Science-Led Strength and Conditioning

Enhance your athletic performance.

This is U7 Performance. 

We are a highly skilled coaching team that utilises scientific research alongside professional experience to form a complete and tailored training programme to improve your athletic performance.

Our coaching team will work with you closely to understand how best to support you to achieve your goals. Through the provision of tailored training programmes, athletic monitoring and performance testing, nutrition programming, as well as sports therapy support, we will place you in the best position for you to reach your full potential.

We believe strongly in using education and knowledge as a base for continual long-term athletic improvement. As a U7 Performance Athlete you must believe the same. As you progress through your training with us, your coaching team will guide you to improve your knowledge and understanding of your own athletic performance. This will serve to help you analyse your own performances, recognise strengths and weaknesses, and understand how to remediate them. 

If you are serious about your performance, looking to improve your athleticism, or want to take the next step to amplify your sporting success, you have just found the team to take you there. 

Are you ready?

Matt Handford

  • Youth Strength and Conditioning

  • Strength Training

  • Athletic Performance and Development

  • Olympic Weightlifting

Matt holds a BSc and MSc in strength and conditioning, and is currently a PhD candidate at the University of Gloucestershire where he is investigating accelerated eccentrics.

Matt takes time to get to know his clients individually so that he can build a comprehensive and bespoke training programme that fits the clients needs. His attention to detail and research-based philosophy means that you can be sure that every session with him has a purpose towards a desired outcome.

Matt also has experience working with professional and amateur athletes in both disability and non-disability sports. Matt looks to combine scientific knowledge with that of practical strength and conditioning application to allow for improved performance.

  • (Currently) Professional Doctorate Applied Sport and Exercise Sciences

  • UKSCA Equality, Diversity and Inclusiveness Panel Member

  • MSc Strength and Conditioning

  • BSc Strength and Conditioning

  • CYQ Personal Trainer (Level 3)

Published Works:

  • Handford, M.J., Bright, T.E., Mundy, P., Lake, J., Theis, N. and Hughes, J.D., 2022. The need for eccentric speed: A narrative review of the effects of accelerated eccentric actions during resistance-based training. Sports Medicine, pp.1-23.

  • Handford, M.J.,Rivera, F.M., Maroto-Izquierdo, S., & Hughes, J.D. (2021). Plyo-Accentuated Eccentric Loading Methods to Enhance Lower Limb Muscle Power. Strength and Conditioning Journal.

  • Handford, M.J., Bright, T.E., Mundy, P. and Hughes, J., 2022. The utilisation of post-activation performance enhancement to enhance jump performance during training and sporting competition. Professional Strength & Conditioning Journal, (63), pp.19-26.

    Matthew J Handford (researchgate.net)

Contact:

(e) Matt.handford@u7gym.co.uk

(m) 07512 155145

Performance Client Testimonials.