the conversations, decisions, relationships, standards, and judgement calls that determine whether the physical work actually lands.</p>

<p>They discuss why data needs context, how performance teams can align with coaches under pressure, what good decision-making looks like when information is incomplete, and why trust remains one of the most important currencies in elite sport.</p>

<p>For sports science, S&amp;C, medical, coaching, and performance staff working in elite environments, this episode is a valuable reminder that high performance is not built by data alone. It is built through people, relationships, standards, and the ability to make good decisions when the pressure is on.</p>

<p><strong>In this episode you will learn</strong></p>

<ul>
<li>Why the work that drives performance often sits outside the formal programme, session plan, or data report</li>
<li>How conversations between coaches, medical staff, S&amp;C, sports science, and players provide vital context</li>
<li>What good alignment looks like in a high-performance environment</li>
<li>How to manage differing opinions between technical and performance departments</li>
<li>Why frameworks are essential when emotions and pressure start to influence decision-making</li>
<li>How to make better decisions when you do not have the complete picture</li>
<li>Why trust between the head coach, medical team, and performance staff is critical</li>
<li>How to use data without becoming over-reliant on it</li>
<li>Why standards often slip in small ways before they show up in performance outcomes</li>
<li>How relationships can make or break the effectiveness of even the best performance systems</li>
<li>Why gut feel still matters, provided it is shaped by experience and reflection</li>
<li>How elite practitioners can reflect more effectively on their own decisions and behaviours</li>
<li>Why discipline is a habit, not just a personal trait</li>
<li>What Matt has learned from working across rugby union and rugby league</li>
<li>Why the best players want honest feedback when standards start to slip</li>
</ul>

<p><strong>About Matt Parr</strong><br>
Matt Parr is Head of Athletic Performance at Leicester Tigers and founder of High Performance Puzzle.</p>

<p>Before moving into strength and conditioning, Matt spent around 14 to 15 years as a professional rugby player, representing clubs including Sale Sharks, Saracens, London Irish, and Leicester Tigers. His transition into performance coaching began at Leicester Tigers, where he initially combined a player-coach role with S&amp;C responsibilities before moving fully into the performance department.</p>

<p>Matt has since built extensive experience across both rugby union and rugby league. After progressing through the performance setup at Leicester Tigers, he joined Catalan Dragons as Head of Performance, before returning to Leicester as Head of Athletic Performance.</p>

<p>Alongside his role in professional rugby, Matt has launched High Performance Puzzle, a consultancy focused on high-performance strategy, systems, leadership, and integration.</p>

<p><strong>FREE 7d SCIENCE FOR SPORT ACADEMY TRIAL</strong></p>

<p><strong>SIGN UP NOW:</strong> <a href="https://bit.ly/SFSepisode241" rel="nofollow noopener">https://bit.ly/SFSepisode241</a></p>

