Nick Winkelman (Head of Athletic Performance & Science for Irish Rugby Football Union)

Episode 50: Andy McDonald chats to Nick Winkelman the head of athletic performance & science for the Irish Rugby Football Union. His primary role is to oversee the delivery and development of strength & conditioning and sports science across all national (Men’s and Women’s XV’s and 7’s) and provincial teams (Leinster, Munster, Connacht, and Ulster). Nick was previously the director of education and training systems for EXOS (formerly Athletes’ Performance), located in Phoenix, AZ. At EXOS Nick oversaw the speed and assessment component of the EXOS NFL Combine Development Program and supported many athletes across the NFL, MLB, NBA, National Sports Organizations, and Military. Nick has also completed his Ph.D. through Rocky Mountain University of Health Professions with a dissertation focus on motor skill learning and sprinting. In this episode Andy and Nick will be primarily discussing topics from his recent book – The Language of Coaching. 

In this episode Andy and Nick discuss: 

• Nicks background 
• The language of coaching 
• Discussing how rather than what 
• The coach & athlete relationship 
• Cueing 
• Understanding athletes information needs
• Monitoring language
• Moving to Ireland