NSCA’s Coaching Podcast. Episode 95
Alex Calder, Head of Sports Science for the Houston Dynamo Major League Soccer (MLS) team, talks to the NSCA Coaching and Sport Science Program Manager, Eric McMahon, about sports science data driving better decisions on and off the field. Topics under discussion include the importance of traditional strength training for soccer players, as well as, the variety of strength and conditioning opportunities there are to gain experience from at the high school, college, private, and professional level of sports.
Physical Preparation Podcast
Alex’s career path and his first taste of the US after coming from Australia
The power of going back to basics and how Alex trains soccer players to compete for the higher-levels
Why not all athletes are equal and how Alex trains young and old athletes
Degrees of freedom and granting some clients or athletes some autonomy in training
Alex’s program design approach for in-season and off-season training and how it has evolved over time
The goals of training during off-seasons and how they’re different from in-season training
Shifting an athlete’s qualities to help them perform at a higher level
What Blood Flow Restriction is and why you may want to incorporate it into their training
The role of Blood Flow Restriction in recovery and return to play
The 30-15-15-15 Protocol, what it looks like, and why it’s important
The epidemiology of hamstring pulls in football and ways to prevent hamstring injuries
Minimal effective dosage and why I believe in trying an exercise yourself first before giving it to your client or athletes