<p>​ Learn Quicker &amp; More Effectively<br>
​ Optimise Your Athletes' Recovery<br>
​ Position Yourself As An Expert To Your Athletes And Naturally Improve Buy-In<br>
​ Reduce Your Athletes' Injury Ratese<br>
​ Save 100's Of Dollars A Year That Would Otherwise Be Spent On Books, Courses And More<br>
​ Improve Your Athletes' Performance<br>
​ Advance Forward In Your Career, Allowing You To Earn More Money And Work With Elite-Level Athletes<br>
​ Save Yourself The Stress &amp; Worry Of Constantly Trying To Stay Up-To-Date With Sports Science Research</p>]]>
  </itunes:summary>
</item>
<item>
  <title>303: Periodised Nutrition in Practice: Delivering the Plan Away From the Club</title>
  <link>https://scienceforsport.fireside.fm/303</link>
  <guid isPermaLink="false">a452a2b1-5bc7-4f17-91ee-cf2c74a5b0c8</guid>
  <pubDate>Mon, 19 Jan 2026 06:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
  <author>Science for Sport</author>
  <enclosure url="https://aphid.fireside.fm/d/1437767933/ed3f06f4-af55-41d4-87cf-0e484d2d9fef/a452a2b1-5bc7-4f17-91ee-cf2c74a5b0c8.mp3" length="61063886" type="audio/mpeg"/>
  <itunes:episode>303</itunes:episode>
  <itunes:title>Periodised Nutrition in Practice: Delivering the Plan Away From the Club</itunes:title>
  <itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType>
  <itunes:author>Science for Sport</itunes:author>
  <itunes:subtitle>This episode explores how periodised nutrition is delivered in practice away from the training ground, and the role performance chefs play in translating nutritionist-led prescriptions into compliant, real-world meals. Rachel Muse shares applied insights on macros, culture, and collaboration within elite performance systems.</itunes:subtitle>
  <itunes:duration>42:24</itunes:duration>
  <itunes:explicit>no</itunes:explicit>
  <itunes:image href="https://media24.fireside.fm/file/fireside-images-2024/podcasts/images/e/ed3f06f4-af55-41d4-87cf-0e484d2d9fef/cover.jpg?v=3"/>
  <description>&lt;p&gt;This week on the Science for Sport Podcast, Richard Graves is joined by Rachel Muse, one of the leading performance chefs working with elite athletes across professional sport.Rachel is the founder of Talk Eat Laugh, a specialist performance-chef service supporting athletes in their own homes. Her work bridges the gap between performance nutrition science and real-life eating habits, ensuring athletes follow precise nutritional plans without meals becoming clinical, restrictive, or culturally disconnected.In this episode, Rachel shares her unconventional journey from mathematics graduate to elite performance chef, and explains how chefs, nutritionists, and sports science teams work together to deliver periodised nutrition away from the training ground. The conversation explores how macronutrient targets are delivered in practice, how food preferences and cultural background shape compliance, and why fuelling the brain is just as important as fuelling the body.This is a rare insight into a part of the performance system that is often overlooked, but critical to recovery, consistency, and late-game performance.&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;In this episode, you will learn&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;What periodised nutrition actually means in practice, beyond the theory&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;How performance chefs work from nutritionist-led macro prescriptions&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Why chefs should not act as nutritionists, and where the professional boundaries sit&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;How to deliver exact macronutrient targets without meals becoming boring or restrictive&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;The role of carbohydrates in sustaining physical and cognitive performance late in matchesHow cultural background and food identity influence nutritional compliance&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Why elite performance nutrition is as much about psychology and trust as it is science&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;What “success” really looks like when supporting elite athletes away from the club environment&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;

&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;About Rachel Muse&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;br&gt;
Rachel Muse is a performance chef with a background spanning elite hospitality, private households, and professional sport. After an unconventional route into the culinary world, she founded Talk Eat Laugh, a performance-chef business supporting elite athletes across football, rugby, swimming, and motorsport.Rachel works closely with performance nutritionists and sports science teams to deliver highly specific nutritional strategies in athletes’ home environments. Known for her emphasis on collaboration, precision, privacy, and cultural understanding, Rachel specialises in translating complex nutrition plans into meals athletes genuinely want to eat, consistently and compliantly.You can follow Rachel on LinkedIn or find Talk Eat Laugh on Instagram for insights into performance food done properly.&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;FREE 7d SCIENCE FOR SPORT ACADEMY TRIAL&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;SIGN UP NOW:&lt;/strong&gt; &lt;a href="https://bit.ly/SFSepisode241" rel="nofollow noopener"&gt;https://bit.ly/SFSepisode241&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;​ Learn Quicker &amp;amp; More Effectively&lt;br&gt;
​ Optimise Your Athletes' Recovery&lt;br&gt;
​ Position Yourself As An Expert To Your Athletes And Naturally Improve Buy-In&lt;br&gt;
​ Reduce Your Athletes' Injury Ratese&lt;br&gt;
​ Save 100's Of Dollars A Year That Would Otherwise Be Spent On Books, Courses And More&lt;br&gt;
​ Improve Your Athletes' Performance&lt;br&gt;
​ Advance Forward In Your Career, Allowing You To Earn More Money And Work With Elite-Level Athletes&lt;br&gt;
​ Save Yourself The Stress &amp;amp; Worry Of Constantly Trying To Stay Up-To-Date With Sports Science Research &lt;/p&gt;
</description>
  <itunes:keywords>sports science, sport science, strength and conditioning, S&amp;C, performance, athlete, sport, exercise, nutrition, injury, injuries</itunes:keywords>
  <content:encoded>
    <![CDATA[<p>This week on the Science for Sport Podcast, Richard Graves is joined by Rachel Muse, one of the leading performance chefs working with elite athletes across professional sport.Rachel is the founder of Talk Eat Laugh, a specialist performance-chef service supporting athletes in their own homes. Her work bridges the gap between performance nutrition science and real-life eating habits, ensuring athletes follow precise nutritional plans without meals becoming clinical, restrictive, or culturally disconnected.In this episode, Rachel shares her unconventional journey from mathematics graduate to elite performance chef, and explains how chefs, nutritionists, and sports science teams work together to deliver periodised nutrition away from the training ground. The conversation explores how macronutrient targets are delivered in practice, how food preferences and cultural background shape compliance, and why fuelling the brain is just as important as fuelling the body.This is a rare insight into a part of the performance system that is often overlooked, but critical to recovery, consistency, and late-game performance.</p>

