Performance Health Podcast

Tim Caron

Advanced Education for Strength Coaches & Trainers performance Health Podcast was created by Tim Caron. Tim is the Author of Strength Deficit/How to Become a Strength Coach. He is the Lead Instructor and Author of the pH Certification. Tim has 20 years of experience in Strength & Conditioning experience in team and private settings. His Resume includes Co-Founder of Allegiate Gym, former Head Strength Coach for Football at Army West Point, Top Assistant Strength Coach for Football at the University of Southern California, Assistant Strength Coach for Football at Georgia Tech, and Assistant Strength Coach at Springfield College. Learn more about Tim and the pH Platform at strengthtc.com

  1. Programming Philosophy, Annual Plans, and Building a Better Weight Room with Coach Devin Young (Pitt)

    1d ago

    Programming Philosophy, Annual Plans, and Building a Better Weight Room with Coach Devin Young (Pitt)

    Programming Philosophy, Annual Plans, and Building a Better Weight Room with Coach Devin Young (Pitt) Tim Caron welcomes Coach Devin Young (University of Pittsburgh) to discuss programming workflow for group training, including how Young builds annual plans for cyclical sports like track and adapts plans for acyclical team sports like softball amid constantly changing schedules. Young outlines his process from coach meetings and intro blocks for freshmen/transfers through accumulation and intensification phases, emphasizing “low-hanging fruit” qualities (strength and speed) guided by testing, sprint timing, force plates, and isometric measures. He describes Pitt’s integrated sports science support via master’s students and walks through a typical softball Monday session from force-plate jumps and movement prep to A/B/C blocks, accessories, and cooldown. They then explore how a much larger new facility (more racks, indoor/outdoor turf, Sorinex racks) could remove bottlenecks but introduce logistical and culture/energy challenges, prompting Tim’s advice to identify constraints, request needed rack features, and “scorched earth” rethink programming while preserving team cohesion. 00:00 Podcast Intro and Guest 00:10 Products and Courses Plug 01:21 Programming Workflow Setup 01:56 Annual Plan and Blocks 04:03 Softball vs Track Constraints 06:32 Debate on Long Term Planning 08:33 Cyclical vs Acyclical Periodization 09:48 Low Hanging Fruit Testing 12:30 Sports Science Integration 14:26 Softball Session Walkthrough 18:27 Current Room Layout 19:29 Warmups And Flow 21:11 New Facility Upgrades 21:46 Racks Pins And Tools 29:56 Space Changes Culture 34:33 Explore The New Room 35:54 Jammer Arms Physics Rant 38:17 Wrap Up And Plugs

    39 min
  2. Coach Rob Jacobs on Program Design: Assessments, Nervous System State, and Making Training Actually Stick

    May 26

    Coach Rob Jacobs on Program Design: Assessments, Nervous System State, and Making Training Actually Stick

    Coach Rob Jacobs on Program Design: Assessments, Nervous System State, and Making Training Actually Stick Tim Caron hosts Coach Rob Jacobs on the Performance Health Podcast to discuss what makes a “good program,” emphasizing the importance of selecting the right inputs to achieve the desired outputs. Rob outlines his programming workflow: starting with a neural performance map questionnaire to gauge motivation and nervous system stress, followed by a biomechanical assessment that directly informs exercise selection, splits, and cycle design, then narrowing ideals to practical constraints before later adding blood work. They unpack how to interpret failed table tests, when to temporarily correct limitations, and why changes must be reinforced with deliberate strengthening at high frequency. Rob explains balancing timelines, fixing key limiting factors, progressing load/sets/intensity, using consolidation or deload strategies when performance drops, and evaluating effectiveness through phase-to-phase testing and exercise sequencing. 00:00 Show Intro and Resources 01:07 Rob Programming Workflow 01:25 Assessments That Drive Training 03:38 Interpreting Failed Tests 07:03 Quick Fixes vs Lasting Change 11:21 Unilateral Blocks and Timelines 15:19 Balancing Goals and Constraints 16:47 Case Study Fix the Weak Link 20:15 Progress Tracking and Adjustments 23:00 Load vs Intensity Explained 24:44 Tracking Load Variables 25:49 When Progress Stalls 26:51 Consolidation Week Tactics 28:23 Sending Athletes Home 29:23 Avoiding Coach Bias 31:17 Using Data To Pivot 33:10 Modifying Hepburn Method 35:00 Diagnosing Volume Vs Intensity 38:04 Exercise Variation Strategy 38:54 Measuring Program Effectiveness 40:48 Testing GPP To SPP Carryover 43:34 Realistic Progress Expectations 44:23 Course Updates And Wrap Up

    46 min
  3. Joe Pedulla on Athlete Archetypes, Force Plates, and Set-Rep Best Programming

