David Tenney is the High Performance Director of Austin FC, in MLS, it’s a former Master’s Student and Certified Graduate of our School, and currently is finishing our Training for Trainers Course.  He talked with us about this new age that football is currently living, where data and Performance Departments are consolidated in Football reality.

TP: Tell us a little about your current role.

David Tenney:I consider myself fortunate to have landed here in Austin FC, managing the role of High Performance Director. In this capacity, I work closely with the coaches to oversee the training program, as well as managing medical, sports science, nutrition, and psychology aspects within my department, in close collaboration with the head coach. Interestingly, the head coach was a player when I was in Kansas City, so we have a close relationship. It’s his first time as a head coach, and with my experience, I’ve been able to support him effectively.

Around the same time, I completed my PhD in organizational leadership and development. A significant portion of my research focused on complex systems and interdisciplinary teams, which has direct relevance to managing both player groups and staff effectively.

TP: Did you specifically choose that PhD program because you already knew their approach to different areas was interesting to you?

David Tenney: Yeah, it’s funny because I think you can know about science, but there’s a certain level, I think, as you become a leader, where you have to understand how to manage teams, right? And how you bring in the right people. And again, I think there’s a complex systems part of this where technology is developing very fast. Teams, how professional sports are developing very fast. The number of staff members are increasing. What you’re doing with data, how you’re communicating with players, like all of those things, there’s so much complexity (hyperlink do Master quando abrir) in that environment that doing a PhD in, let’s say, in sports science, on hamstring injury prevention, that only helps. I think it’s how we put together teams and manage teams and manage environments that really helps one be successful.

TP: Tell us a little bit about how your perception of, let’s call it, the physical side of the game, evolve over your journey as a player and then as a coach?

David Tenney: Yeah, it’s an interesting question because I think, again, I have the advantage of having been a player first and then a coach. Many people come from a sports science background without coaching experience, which can lead to linear thinking. I’ve always tried to avoid that, understanding that linear thinking doesn’t always lead to the right answers or evolution. When I first started, I remember being in university, studying coaching science just before going to the Czech Republic. There was a group of Norwegian researchers, Hoff, Helgerud, and Wisloff, focusing on improving VO2 max in a football-specific way. They proposed methods like squats for strength improvement and four-by-four minute smal sided game drills for VO2 max enhancement. It seemed like a straightforward approach, and at the time, I thought I had all the answers.

But over time, I realized that it’s not that simple. There are many factors influencing the training process. When I went to the Czech Republic and learned about their five-day microcycle, which included recovery, high-intensity, endurance, and tactical fuctional days, I started questioning the effectiveness of such rigid structures. I can’t pinpoint the exact moment, but I began to understand that while these methods might work, they don’t guarantee success all the time.

Additionally, being around exceptionally talented players changed my perspective on how individuals respond to training.

TP: How you see now (David was our Master student) the scientific fundamentals of Tactical Periodization® and the relation with sports science?

David Tenney: Yes, absolutely. At its core, Tactical Periodization® is heavily rooted in science, right? And that’s what I find fascinating. In our class last year, we listened to the Rui Faria podcast, which I believe should be essential listening for anyone on these courses. He emphasizes the importance of science in Tactical Periodization®, but it’s not always the type of science we might initially think of. It’s the science of neuroscience (hyperlink do Master quando abrir), it’s the science of António Damásio and emotions, as well as understanding what’s happening within the game. It’s about comprehending the physical demands of the game and then understanding how athletes respond dynamically and non-linearly. I think this perspective allows you to step back and reevaluate things.

In that podcast, Rui Faria makes some provocative statements, especially regarding GPS and sports science. He emphasizes his belief in science and suggests that neuroscience might be the most crucial aspect of understanding football players—how they process information, learn, and perceive the game. So, from that standpoint, science is indeed crucial. And all aspects of science, beyond just physical outputs, are vital when trying to understand those physical outputs.

TP: Considering how the technical staff has experienced significant growth in the last decade. Now, it’s a much more complex landscape. The outcome, which is training, has become a much more intricate process because it involves not only different people but also different perspectives on how to approach training. What is your opinion?

Don’t miss David Tenney’s answer in next week’s article.

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KEYWORDS: TACTICAL PERIODIZATION; TRAINING; FOOTBALL; SOCCER; SPORTS SCIENCE; GPS.