<p><strong>In this episode, you will learn</strong></p>

<ul>
<li>What periodised nutrition actually means in practice, beyond the theory</li>
<li>How performance chefs work from nutritionist-led macro prescriptions</li>
<li>Why chefs should not act as nutritionists, and where the professional boundaries sit</li>
<li>How to deliver exact macronutrient targets without meals becoming boring or restrictive</li>
<li>The role of carbohydrates in sustaining physical and cognitive performance late in matchesHow cultural background and food identity influence nutritional compliance</li>
<li>Why elite performance nutrition is as much about psychology and trust as it is science</li>
<li>What “success” really looks like when supporting elite athletes away from the club environment</li>
</ul>

<p><strong>About Rachel Muse</strong><br>
Rachel Muse is a performance chef with a background spanning elite hospitality, private households, and professional sport. After an unconventional route into the culinary world, she founded Talk Eat Laugh, a performance-chef business supporting elite athletes across football, rugby, swimming, and motorsport.Rachel works closely with performance nutritionists and sports science teams to deliver highly specific nutritional strategies in athletes’ home environments. Known for her emphasis on collaboration, precision, privacy, and cultural understanding, Rachel specialises in translating complex nutrition plans into meals athletes genuinely want to eat, consistently and compliantly.You can follow Rachel on LinkedIn or find Talk Eat Laugh on Instagram for insights into performance food done properly.</p>

<p><strong>FREE 7d SCIENCE FOR SPORT ACADEMY TRIAL</strong></p>

<p><strong>SIGN UP NOW:</strong> <a href="https://bit.ly/SFSepisode241" rel="nofollow noopener">https://bit.ly/SFSepisode241</a></p>

<p>​ Learn Quicker &amp; More Effectively<br>
​ Optimise Your Athletes' Recovery<br>
​ Position Yourself As An Expert To Your Athletes And Naturally Improve Buy-In<br>
​ Reduce Your Athletes' Injury Ratese<br>
​ Save 100's Of Dollars A Year That Would Otherwise Be Spent On Books, Courses And More<br>
​ Improve Your Athletes' Performance<br>
​ Advance Forward In Your Career, Allowing You To Earn More Money And Work With Elite-Level Athletes<br>
​ Save Yourself The Stress &amp; Worry Of Constantly Trying To Stay Up-To-Date With Sports Science Research</p>]]>
  </content:encoded>
  <itunes:summary>
    <![CDATA[<p>This week on the Science for Sport Podcast, Richard Graves is joined by Rachel Muse, one of the leading performance chefs working with elite athletes across professional sport.Rachel is the founder of Talk Eat Laugh, a specialist performance-chef service supporting athletes in their own homes. Her work bridges the gap between performance nutrition science and real-life eating habits, ensuring athletes follow precise nutritional plans without meals becoming clinical, restrictive, or culturally disconnected.In this episode, Rachel shares her unconventional journey from mathematics graduate to elite performance chef, and explains how chefs, nutritionists, and sports science teams work together to deliver periodised nutrition away from the training ground. The conversation explores how macronutrient targets are delivered in practice, how food preferences and cultural background shape compliance, and why fuelling the brain is just as important as fuelling the body.This is a rare insight into a part of the performance system that is often overlooked, but critical to recovery, consistency, and late-game performance.</p>

<p><strong>In this episode, you will learn</strong></p>

<ul>
<li>What periodised nutrition actually means in practice, beyond the theory</li>
<li>How performance chefs work from nutritionist-led macro prescriptions</li>
<li>Why chefs should not act as nutritionists, and where the professional boundaries sit</li>
<li>How to deliver exact macronutrient targets without meals becoming boring or restrictive</li>
<li>The role of carbohydrates in sustaining physical and cognitive performance late in matchesHow cultural background and food identity influence nutritional compliance</li>
<li>Why elite performance nutrition is as much about psychology and trust as it is science</li>
<li>What “success” really looks like when supporting elite athletes away from the club environment</li>
</ul>

<p><strong>About Rachel Muse</strong><br>
Rachel Muse is a performance chef with a background spanning elite hospitality, private households, and professional sport. After an unconventional route into the culinary world, she founded Talk Eat Laugh, a performance-chef business supporting elite athletes across football, rugby, swimming, and motorsport.Rachel works closely with performance nutritionists and sports science teams to deliver highly specific nutritional strategies in athletes’ home environments. Known for her emphasis on collaboration, precision, privacy, and cultural understanding, Rachel specialises in translating complex nutrition plans into meals athletes genuinely want to eat, consistently and compliantly.You can follow Rachel on LinkedIn or find Talk Eat Laugh on Instagram for insights into performance food done properly.</p>