    May 6

    Joe Pedulla on Athlete Archetypes, Force Plates, and Set-Rep Best Programming

    Coach Joe Padula on Athlete Archetypes, Force Plates, and Set-Rep Best Programming (OU Softball & Women’s Golf) Tim Caron introduces an episode of the Performance Health Podcast featuring University of Oklahoma coach Joe Padula, then they discuss Padula’s programming process for new teams by preparing for the least-prepared athlete while still individualizing through movement archetypes, body types, and simple screens like the overhead squat. They explore how concepts like infrasternal angle and expansion/compression can inform exercise selection without overcomplicating coaching, using softball and women’s golf examples and force-plate insights such as CMJ depth, eccentric braking, impulse, and propulsive power. Padula explains balancing absolute load with rep quality, avoiding compensations, and organizing athletes into training buckets while educating them with data. He details the set-rep best method to keep effort high but exertion low in-season to preserve bar speed and power, using plyos and sprinting for eccentric stimulus, and evaluating success via KPIs, health, engagement, and on-field performance. 00:00 Podcast Intro and Guest 01:06 Programming Process Overview 02:09 Assessments and Movement Archetypes 05:01 ISA Model and Sport Differences 12:45 Force Plates and Physical Qualities 16:24 Exercise Selection and Athlete Buy In 20:55 In Season Loading Philosophy 26:22 Set Rep Best Method Explained 31:14 Effort Versus Exertion 33:02 Power Expression In Season 33:57 Time Crunch And Logistics 35:15 Eccentrics Through Plyos 37:44 Sprinting Builds Hamstrings 39:54 Protecting Weight Room Time 41:22 Measuring Program Success 45:42 Winning And Accountability 48:02 Sport Specific Indicators 52:10 Self Appraisal And Balance 56:20 Closing Thoughts And Thanks

    57 min
  4. Henry Barrera (Alabama Basketball) on the 3D Programming Process: Discover, Develop, Deliver

    Apr 28

    Henry Barrera (Alabama Basketball) on the 3D Programming Process: Discover, Develop, Deliver

    Sign Up for Collective Membership: https://strengthtc.com/product/collective-membership-subscription/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=video_desc Coach Henry Barrera (Alabama Basketball) on the 3D Programming Process: Discover, Develop, Deliver Coach Barrera's IG: https://www.instagram.com/hoopdiaries/ Tim Caron hosts Coach Henry Barrera (University of Alabama men’s basketball) to break down Barrera’s approach to program design and day-to-day coaching. Barrera explains his “3D process”—Discover (assessments like Fusionetics, orthopedic screens, and performance testing), Develop (program prescription using buckets such as build, strong, and explode), and Deliver (managing training with tools like force plates and internal/external load tracking). They discuss how assessments should inform, not restrict, training; the importance of filters and frameworks for coaching decisions; and how Barrera journals to track changes and guide progressive overload. The conversation also covers balancing general-to-specific training, building athlete buy-in through communication and agency, and evaluating success through objective metrics, athlete feedback, and availability rather than wins and losses. 00:00 Podcast Welcome And Guest Intro 00:18 Resources Books And Memberships 02:40 Episode Focus Programming Principles 03:43 Henry 3D Programming Process 05:27 Discover Assessments And Tools 07:28 Using Fusionetics In Practice 11:18 Train Anyway Layered Decisions 12:42 Develop Filters Frameworks Thresholds 15:26 Journaling And On The Fly Adjustments 18:33 Teaching Assistants Decision Systems 21:27 Specificity From General To Individual 24:37 Aligning Weight Room With Basketball 28:46 Managing Multiple Programs And Trust 32:57 Milestone Wins Mindset 33:42 Cost of Doing Business 35:02 Boring Work Real Adaptation 36:07 Extreme Focus Case Studies 38:58 Premortem Reverse Engineering 41:48 Cant Versus Wont Athletes 43:14 Programming Versus Communication 48:12 Agency Trust And Choice 53:35 Measuring Coaching Impact 55:59 Accountability Beyond Wins 01:01:30 Closing Thoughts And Thanks

    1 hr
  5. Tim Caron - Start with What

    05/27/2025

    Tim Caron - Start with What

    Performance Health Podcast Season 7 Finale: Defining Your Business Vision In the final episode of season 7 of the Performance Health Podcast, Tim Caron wraps up the season by exploring the essential question for any business: What do you want? He discusses various components essential for building a successful business, such as creating a clear definition of what is meaningful to you and what can make the biggest impact. Reflecting on interviews with coaches and entrepreneurs, Tim emphasizes the importance of being an amazing coach as the foundation for business success. He also shares details about available resources, including his blogs, newsletter, and specialized courses such as the Foundations course and the Strength Deficit course. Tim also provides guidance on navigating the crossroads between the public and private sectors in strength conditioning, stressing the importance of having a clear set of goals and motivations. As a preview, Tim shares excitement for the upcoming season 8, which will focus on program design, and hints at season 9's topic on developing great coaches. 00:00 Introduction and Season Wrap-Up 00:49 Building a Business Foundation 01:03 Subscribe and Explore More Content 01:54 Introducing the Foundations Course 03:17 Understanding Your Career Path 04:52 Defining Your Goals and Motivation 11:38 Navigating Public vs. Private Sector 23:18 Client Types and Scheduling Challenges 26:00 Finding Your Coaching Niche 27:41 Navigating Seasonality in Business 28:55 Understanding Your Demographic 29:39 The Importance of Personal Stories 31:29 Balancing Work and Happiness 33:55 Choosing Your Business Model 36:40 Building Credibility and Experience 44:05 Adapting Your Philosophy and Mission 47:03 Final Thoughts and Future Plans

    51 min
5
out of 5
37 Ratings

About

Advanced Education for Strength Coaches & Trainers performance Health Podcast was created by Tim Caron. Tim is the Author of Strength Deficit/How to Become a Strength Coach. He is the Lead Instructor and Author of the pH Certification. Tim has 20 years of experience in Strength & Conditioning experience in team and private settings. His Resume includes Co-Founder of Allegiate Gym, former Head Strength Coach for Football at Army West Point, Top Assistant Strength Coach for Football at the University of Southern California, Assistant Strength Coach for Football at Georgia Tech, and Assistant Strength Coach at Springfield College. Learn more about Tim and the pH Platform at strengthtc.com

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