Deceleration testing and training: Applying the research in college football with Joey Guarascio

This week on the Pacey Performance Podcast, Rob is speaking to Head Strength and Conditioning Coach at Florida Atlantic University (FAU), Joey Guarascio. Joey has previously held positions at Colorado State, and Ole Miss before landing at FAU in 2020.

Deceleration testing and training is getting more and more attention both in research and in practice, and rightly so. Joey has recently written about his thoughts on deceleration and its this topic Rob chats with him about in this episode. We kick our discussion on how he integrates some of Damian Harper's deceleration assessments into his larger battery of tests at FAU. Joey emphasises the need for specific deceleration assessment versus thinking that a change of direction test will tell us what we need to know.

We then chat about building the qualities needed to improve deceleration ability, firstly in the weightroom and then out on the field. Joey explains how he uses eccentric training at various different levels to build the engine and then the drill he uses on the field to refine technique.

If you're looking to include deceleration assessments into your testing battery or want an insight into what exercises translate to improved deceleration ability on the field, give this a listen.

Main talking points - 

• Why deceleration so important
• How to test deceleration ability
• The qualities underpinning better deceleration performance
• On-field strategies to develop a player's deceleration performance
• Off-field strategies to develop a player's deceleration performance
• The use of eccentrics
• Sub-max eccentric exercise prescription
• Supra-max eccentric prescription
• How to maximise eccentric training strategies in team environments