<p><strong>FREE 7d SCIENCE FOR SPORT ACADEMY TRIAL</strong></p>

<p><strong>SIGN UP NOW:</strong> <a href="https://bit.ly/SFSepisode241" rel="nofollow noopener">https://bit.ly/SFSepisode241</a></p>

<p>​ Learn Quicker &amp; More Effectively<br>
​ Optimise Your Athletes' Recovery<br>
​ Position Yourself As An Expert To Your Athletes And Naturally Improve Buy-In<br>
​ Reduce Your Athletes' Injury Ratese<br>
​ Save 100's Of Dollars A Year That Would Otherwise Be Spent On Books, Courses And More<br>
​ Improve Your Athletes' Performance<br>
​ Advance Forward In Your Career, Allowing You To Earn More Money And Work With Elite-Level Athletes<br>
​ Save Yourself The Stress &amp; Worry Of Constantly Trying To Stay Up-To-Date With Sports Science Research</p>]]>
  </itunes:summary>
</item>
<item>
  <title>272: Inside Catapult: Global Trends, Common Pitfalls &amp; the Future of Sports Science</title>
  <link>https://scienceforsport.fireside.fm/272</link>
  <guid isPermaLink="false">30e3bc0b-3432-4adb-818f-3f58e0f870ad</guid>
  <pubDate>Mon, 16 Jun 2025 06:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
  <author>Science for Sport</author>
  <enclosure url="https://aphid.fireside.fm/d/1437767933/ed3f06f4-af55-41d4-87cf-0e484d2d9fef/30e3bc0b-3432-4adb-818f-3f58e0f870ad.mp3" length="41626276" type="audio/mpeg"/>
  <itunes:episode>272</itunes:episode>
  <itunes:title>Inside Catapult: Global Trends, Common Pitfalls &amp; the Future of Sports Science</itunes:title>
  <itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType>
  <itunes:author>Science for Sport</itunes:author>
  <itunes:subtitle>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.</itunes:subtitle>
  <itunes:duration>43:21</itunes:duration>
  <itunes:explicit>no</itunes:explicit>
  <itunes:image href="https://media24.fireside.fm/file/fireside-images-2024/podcasts/images/e/ed3f06f4-af55-41d4-87cf-0e484d2d9fef/cover.jpg?v=3"/>
  <description>&lt;p&gt;This week, host Richard Graves is joined by Chris Polley, Vice President of Customer Success at Catapult, for a deep-dive into the world of elite sports performance monitoring. With over 55 sports scientists working across 16 countries, Chris shares what he and his team are seeing across top-tier teams in more than 40 sports worldwide.&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;Listeners will learn:&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;The global trends shaping the future of sports science, including data integration and AI&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Why the best teams often do the basics exceptionally well&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Common mistakes when adopting performance tech – and how to avoid them&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;How Catapult’s wearable and video technologies are being used to save time and unlock deeper insights&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;What really makes a great sports scientist in today’s high-performance environment&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;

&lt;p&gt;Chris also shares practical advice for aspiring practitioners, highlighting the importance of communication, cultural fit, and the ability to simplify complex data to drive better decision-making.&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;Whether you're working in pro sport or just entering the field, this episode is packed with wisdom from someone who’s helped scale one of the most widely used performance platforms in the world.&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;About Chris Polley&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;br&gt;
Chris Polley is Catapult’s Vice President of Customer Success, formerly Senior Director of Sport Science, based in Victoria, Australia. Over the past 11 years at Catapult, Chris has played a pivotal role in scaling the team from its start-up beginnings to a global fixture, now supporting over 4,400 teams across 128 countries. He leads a diverse squad of approximately 55 sports scientists across 16 nations, delivering post-sales support, global training, analytics best practice, and insights-driven performance strategies. With a strong academic grounding, including published research on activity profiling in elite lacrosse and rugby forwards, Chris brings both scientific rigour and real-world expertise to Catapult’s wearable and video technology suite&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;FREE 7d SCIENCE FOR SPORT ACADEMY TRIAL&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;SIGN UP NOW:&lt;/strong&gt; &lt;a href="https://bit.ly/SFSepisode241" rel="nofollow noopener"&gt;https://bit.ly/SFSepisode241&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;​ Learn Quicker &amp;amp; More Effectively&lt;br&gt;
​ Optimise Your Athletes' Recovery&lt;br&gt;
​ Position Yourself As An Expert To Your Athletes And Naturally Improve Buy-In&lt;br&gt;
​ Reduce Your Athletes' Injury Ratese&lt;br&gt;
​ Save 100's Of Dollars A Year That Would Otherwise Be Spent On Books, Courses And More&lt;br&gt;
​ Improve Your Athletes' Performance&lt;br&gt;
​ Advance Forward In Your Career, Allowing You To Earn More Money And Work With Elite-Level Athletes&lt;br&gt;
​ Save Yourself The Stress &amp;amp; Worry Of Constantly Trying To Stay Up-To-Date With Sports Science Research &lt;/p&gt;
</description>
  <itunes:keywords>sports science, sport science, strength and conditioning, S&amp;C, performance, athlete, sport, exercise, nutrition, injury, injuries, sports data, data analytics, data analysis</itunes:keywords>
  <content:encoded>
    <![CDATA[<p>This week, host Richard Graves is joined by Chris Polley, Vice President of Customer Success at Catapult, for a deep-dive into the world of elite sports performance monitoring. With over 55 sports scientists working across 16 countries, Chris shares what he and his team are seeing across top-tier teams in more than 40 sports worldwide.</p>

