Firstbeat Sports Podcast

Roman Fomin is the Director of Sport Science at the Ultimate Fighting Championship. He is based at the UFC APEX, a state-of-the-art, 130,000-square-foot production facility in Las Vegas that opened in 2019. Roman has a Ph.D. in Physiology and more than 20 years of experience in sports science, technology, and performance.  He has been with the UFC since 2018, and prior to that he worked as Director of Research & Science Innovations for Omegawave, and as a Senior Research Scientist for the Research Centre of Sports Medicine in Moscow. Roman’s background (2:00)Roman’s role in UFC and tools they use (3:38)Over 50 different technologies with UFC athletes - how is it balanced? (7:25)Are UFC athletes interested in their performance data? (14:08)What does Roman mean with “Biological money”? (17:31)Has Roman seen athletes out of shape before training camp, but ended up dominating UFC after camp ended? (22:20)What made Roman and UFC go with Firstbeat? (30:38)What Firstbeat metrics does Roman focus on with UFC athletes? (37:28)How much does external and psychological factors affect training data? (41:07)Roman’s career tips to young sport scientists (43:56)

Dr Tamara Hew-Butler is a podiatric physician and associate professor of Exercise and Sports Science at Wayne State University in Detroit, Michigan. Topics of this episode include hydration, internal and external load, salt intake and combining the art of coaching with science. Timestamps: Tamara’s background (1:40)Tamara’s thoughts and preferences about internal and external load (4:21)Athlete with Rhabdomyolysis - who is responsible and why does it happen? (6:47)Dangers of overhydration for athletes (9:02) Was there backlash from the episode of “Adam Ruins Everything - Why You Don't Need 8 Glasses of Water a Day”? (13:18)How did the “Adam Ruins Everything”- show find Tamara? (14:27)What liquids are the athletes having on the sideline of Wayne State Football? (16:39)If there would be an unlimited budget, what liquids Tamara would get for athletes? (17:26)Is players drinking pickle juice still a thing? (18:37)Training adjustments after pandemic and combining the art of coaching with science (20:16)Working with the new Football coach Tyrone Wheatley at Wayne State University (26:56)The reason why WSU Football got Firstbeat (27:34) Firstbeat Quick Recovery Test trends over the years (31:00)The most useful Firstbeat features and metrics for WSU Football (31:56)Analysis of different TRIMP values from last year to this year (32:50) Adam Ruins Everything - Why You Don't Need 8 Glasses of Water a Day

Steve Chouinard is Associate Athletic Director for Health and Performance at Colgate Athletics. He has been promoted from head athletic trainer to his new leadership role overseeing health and performance but also physical education, recreation and outdoor education after serving 23 years within the department. While Chouinard previously worked with nearly every sport within Colgate Athletics, most recently being the men's hockey and rowing teams, he will continue with athletic training duties for the men's golf program. In July 2019, Chouinard also received a Maroon Citation for his significant and invaluable personal contributions to Colgate University. Timestamps: Steve’s background (1:29)From Head Athletic Trainer to Associate AD for Health and Performance - what are the differences in day-to-day work? (2:47)Icing sports injuries nowadays - yes or no? (4:11)New upgrades to the Colgate Athletics facilities and it’s possibilities (6:01)Did the pandemic create any permanent changes to Athletics? (10:38)How are things looking for Ice Hockey and Basketball teams in Colgate? (11:33)Steve’s thoughts of NCAA’s Name, Image and Likeness policy (12:19)Quickfire round (15:44)What made Steve go with Firstbeat (18:07)Most useful features and metrics to use with the teams (18:43)How has using Firstbeat changed during the years with the teams? (21:05)Differences of using Firstbeat with Basketball vs Ice Hockey (21:54)If Steve could time travel, what tip would he give to himself of using Firstbeat in year one? (22:57)

Welcome to the Firstbeat Sports Podcast where we talk with coaches and sports scientists to explore the latest in performance monitoring and how it is making a difference in NCAA and pro sports alike. We’re going to connect you with practical advice from the best in the business to help you take your athletes to the next level. In this episode, we’re chatting with Katie Delude. Katie is Head Athletic Trainer at Northeastern University where she works with the women’s ice hockey team who have won five championships in a row since 2018. Timestamps: Katie’s background (1:06)Katie’s research projects (4:40)Secret sauce behind Northeastern Ice Hockey’s continuous success (7:35)Adjusting training decisions based on data findings (9:21)Is social media helping or hurting the coaching and rehab field? (11:18)What work aspects does coordinator of care entail? (12:45)Dealing with over half the spots to fill in a roster (15:42)Northeastern’s recruiting focus (16:33)Is it worth icing injuries anymore? (19:30)Quickfire questions (20:36)Changes in Firstbeat utilization between first season and latest season (22:53)Have the coaching staff ever worn a Firstbeat sensor during a game? (25:17)Goalie heart-rate data (27:08)Process of getting heart-rate data to coaches and players (28:33)The future of college hockey (29:44)Getting the most out of the data with teamwork (32:18) Would you like to listen to more content like this? Subscribe to our mailing list.

