Brian Buck on the Intersection Between Sports Science and Coaching

Brian Buck grew up a huge sports fan. The love of sports eventually parlayed itself into an opportunity to play college baseball in Southern California, and eventually, play in the minor leagues. This experience in professional baseball led him to the field of sports performance, working as a coach and trainer for several teams and organizations such as the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, Boras Sports Training Institute, and Nike. Today, Brian is the Performance Analyst and Director of Sports for Sparta Science, an organization dedicated to the application of diagnostic software for athletes. Brian joins me today to discuss the processes and methods they use at Sparta Science. He shares his experience working in professional baseball and explains why coaches should not evaluate their athletes using a single metric. He explains how to determine if an athlete has enough strength, and how monitoring data can help expedite a player’s recovery time. Last but not least, we chat about the current state of the return-to-play process, and how that fits into his training and coaching philosophy.   Data doesn’t only help coaches look at movements differently. It also helps athletes know if they’re improving and celebrate those small victories and outcomes. – Brian Buck   This week on the Physical Preparation Podcast: * Brian’s background and how he pivoted from professional baseball to sports science * The injuries Brian sustained during his baseball career * The evaluation and assessment process at Sparta Science * How Sparta Science uses its force plates and software to evaluate clients * How Sparta Science determines if an athlete or client is at risk * Why you shouldn’t assess an athlete using a single metric * Brian’s training and coaching philosophy * How Brian assesses if a baseball player has enough strength * How data changes Brian’s coaching methods * How monitoring data can help the return-to-play process * Areas of improvement in sports rehabilitation * The biggest lesson Brian has learned while working in professional baseball   Connect with Brian: * Sparta Science * Brian Buck on Twitter * Brian Buck on Instagram * Brian Buck on LinkedIn   Momentous: The Cleanest Recovery Products in the World Momentous is a world-renowned sports performance and recovery supplement. Preferred by top-level athletes in the NFL, NBA, NHL, and NCAA, Momentous is NSF and Informed Sports Certified. Experience the best-tasting, cleanest recovery products in the world and take your performance to the next level. Choose Momentous. For more information on Momentous or to place your first order, visit www.livemomentous.com/robertson – use the coupon code: Robertson20 at checkout to receive 20% off your first order or receive a free 3-pack sample.   Subscribe, Rate & Share! Thanks for tuning into this week’s episode of The Physical Preparation Podcast – your one-stop-shop for fitness trainers, coaches, and athletes. If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe on ​iTunes​, ​Stitcher​, and ​SoundCloud ​