<p>Listeners will learn:</p>

<ul>
<li>The global trends shaping the future of sports science, including data integration and AI</li>
<li>Why the best teams often do the basics exceptionally well</li>
<li>Common mistakes when adopting performance tech – and how to avoid them</li>
<li>How Catapult’s wearable and video technologies are being used to save time and unlock deeper insights</li>
<li>What really makes a great sports scientist in today’s high-performance environment</li>
</ul>

<p>Chris also shares practical advice for aspiring practitioners, highlighting the importance of communication, cultural fit, and the ability to simplify complex data to drive better decision-making.</p>

<p>Whether you're working in pro sport or just entering the field, this episode is packed with wisdom from someone who’s helped scale one of the most widely used performance platforms in the world.</p>

<p><strong>About Chris Polley</strong><br>
Chris Polley is Catapult’s Vice President of Customer Success, formerly Senior Director of Sport Science, based in Victoria, Australia. Over the past 11 years at Catapult, Chris has played a pivotal role in scaling the team from its start-up beginnings to a global fixture, now supporting over 4,400 teams across 128 countries. He leads a diverse squad of approximately 55 sports scientists across 16 nations, delivering post-sales support, global training, analytics best practice, and insights-driven performance strategies. With a strong academic grounding, including published research on activity profiling in elite lacrosse and rugby forwards, Chris brings both scientific rigour and real-world expertise to Catapult’s wearable and video technology suite</p>

<p><strong>FREE 7d SCIENCE FOR SPORT ACADEMY TRIAL</strong></p>

<p><strong>SIGN UP NOW:</strong> <a href="https://bit.ly/SFSepisode241" rel="nofollow noopener">https://bit.ly/SFSepisode241</a></p>

<p>​ Learn Quicker &amp; More Effectively<br>
​ Optimise Your Athletes' Recovery<br>
​ Position Yourself As An Expert To Your Athletes And Naturally Improve Buy-In<br>
​ Reduce Your Athletes' Injury Ratese<br>
​ Save 100's Of Dollars A Year That Would Otherwise Be Spent On Books, Courses And More<br>
​ Improve Your Athletes' Performance<br>
​ Advance Forward In Your Career, Allowing You To Earn More Money And Work With Elite-Level Athletes<br>
​ Save Yourself The Stress &amp; Worry Of Constantly Trying To Stay Up-To-Date With Sports Science Research</p>]]>
  </content:encoded>
  <itunes:summary>
    <![CDATA[<p>This week, host Richard Graves is joined by Chris Polley, Vice President of Customer Success at Catapult, for a deep-dive into the world of elite sports performance monitoring. With over 55 sports scientists working across 16 countries, Chris shares what he and his team are seeing across top-tier teams in more than 40 sports worldwide.</p>

<p>Listeners will learn:</p>

<ul>
<li>The global trends shaping the future of sports science, including data integration and AI</li>
<li>Why the best teams often do the basics exceptionally well</li>
<li>Common mistakes when adopting performance tech – and how to avoid them</li>
<li>How Catapult’s wearable and video technologies are being used to save time and unlock deeper insights</li>
<li>What really makes a great sports scientist in today’s high-performance environment</li>
</ul>

<p>Chris also shares practical advice for aspiring practitioners, highlighting the importance of communication, cultural fit, and the ability to simplify complex data to drive better decision-making.</p>

<p>Whether you're working in pro sport or just entering the field, this episode is packed with wisdom from someone who’s helped scale one of the most widely used performance platforms in the world.</p>

