How to Develop Speed and Agility That Transfers to On-Pitch Performance with James Nolan

🚀 Speed and agility can be the difference in winning and losing—but are you training them effectively?In this episode, we sit down withJames Nolan, First-Team Strength & Conditioning Coach at Cardiff Rugby, to break down how to develop speed and agility that actually transfers to game performance.With a background spanning rugby, football, and elite athlete development, James shares insights into:🏃 Why many S&C coaches struggle with speed & agility training.🏉 How to develop speed and agility that transfers to game based improvements to team sports.📊 The key physical qualities behind acceleration, deceleration & change of direction.🔄 The role of gym training vs. on-field drills in developing faster athletes.⚡ How return-to-play protocols can rebuild speed & confidence post-injury.If you're a coach, or practitioner looking to learn more about making your athletes faster, bridge the gap between the gym and on-pitch performance, this episode is packed with practical insights!Key Takeaways & Timestamps📌 0:00 – How James Nolan built his career in elite S&C📌 3:00 – Why coaches struggle with speed & agility training📌 7:30 – How gym-based training impacts sprinting & agility📌 12:00 – Developing acceleration, deceleration, and change of direction📌 18:00 – Open vs. closed agility drills: When and how to use them📌 24:00 – Why warm-ups are a hidden weapon for speed & movement skill📌 30:00 – Return-to-play protocols: How to safely rebuild speed after injury📌 37:00 – How to make agility drills more game-relevant📌 45:00 – James’ advice for grassroots coaches developing young athletesLinks & Resources📩 Connect with James Nolan on LinkedIn🔔 Subscribe for More! Found this episode helpful? Like, subscribe, and hit the bell icon for more interviews with elite coaches and sports practitioners.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠: athleticskillseducationEmail: info@athleticskills.co.uk#SpeedTraining #Agility #StrengthAndConditioning #AthleteDevelopment #Rugby #SportsScience #Coaching Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices