Summary In this episode of 'Two Coaches and a Coffee', hosts Jason Weber and Darren discuss the evolving landscape of coaching, the importance of side hustles in the sports community, and the rising trends in sports injuries, particularly focusing on tendon health. They are joined by guest Alec Buttfield, who shares insights on load management in baseball and the challenges of quantifying hidden loads in AFL. The conversation delves into the impact of fatigue on performance and the necessity of ...
Jun 24, 2025•24 min
Summary In this podcast, Jason Weber discusses the intricacies of athletic performance and the importance of individualized training programs. He emphasizes the need for coaches to understand the unique characteristics of each athlete and how technology, like SpeedSig, can aid in this understanding. Insights from renowned coach Stu McMillan are highlighted, showcasing a coaching philosophy that prioritizes athlete individuality over a one-size-fits-all approach. The discussion also touches on th...
Jun 19, 2025•16 min
Summary In this conversation, Jason Weber discusses the complexities of asymmetry in athletic recovery, emphasizing the importance of understanding an athlete's unique signature and the role of technology in measuring performance. He critiques traditional methods of assessing recovery and advocates for a data-driven approach to rehabilitation, particularly through his company, SpeedSig. The discussion highlights the need for accurate measurements to inform recovery strategies and improve athleti...
Jun 07, 2025•16 min
Summary In this episode of 'Two Coaches and a Coffee', Jason Weber and Darren Burgess discuss various aspects of sports coaching, focusing on themes of humility, team dynamics, mental resilience, and the importance of training volume versus intensity. They share insights from their experiences in the AFL and with the Socceroos, emphasizing the challenges athletes face, including travel and performance pressure. The conversation highlights the significance of mental toughness and resilience in ac...
Jun 04, 2025•22 min
Summary In this episode, Jason Weber discusses the critical role of humility in leadership within high-performance sports. He emphasizes the importance of collaboration, communication, and mentorship among professionals in the field. Jason shares insights on how to effectively work with others, the significance of sharing knowledge, and the need for humility in leadership roles. He encourages listeners to bring their intellect and experience while also being open to learning from others, ultimat...
Jun 02, 2025•12 min
Professional coaches face immense pressure from above, with owners and board members often questioning decisions without understanding the complex factors involved. We explore strategies for managing these challenging relationships and discuss new approaches to measuring athletic workload across different competitive environments. • Building a strong career in sports coaching requires significant work and sacrifice • Owners can create inappropriate pressure, as seen when Nottingham Forest's owne...
May 24, 2025•18 min•Season 3Ep. 12
Drop us a message and let us know what you'd like us to discuss! Every sports season has a rhythm—the excitement of early games, the midseason grind, and the intensity of the final stretch. In this candid conversation, two veteran coaches unpack the challenges of navigating that critical middle phase when, as they perfectly describe it, you're "in the back straight, already full of acid" like a 400-meter runner realizing there's still a long way to go. Drawing from decades of experience working ...
May 05, 2025•33 min•Season 3Ep. 11
Drop us a message and let us know what you'd like us to discuss! SpeedSig Intro Sponsored by SPEEDSIG.com
May 01, 2025•30 min•Season 3Ep. 10
Drop us a message and let us know what you'd like us to discuss! Darren Burgess and Jason Weber examine the personal cost of high-paying jobs in sports performance and why professional standards should never waver regardless of who you're coaching. • AFL running data shows interesting trends in team performance • High-paying positions in sport come with significant personal costs • Work-life balance on social media often presents a deceptive snapshot • Career progression may require sacrifices e...
Apr 26, 2025•25 min•Season 3Ep. 9
Drop us a message and let us know what you'd like us to discuss! After an unplanned hiatus, Burgo and Jase Weber dive straight into one of the most practical yet rarely discussed topics in sports performance: contract negotiations for strength and conditioning coaches. Drawing from decades of combined experience across multiple elite sporting environments worldwide, they unpack the essential elements that should be considered when putting pen to paper.<br><br>The conversation provide...
Apr 17, 2025•35 min•Season 3Ep. 8
Drop us a message and let us know what you'd like us to discuss! Ever wondered what really happens when professional athletes face extreme heat during competition? Or how a simple change in playing surface can derail weeks of careful preparation? This candid conversation between two high-performance coaches pulls back the curtain on the realities of managing elite athletes during the demanding first round of the AFL season. From thermoregulation strategies in 35°C+ temperatures to the surprising...