<p><strong>About Chris Polley</strong><br>
Chris Polley is Catapult’s Vice President of Customer Success, formerly Senior Director of Sport Science, based in Victoria, Australia. Over the past 11 years at Catapult, Chris has played a pivotal role in scaling the team from its start-up beginnings to a global fixture, now supporting over 4,400 teams across 128 countries. He leads a diverse squad of approximately 55 sports scientists across 16 nations, delivering post-sales support, global training, analytics best practice, and insights-driven performance strategies. With a strong academic grounding, including published research on activity profiling in elite lacrosse and rugby forwards, Chris brings both scientific rigour and real-world expertise to Catapult’s wearable and video technology suite</p>

<p><strong>FREE 7d SCIENCE FOR SPORT ACADEMY TRIAL</strong></p>

<p><strong>SIGN UP NOW:</strong> <a href="https://bit.ly/SFSepisode241" rel="nofollow noopener">https://bit.ly/SFSepisode241</a></p>

<p>​ Learn Quicker &amp; More Effectively<br>
​ Optimise Your Athletes' Recovery<br>
​ Position Yourself As An Expert To Your Athletes And Naturally Improve Buy-In<br>
​ Reduce Your Athletes' Injury Ratese<br>
​ Save 100's Of Dollars A Year That Would Otherwise Be Spent On Books, Courses And More<br>
​ Improve Your Athletes' Performance<br>
​ Advance Forward In Your Career, Allowing You To Earn More Money And Work With Elite-Level Athletes<br>
​ Save Yourself The Stress &amp; Worry Of Constantly Trying To Stay Up-To-Date With Sports Science Research</p>]]>
  </itunes:summary>
</item>
<item>
  <title>256: Catapult: Rugby's Game-Changing Data Revolution</title>
  <link>https://scienceforsport.fireside.fm/256</link>
  <guid isPermaLink="false">c39065ac-f4ca-4753-ab8f-f7620897eb09</guid>
  <pubDate>Mon, 24 Feb 2025 06:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
  <author>Science for Sport</author>
  <enclosure url="https://aphid.fireside.fm/d/1437767933/ed3f06f4-af55-41d4-87cf-0e484d2d9fef/c39065ac-f4ca-4753-ab8f-f7620897eb09.mp3" length="33438456" type="audio/mpeg"/>
  <itunes:episode>256</itunes:episode>
  <itunes:title>Catapult: Rugby's Game-Changing Data Revolution</itunes:title>
  <itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType>
  <itunes:author>Science for Sport</itunes:author>
  <itunes:subtitle>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</itunes:subtitle>
  <itunes:duration>34:49</itunes:duration>
  <itunes:explicit>no</itunes:explicit>
  <itunes:image href="https://media24.fireside.fm/file/fireside-images-2024/podcasts/images/e/ed3f06f4-af55-41d4-87cf-0e484d2d9fef/cover.jpg?v=3"/>
  <description>&lt;p&gt;From GPS Tracking to Game-Changing Analytics: The Evolution of Rugby Performance Technology&lt;br&gt;
Join us for a fascinating conversation with Tom May, former international rugby player and current Head of Global Rugby at Catapult Sports. In this episode, we dive deep into how cutting-edge technology is revolutionising rugby performance analysis and player welfare.&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;Key discussion points include:&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;How advanced analytics are transforming rugby from traditional 'brute force' approaches to data-driven decision making&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;The crucial role of contextualising performance data for meaningful insights&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Latest innovations in player safety technology, including smart mouthguards for concussion detection&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Unique considerations in women's rugby performance monitoring and injury prevention&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;The future of sports technology in broadcasting and fan engagement&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;

&lt;p&gt;Whether you're a sports scientist, coach, or performance analyst, this episode offers valuable insights into how technology is shaping the future of rugby at all levels. May shares candid perspectives from both sides of the fence - as a former player and now a technology leader - making this a must-listen for anyone interested in the intersection of sports science and professional rugby.&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;About Tom May&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;br&gt;
A former international rugby player with an illustrious playing career spanning nearly two decades, Tom May brings unique insights from both sides of the professional rugby world. After making his debut in 1999 and playing at the highest levels of the sport, Tom has successfully transitioned into the sports technology sector. Now serving as Head of Global Rugby at Catapult Sports, he combines his extensive playing experience with a passion for advancing rugby through technology and analytics. His dual perspective as both a former player and technology leader makes him uniquely qualified to bridge the gap between traditional rugby culture and its data-driven future.&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;FREE 7d SCIENCE FOR SPORT ACADEMY TRIAL&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;SIGN UP NOW:&lt;/strong&gt; &lt;a href="https://bit.ly/SFSepisode241" rel="nofollow noopener"&gt;https://bit.ly/SFSepisode241&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;​ Learn Quicker &amp;amp; More Effectively&lt;br&gt;
​ Optimise Your Athletes' Recovery&lt;br&gt;
​ Position Yourself As An Expert To Your Athletes And Naturally Improve Buy-In&lt;br&gt;
​ Reduce Your Athletes' Injury Ratese&lt;br&gt;
​ Save 100's Of Dollars A Year That Would Otherwise Be Spent On Books, Courses And More&lt;br&gt;
​ Improve Your Athletes' Performance&lt;br&gt;
​ Advance Forward In Your Career, Allowing You To Earn More Money And Work With Elite-Level Athletes&lt;br&gt;
​ Save Yourself The Stress &amp;amp; Worry Of Constantly Trying To Stay Up-To-Date With Sports Science Research&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;h3&gt;🔔 Subscribe to the podcast on your favourite platform&lt;/h3&gt;