Welcome to the Firstbeat Sports Podcast where we talk with coaches and sports scientists to explore the latest in performance monitoring and how it is making a difference in NCAA and pro sports alike. We’re going to connect you with practical advice from the best in the business to help you take your athletes to the next level. On the line today is Jaime Fernandez. Jaime is the Assistant Director of Olympic Sports at the University of Arizona where he works specifically with the Wildcats Women's Basketball program. Timestamps: Jaime’s background (1:16) Recruiting processes for Wildcats Women’s Basketball (9:11) Role of sports technology in strength & conditioning (11:50) How did the pandemic influence the current season? (13:50) Did being in the bubble make coaching easier or more difficult? (17:40) Playing Stanford in the NCAA Championship (19:46) Dealing with several canceled games back-to-back (20:34) Quickfire questions (22:38) What made Wildcats choose Firstbeat? (24:23) Most important Firstbeat Sports data points and features (25:20) Training load differences between positions on the court (28:12) How did athletes accept tracking training data? (29:21) Best advice for upcoming S&C coaches (30:25)  Transcript available here (.pdf).  Would you like to listen to more content like this? Subscribe to our mailing list.

Penn State’s Assistant Director of Performance Enhancement talks about the Ice Hockey programs transition from club level to Division I, the traits of elite student-athletes, and how monitoring intensity helps build a winning program.  On the line today is Cam Davidson. Cam is Asst. Director of Performance Enhancement at Penn State where he works with the ice hockey, volleyball and track & field programs.  Topics discussed in this episode: The journey from Club to Division 1 Ice Hockey | S&C social media – the good and the bad | The value of intensity data | Honing elite talent and turning student-athletes pro | Dealing with COVID-19 protocols  >>> More information about Firstbeat Sports >>> firstbeat.com

We talk with coaches and sports scientists to explore the latest in performance monitoring and how it is making a difference in NCAA and pro sports alike. We’re going to connect you with practical advice from the best in the business to help you take your athletes to the next level. www.firstbeat.com/sports

On the line today is Stephen Volek. Stephen is the Head Strength and Conditioning Coach for the Binghamton Devils, the top minor league affiliate of the NHL’s New Jersey Devils. Topics discussed in this episode: How the team is adapting during the Coronavirus pandemic | Training programs during gruelling AHL schedule | Strategies for low game minute players | Collaborating with the New Jersey Devils | Position-specific data – what it shows >>> More information about Firstbeat Sports >>> firstbeat.com

On the line today is Martin Spohrer. Martin is Strength and Conditioning Coach at Bundesliga soccer club Eintracht Frankfurt. Topics discussed in this episode: The impact of the Coronavirus pandemic | Monitoring players remotely | Keeping players focused and motivated | Building fitness of new signings | Playing ‘ghost games’ >>> More information about Firstbeat Sports >>> firstbeat.com

On the line today is Darrell Gray. Darrell is the High Performance Director at Burke Mountain Academy, the leading ski racing academy in the United States. Topics discussed in this episode: Spotting and developing Olympic-level athletes | Balancing training and academics | Informing coaching through data | Eight key domains of high performance | Factoring in recovery into training/competition >>> More information about Firstbeat Sports >>> firstbeat.com

In this episode, we'll look back at some of the highlights from the conversations we've had with our guests over the past 10 episodes.    We'll hear from athletic trainers, strength and conditioning coaches, directors of performance, program coordinators, and the coaching staff themselves, as they offer their unique perspective and expert advice on topics ranging from load management and recovery to talent optimization and the practicalities of using data.   Over the episode, you'll hear insights from the worlds of basketball, baseball, tennis, soccer and hockey. >>> More information about Firstbeat Sports >>> firstbeat.com

On the line today is Ed Lippie. Ed works as a Senior Performance Advisor for AS Roma and is also Director of Health and Fitness at Raptor Capital Management. Topics discussed in this episode: Building a strong performance infrastructure | Balancing the art and science of coaching | Customizing individual player load | Backing up the ‘eye test’ with data | Similarities between elite athletes and private sector workers >>> More information about Firstbeat Sports >>> firstbeat.com

