“The ‘bend don’t break’ philosophy kind of came to mind…we have to train harder than these people in front of you, harder, smarter.”
Mike Young
What You will learn
- The progression of the NWSL over recent years
- How to incorporate multiple data streams into management
- “Bend them, not break them.” Learn how Mike maximizes everything.
- The future of player healthcare for the female athlete.
Mike Young shares his journey from opening Athletic Lab to working with the North Carolina Courage in the NWSL. He discusses his background in track and field and the success he had as a coach in that sport. Mike also talks about his transition to working in soccer and the growth of the NWSL. He shares memorable moments with the Courage and defines the culture of the team.
He explains the philosophy and training standards that have earned the Courage a reputation for fitness and excellence. In this conversation, Mike Young discusses the importance of training control and progression in team sports. He explains how he determines the bend point, or the point at which athletes are pushed to their limits without breaking. Mike also shares his experience in developing a load management system and bringing structure to team sports training.
He emphasizes the need for individualization and the use of machine learning in monitoring and adjusting workload. Additionally, he addresses the challenges of ACL injuries in female athletes and the impact of tournaments and games on player health. The conversation concludes with a discussion on finding small wins for high performance.
Listen here – Finding Small Wins Podcast:
022 | Mike Young: Bridging Biomechanics & Physiology in Soccer
Key Takeaways
- Training control and progression are crucial in team sports to ensure athletes are pushed to their limits without breaking.
- A load management system that incorporates various data streams can help monitor and adjust workload effectively.
- Individualization and machine learning play a significant role in optimizing training programs for athletes.
- Educating and getting buy-in from coaches and players is essential for implementing effective training strategies.
- The high incidence of ACL injuries in female athletes may be attributed to the increased number of tournaments and games.
- Finding small wins consistently and being consistent in self-care and treatment of others is key to maintaining high performance.
episode timeline
00:00 Introduction and Background
02:16 Opening Athletic Lab and Working with Track and Field Athletes
03:14 Opportunity in Soccer and Joining a Pro Club
06:06 Transition to Vancouver Whitecaps and Return to Athletic Lab
08:29 Working with the North Carolina Courage
14:30 Memorable Moments with the Courage
26:23 Philosophy and Training Standards of the Courage
32:17 Training Control and Progression
33:12 Determining the Bend Point
34:18 Developing a Load Management System
35:42 Bringing Structure to Team Sports Training
36:37 Individualization and Machine Learning
38:05 Positional Demands and Fitness Levels
38:29 Monitoring and Adjusting Workload
41:32 Overlooking Training Intensity
41:57 Educating and Getting Buy-In
46:28 ACL Injuries in Female Athletes
47:30 The Impact of Tournaments and Games
54:11 Finding Small Wins for High Performance