&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/science-for-sport-podcast/id1506431005" rel="nofollow noopener"&gt;Apple Podcasts&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;a href="https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkcy5maXJlc2lkZS5mbS9zY2llbmNlZm9yc3BvcnQvcnNz?sa=X&amp;amp;ved=0CAIQ4aUDahcKEwj43vyLxbrrAhUAAAAAHQAAAAAQBA" rel="nofollow noopener"&gt;Google Podcasts&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/5DZlm3bNyPQd1QknUxCWTz?si=yHWOt3LORfeGgp7i31ey8g" rel="nofollow noopener"&gt;Spotify&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/science-for-sport-podcast" rel="nofollow noopener"&gt;Stitcher&lt;/a&gt; &lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
</description>
  <itunes:keywords>sports science, sport science, strength and conditioning, S&amp;C, performance, athlete, sport, exercise, nutrition, injury, injuries, Sports Technology, Rugby Union, Sports Science, Player Analytics, Catapult, GPS Tracking, Performance Analysis, Player Welfare, Concussion Prevention, Smart Mouthguard, Data Analytics, Rugby Performance, SportsTech, Athlete Monitoring, Womens Rugby, Player Load, Injury Prevention, Sports Broadcasting, High Performance, Tom May, Professional Rugby, Player Safety, Sports Innovation, Performance Metrics, Rugby Development, Elite Sport, Sports Data, Athlete Management, Training Load, Rugby Technology</itunes:keywords>
  <content:encoded>
    <![CDATA[<p>From GPS Tracking to Game-Changing Analytics: The Evolution of Rugby Performance Technology<br>
Join us for a fascinating conversation with Tom May, former international rugby player and current Head of Global Rugby at Catapult Sports. In this episode, we dive deep into how cutting-edge technology is revolutionising rugby performance analysis and player welfare.</p>

<p>Key discussion points include:</p>

<ul>
<li>How advanced analytics are transforming rugby from traditional 'brute force' approaches to data-driven decision making</li>
<li>The crucial role of contextualising performance data for meaningful insights</li>
<li>Latest innovations in player safety technology, including smart mouthguards for concussion detection</li>
<li>Unique considerations in women's rugby performance monitoring and injury prevention</li>
<li>The future of sports technology in broadcasting and fan engagement</li>
</ul>

<p>Whether you're a sports scientist, coach, or performance analyst, this episode offers valuable insights into how technology is shaping the future of rugby at all levels. May shares candid perspectives from both sides of the fence - as a former player and now a technology leader - making this a must-listen for anyone interested in the intersection of sports science and professional rugby.</p>

<p><strong>About Tom May</strong><br>
A former international rugby player with an illustrious playing career spanning nearly two decades, Tom May brings unique insights from both sides of the professional rugby world. After making his debut in 1999 and playing at the highest levels of the sport, Tom has successfully transitioned into the sports technology sector. Now serving as Head of Global Rugby at Catapult Sports, he combines his extensive playing experience with a passion for advancing rugby through technology and analytics. His dual perspective as both a former player and technology leader makes him uniquely qualified to bridge the gap between traditional rugby culture and its data-driven future.</p>

<p><strong>FREE 7d SCIENCE FOR SPORT ACADEMY TRIAL</strong></p>

<p><strong>SIGN UP NOW:</strong> <a href="https://bit.ly/SFSepisode241" rel="nofollow noopener">https://bit.ly/SFSepisode241</a></p>

<p>​ Learn Quicker &amp; More Effectively<br>
​ Optimise Your Athletes' Recovery<br>
​ Position Yourself As An Expert To Your Athletes And Naturally Improve Buy-In<br>
​ Reduce Your Athletes' Injury Ratese<br>
​ Save 100's Of Dollars A Year That Would Otherwise Be Spent On Books, Courses And More<br>
​ Improve Your Athletes' Performance<br>
​ Advance Forward In Your Career, Allowing You To Earn More Money And Work With Elite-Level Athletes<br>
​ Save Yourself The Stress &amp; Worry Of Constantly Trying To Stay Up-To-Date With Sports Science Research</p>