On the line today is Mark Egner. Mark is Associate Head Field Hockey Coach at the College of William and Mary. He’s also worked with USA Field Hockey and in with the national youth teams in his native Ireland. Topics discussed in this episode: Weekly schedule of a top 20 program | Holistic approach to athlete development | Pre-season and in-season load management | Defending from the front | Natural traits of exceptional players >>> More information about Firstbeat Sports >>> firstbeat.com

Today we’re speaking to our very own Benjamin Jensen, Firstbeat Sports Director of North American Sales & Research and the usual host of the podcast. A former coach, BJ has worked with elite sports programs for over six years through Firstbeat and will be sharing some of the insights he’s picked up along the way.  Topics Discussed in This Episode: Differences in coaching in Europe vs USA | The advances in sports science at the college level in the last 5 years | Recovery – A skill that can be developed? | How different sports use internal load data | The rise of position-specific training | The most popular Firstbeat metric, and why >>> More information about Firstbeat Sports >>> firstbeat.com

On the line today is Jen Mavis. Jen is Assistant Coach and Director of Camps and Clinics for UMBC Women’s Soccer. She has previously held positions at William & Mary and the University of Oklahoma. Topics Discussed in This Episode: The fundamentals of a successful soccer program? | Building trust between coaches and athletes | The growth of exercise science in soccer | The ‘student’ element of a student-athlete | Combining objective and subjective data | Preventing soft tissue injuries  >>> More information about Firstbeat Sports >>> firstbeat.com

On the line today is Pat Trainor. Pat is the Minor League Strength and Conditioning Coordinator with the Tampa Bay Rays where he works with the club’s four affiliate teams. He has previously spent time with the San Diego Padres and Cleveland Indians. Topics Discussed in This Episode: The complex role of an MLB minor league S&C coordinator | The difference between training programs that nurture talent vs MLB veteran program | How to adapt training programs around busy travel schedule | Individualizing training for different body types/positions | The key metrics to monitor in baseball conditioning sessions | How data influences workload and recovery decisions >>> More information about Firstbeat Sports >>> firstbeat.com

On the line today is Jeff Nevolo. Jeff is the Associate Head Coach for University of South Carolina Women’s Tennis. He is the 2018 ITA National Assistant Head Coach of the Year and has previously spent time with Air Force and Alabama.  Topics Discussed in This Episode: Learning and developing in a power conference | Using Heartrate analytics to design training | Working with international and US athletes | The end of 'no pain, no gain' training? What’s next | The impact of off-court lifestyle on student-athletes >>> More about Firstbeat Sports >>> firstbeat.com

On the line today is Andy Bliz. Andy is in his 6th year as Athletic Trainer for the University of Buffalo Men’s Basketball program. During this time, the Bulls have won 3 MAC Championships and appeared in the NCAA Tournament four times – including this year as 6 seeds. Andy holds a Bachelor's degree in Athletic Training and a Master’s degree in Sports Management. He has previously worked with the Michigan State University football program. Topics Discussed in This Episode: The day-to-day role of a DI Athletic Trainer | Techniques to secure player buy-in to monitoring | Taking a proactive rather than reactive approach to sports medicine | How data informs decisions at different stages of game week and season | Injury prevention and return to play protocols >>> More about Firstbeat Sports >>> firstbeat.com

On the line today is Henry Barrera. Henry is the Director of Performance for the Liberty Men’s Basketball program. His 14-year career in coaching and performance training has included stops at Nike World Headquarters, Concordia University and West Linn High School. Henry also trains athletes world-wide as part of his basketball and performance training company Hoop Diaries, and runs the Master Minds project connecting coaches on key industry topics.  Topics Discussed in This Episode: How to quantify individual training loads | How Firstbeat metrics are used on a daily basis | Securing athlete and coach buy-in when monitoring athletes | The four pillars of performance mindset | Henry’s unique journey from high school to a mid-major basketball program >>> More about Firstbeat Sports >>> firstbeat.com

On the line today is Michael Vaughan. Mike in his fourth year as Director of Women’s Ice Hockey Operations at Merrimack College where he also serves as the team’s Strength and Conditioning Coach. He has previously worked with the United States Women’s National Hockey Team and has spent time as a S&C coach at Mike Boyle’s Strength & Conditioning.  Topics Discussed in This Episode: Putting together a sport-specific training program | The challenge of load management in ice hockey | The critical importance of monitoring student-athlete well-being | How data can be used to empower student athletes | Advice on how best to implement technology into your program >>> More information about Firstbeat Sports >>> firstbeat.com