Q&A with Mike Carolan: S&C Coach and Sports Rehab
This week we thought we would do something a little bit different and interview and introduce one of our guest collaborators Mike.
Mike qualified in Sport Rehab in 2006, studied an MSc in Sport and Exercise Biomechanics in 2008-2010 after an ACL rupture playing football. In addition to this, he completed certs in nutrition and S&C throughout his 15 years career to date. Currently, Mike works at the University of Salford as a full-time lecturer in Sport Rehabilitation. He is also lead performance coach for Andrew Robertson, the 2020 GB 60m Indoor Sprint Champion. Finally, he also works across all age groups with England and GB Basketball.
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So Mike, tell us a bit about your involvement with Basketball?
Initially, I worked with GB Basketball’s women under 20’s team in 2010. Following this, I then worked with Karl Brown and Steve Bucknall in 2011 with England under 18’s. Mike stepped away from Basketball for a few years until coming back in 2019. This was to work with England under 15’s ETP, travelling to Copenhagen. The girl’s team won a bronze medal. He then worked with the women’s senior team, men’s senior team before travelling to Italy and Israel with the Men’s under 20 GB team who finished 8th in the European Championships – their highest ever finish.
What’s your philosophy when it comes to S&C?
Good question, my core fundamental is to enhance their better qualities, improve those qualities that are lacking but are needed for performance and subsequently minimise injury risk – this is done through ongoing education and empowerment of each and every athlete.
Lockdowns have been difficult for ballers, not being able to train on court and gyms being closed. What would be your basic advice to keep up their strength and conditioning?
This sounds simple, but maintaining the physical qualities needed for basketball has to be at the core of any program during the lockdown and needs to be complemented with dedication and consistency. Any program looks great but it’s actually the getting on and doing it during lockdown that’s the hard part. Many athletes from sports and the general public have really struggled with this during the lockdown.
The downside is we should be prepared for 4 quarters of play – do the maths!?….
How can players (coaches and officials) best prepare for their return to the game?
With this in mind, we need a prep phase (ideally during lockdown and just after lockdown). Then a ‘preseason’ needs to be established. This should then be followed by smaller games, with shorter quarters. All of this should be run parallel to strength and conditioning sessions to compliment the gradual increase back towards “normal”.
Many players/teams have had to adapt to the lockdown and utilise video consultations for skills sessions. Have you been able to adapt S&C sessions without being able to see your athletes face to face?
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Some players enthusiasm may have waned when it comes to training. Do you have any tips for keeping your athletes motivated during this time?
“Hold fast, stay true” – this is a saying used by the Marines and many other special forces groups, it was a saying adopted by USA women’s football – one of the most successful teams in the world.
Have you come across any benefits from training in lockdown?
You just have to solve problems, rather than create them.
One thing we have discussed in the past is the difference in needs between male and female athletes when it comes to training. What are the key differences to account for?
Other than the training side of S&C, are there any other elements you focus on?
Education, education, education and not just school. Learning bout themselves, the game, the coaches and team around them, the world and so forth. It’s also key to find balance and have interests outside basketball. Studies have shown the idea of the 24-hour athlete that’s only focussed on that one thing can be detrimental to development. In fact, the consequences in the studies were pretty significant for some.
Michael Jordan didn’t love basketball, he loved winning – at cards, golf and so on.