Mar 20, 2025•25 min•Season 3Ep. 7
Drop us a message and let us know what you'd like us to discuss! The coaches discuss managing ambitious staff in high-performance environments and the challenge of balancing career progression with proper skill development. They explore approaches for developing both expertise and the ability to effectively manage multidisciplinary teams. • Young coaches often want to advance quickly without developing adequate depth of knowledge • Understanding mechanical principles behind training methods is e...
Mar 07, 2025•21 min•Season 3Ep. 6
Drop us a message and let us know what you'd like us to discuss! We delve into the complexities of hamstring injuries and explore an alternative narrative behind recurrence in athletes. Through an analysis of an AFL re-injury hypothetical, we examine current training philosophies and propose a re-evaluation of how athletes prepare for return to play. • Examining AFL hamstring injury and recovery • Investigating traditional sports rehabilitation methods • Exploring the role of data and technology...
Feb 28, 2025•15 min•Season 3Ep. 5
Drop us a message and let us know what you'd like us to discuss! A thought-provoking discussion unfolds around the critical relationship between sports science and coaching, addressing the fine line between data interpretation and practical application in conditioning athletes. We explore the disconnect between coaches and performance scientists, their communication hurdles, and the importance of collaboration in optimizing player readiness. • Critique of sports science by prominent football fig...
Feb 19, 2025•19 min•Season 3Ep. 4
Drop us a message and let us know what you'd like us to discuss! The episode delves into the intertwining themes of culture, performance, and leadership within the context of the Indigenous All-Stars game. It explores the challenges athletes face regarding performance metrics, cultural significance, and job interview processes, emphasizing the importance of preparation, connection, and personal growth in these contexts. • Discussion of the Indigenous All-Stars game and its significance • The cul...
Feb 15, 2025•29 min•Season 3Ep. 3
Drop us a message and let us know what you'd like us to discuss! In this episode, we explore the complexity of injuries in the AFL, questioning whether short preseasons are a factor in the increasing number of athletic injuries. We discuss training intensity, the evolution of the game, and the importance of professional development for coaches. • Analysis of recent injuries within the AFL landscape • Discussion of the implications of short preseason training • Examination of explosive gameplay a...
Feb 07, 2025•30 min•Season 3Ep. 2
Drop us a message and let us know what you'd like us to discuss! In our first podcast back for 2025, we explore the unique challenges faced by professional athletes during their training, including the impact of holiday breaks and irregular schedules on performance and injury rates. The episode highlights the shared responsibility between athletes and coaches, emphasizing the importance of communication, monitoring loads, and maintaining wellness. • The value of breaks in team sports and their i...
Jan 30, 2025•28 min•Season 3Ep. 1
Drop us a message and let us know what you'd like us to discuss! Discover the transformative impact of the AFL's three-week break on work-life balance for staff and players in our latest special on Two Coaches and a Coffee. Join us as we promise to unravel the key lessons from our exciting trips across the UK and US, visiting legendary football clubs like Arsenal, Manchester United, and Liverpool, as well as the MLS Performance Association. Along the way, we explore the powerful influence of per...
Dec 23, 2024•25 min•Season 2Ep. 46
Drop us a message and let us know what you'd like us to discuss! How do top-tier sports teams navigate the complexities of continuity and youth development amid the ever-changing landscape of management changes? Join us as we promise to uncover the secrets behind this challenge alongside the insights of our special guests, Darren Burgess and Jason Weber. From the bustling PSPA event in Fort Lauderdale to the hallowed grounds of the English Premier League, we journey through the intricate web of ...
Dec 12, 2024•27 min•Season 2Ep. 45
Drop us a message and let us know what you'd like us to discuss! This week we explore the intriguing intersection of performance and medical roles in sports. Through engaging anecdotes and real-world scenarios, we unpack the delicate balance necessary to keep athletes at their peak while avoiding the pitfalls of working in silos. Learn how valuing people over models enhances collaboration and optimizes athlete care, as demonstrated by pioneering individuals like Jack Inman and Mitchell White who...
Dec 02, 2024•28 min•Season 2Ep. 44
Drop us a message and let us know what you'd like us to discuss! Ever wondered how leaders in high-performance sports environments manage the intense pressure of balancing demands from both senior coaches and their teams? Discover how tools like DISC personality profiles can be harnessed to decode team dynamics and manage dominant traits effectively. Gain practical strategies for maintaining composure in high-pressure situations, and learn the art of honest communication with senior coaches, eve...
