Learn about Alex Calder and his work in sports as the Head of Sports Science for Houston Dynamo FC.
Alex Calder recently took some time from his busy schedule as the Head of Sports Science at Houston Dynamo FC to tell us about his role and career journey.
About Alex Calder
Nationality: Australian
Current Role: Head of Sports Science
Residence: United States of America
About Alex’s Head of Sports Science role
Oversee player monitoring, design and deliver strength programs, coordinate end-stage rehab.
How do your roles contribute to the overall goals of the organisations?
With the club’s primary objective to win games, there is a demand for high player availability.
My role at the club is to utilize all of the performance department’s resources to minimize the risk of injury.
By having all player’s fit and healthy for game-day selection, the club’s chances of winning are maximized.
How did you acquire your current roles?
I was recruited by the club’s Performance Director, Paul Caffrey.
“My role at the club is to utilize all of the performance department’s resources to minimize the risk of injury.”
What typical equipment, tools & technologies do you use to achieve great outcomes in your work?
Aside from the standard gym equipment, we use Catapult GPS devices and the NordBord and ForceFrame by Vald Performance.
The objective information we obtain from these tools allows us to be proactive in decisions regarding player health and welfare.
What methodologies and standards do you incorporate in your work?
The main outcome is getting 3 points on game-day.
In conjunction with the medical department, we try to maximize players’ readiness to give them the best chance to perform on game day.
Basic communication and cohesion with the medical department allow us to monitor player fatigue as well as fitness capacities to ensure desired adaptations occur.
What’s your favourite or go to sports brands for your role in sports?
What advice would you give to anyone wanting to be in your role in the future?
The most important advice I can give is to continue to learn. Do what you can to learn from the best practitioners in the game, and continue to remain humble.
Sometimes doing the simple well is better than trying to reinvent the wheel.
“I was lucky enough to work with National Ice Hockey players in preparation for the world championships”
What are some key successes or personal milestones you’ve achieved in your career?
The main success I have had is being exposed to a variety of athletes preparing for different levels of competition.
Specifically, I was lucky enough to work with National Ice Hockey players in preparation for the world championships.
A few years later, I was able to coach some Olympians in preparation for the Rio 2016 Summer Olympics.
Working with icons in football, such as Kaka and DaMarcus Beasley, has been a personal milestone.
Coaching players that I used to watch as a kid growing up has certainly been a humbling experience.
What’s some advice or knowledge you wish you had been aware of earlier in your career?
I wish I was aware of the number of resources available earlier in my career. For example, the many top-level practitioners who are willing to talk shop.
From your perspective, who are some success stories you look up to and why?
Other Australians that have succeeded on the world stage of football is very inspiring to me. Guys like Darren Burgess and Phil Coles have amazing stories of their journeys in elite football.
“I am a big fan of the German Bundesliga and Scottish Premiership”
What regions of the world and specific organisations you’d like to be part of during your career?
I think the European leagues are appealing. I am a big fan of the German Bundesliga and Scottish Premiership.
What types of roles would you like to be doing in the future during your career?
High Performance Manager
More about Alex Calder and his work in the international football industry.
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