<h3>🔔 Subscribe to the podcast on your favourite platform</h3>

<ul>
<li><a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/science-for-sport-podcast/id1506431005" rel="nofollow noopener">Apple Podcasts</a></li>
<li><a href="https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkcy5maXJlc2lkZS5mbS9zY2llbmNlZm9yc3BvcnQvcnNz?sa=X&amp;ved=0CAIQ4aUDahcKEwj43vyLxbrrAhUAAAAAHQAAAAAQBA" rel="nofollow noopener">Google Podcasts</a></li>
<li><a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/5DZlm3bNyPQd1QknUxCWTz?si=yHWOt3LORfeGgp7i31ey8g" rel="nofollow noopener">Spotify</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/science-for-sport-podcast" rel="nofollow noopener">Stitcher</a></li>
</ul>]]>
  </content:encoded>
  <itunes:summary>
    <![CDATA[<p>From GPS Tracking to Game-Changing Analytics: The Evolution of Rugby Performance Technology<br>
Join us for a fascinating conversation with Tom May, former international rugby player and current Head of Global Rugby at Catapult Sports. In this episode, we dive deep into how cutting-edge technology is revolutionising rugby performance analysis and player welfare.</p>

<p>Key discussion points include:</p>

<ul>
<li>How advanced analytics are transforming rugby from traditional 'brute force' approaches to data-driven decision making</li>
<li>The crucial role of contextualising performance data for meaningful insights</li>
<li>Latest innovations in player safety technology, including smart mouthguards for concussion detection</li>
<li>Unique considerations in women's rugby performance monitoring and injury prevention</li>
<li>The future of sports technology in broadcasting and fan engagement</li>
</ul>

<p>Whether you're a sports scientist, coach, or performance analyst, this episode offers valuable insights into how technology is shaping the future of rugby at all levels. May shares candid perspectives from both sides of the fence - as a former player and now a technology leader - making this a must-listen for anyone interested in the intersection of sports science and professional rugby.</p>

<p><strong>About Tom May</strong><br>
A former international rugby player with an illustrious playing career spanning nearly two decades, Tom May brings unique insights from both sides of the professional rugby world. After making his debut in 1999 and playing at the highest levels of the sport, Tom has successfully transitioned into the sports technology sector. Now serving as Head of Global Rugby at Catapult Sports, he combines his extensive playing experience with a passion for advancing rugby through technology and analytics. His dual perspective as both a former player and technology leader makes him uniquely qualified to bridge the gap between traditional rugby culture and its data-driven future.</p>

<p><strong>FREE 7d SCIENCE FOR SPORT ACADEMY TRIAL</strong></p>

<p><strong>SIGN UP NOW:</strong> <a href="https://bit.ly/SFSepisode241" rel="nofollow noopener">https://bit.ly/SFSepisode241</a></p>

<p>​ Learn Quicker &amp; More Effectively<br>
​ Optimise Your Athletes' Recovery<br>
​ Position Yourself As An Expert To Your Athletes And Naturally Improve Buy-In<br>
​ Reduce Your Athletes' Injury Ratese<br>
​ Save 100's Of Dollars A Year That Would Otherwise Be Spent On Books, Courses And More<br>
​ Improve Your Athletes' Performance<br>
​ Advance Forward In Your Career, Allowing You To Earn More Money And Work With Elite-Level Athletes<br>
​ Save Yourself The Stress &amp; Worry Of Constantly Trying To Stay Up-To-Date With Sports Science Research</p>

<h3>🔔 Subscribe to the podcast on your favourite platform</h3>

<ul>
<li><a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/science-for-sport-podcast/id1506431005" rel="nofollow noopener">Apple Podcasts</a></li>
<li><a href="https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkcy5maXJlc2lkZS5mbS9zY2llbmNlZm9yc3BvcnQvcnNz?sa=X&amp;ved=0CAIQ4aUDahcKEwj43vyLxbrrAhUAAAAAHQAAAAAQBA" rel="nofollow noopener">Google Podcasts</a></li>
<li><a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/5DZlm3bNyPQd1QknUxCWTz?si=yHWOt3LORfeGgp7i31ey8g" rel="nofollow noopener">Spotify</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/science-for-sport-podcast" rel="nofollow noopener">Stitcher</a></li>
</ul>]]>
  </itunes:summary>
</item>
  </channel>
</rss>