Nov 27, 2024•20 min•Season 2Ep. 43
Drop us a message and let us know what you'd like us to discuss! Unlock the secrets of effective staff management and leadership with insights from the Exercise and Sports Science Australia Human Performance Management Think Tank. Ever wondered how understanding personality profiles can revitalize team dynamics? Join us as we explore real-world experiences from diverse clubs, revealing how a "leader's eye" can transform your ability to read interpersonal dynamics and harness the unique strengths...
Nov 25, 2024•21 min•Season 2Ep. 42
Drop us a message and let us know what you'd like us to discuss! Unlock the secrets of exceptional leadership in athletic performance with our latest episode, featuring insights from notable industry figures. We promise you'll learn how to cultivate credibility and influence before they're needed, through engaging hypotheticals and empathy exercises. As we reflect on recent events like the AFL draft, we stress the importance of establishing a solid foundation for leadership roles, enriched by an...
Nov 23, 2024•21 min•Season 2Ep. 41
Drop us a message and let us know what you'd like us to discuss! Unlock the secrets to more effective sports performance as discuss the complex landscape of inference versus fact in sports science and conditioning. Ever wondered how missteps in methodology can lead to repeated injuries? This episode promises to challenge your understanding and urge you to adopt a more critical, fact-based approach. As we navigate the nuances of performance monitoring, from eccentric hamstring tests to leveraging...
Nov 20, 2024•21 min•Season 2Ep. 40
Drop us a message and let us know what you'd like us to discuss! Unlock the secrets of strength and conditioning as we recount our experiences from the action-packed ASCA annual international conference in Brisbane. You'll discover how cutting-edge research is transforming the industry, from using the Apple Watch to correlate sleep with athletic performance to innovative sub-max testing in AFLW. Listen in as experts like Christian Bose and David Watts share their unique insights on cycling struc...
Nov 12, 2024•33 min•Season 2Ep. 39
Drop us a message and let us know what you'd like us to discuss! This episode dives headfirst into the art of blending audience desires with crucial knowledge, ensuring that even those new to the field walk away with actionable insights. You'll learn how sharing personal stories and mistakes isn't just cathartic but a vital teaching tool, especially in an era where social media influences conference dynamics significantly. But that's not all—prepare to be inspired by Saquon Barkley's jaw-droppin...
Nov 05, 2024•31 min•Season 2Ep. 38
Drop us a message and let us know what you'd like us to discuss! Unlock the secrets of transforming a PhD into a decade of career opportunities with doctors Darren Burgess and Jason Weber on Two Coaches in a Coffee. Discover how groundbreaking research and original work can be a launchpad for success, and hear personal stories of turning academic insights into thriving business ventures. We also pull back the curtain on the often-conflicting world of radiological and clinical evaluations in spor...
Oct 31, 2024•29 min•Season 2Ep. 37
Drop us a message and let us know what you'd like us to discuss! Fresh from an invigorating trip to the UK, Darren shares enlightening conversations with notable figures Dave Carrolan and Dave Tenney, uncovering the relentless grind in professional sports. The reality behind the glamour is a world fraught with instability, where even top-tier professionals face sudden job losses and the tumultuous challenge of uprooting families. We shed light on the unseen grind of the sports industry, painting...
Oct 22, 2024•25 min•Season 2Ep. 36
Drop us a message and let us know what you'd like us to discuss! Unlock the secrets to mastering high-performance management with Dr. Jason Weber, as he reveals his journey toward becoming an effective leader in interdisciplinary settings. Drawing inspiration from Jim Collins' "Good to Great," Dr. Weber shares powerful strategies for confronting harsh realities and emphasizes the importance of assembling the right team and cultivating diverse perspectives. Delve into the art of clear communicati...
Oct 19, 2024•42 min•Season 2Ep. 35
Drop us a message and let us know what you'd like us to discuss! Unlock the secrets to building a high-performance unit as I, Jason Webber, guide you through this illuminating episode of Two Coaches and Coffee. Have you ever wondered how understanding external influences can shape your professional success? We dive into the concept of "know thy enemy" — not in the literal sense, but as a strategy to identify and comprehend the dynamics of those who impact your environment. We'll navigate the nua...
Oct 15, 2024•32 min•Season 2Ep. 34
