Are we training athletes into Achilles injuries?

Dan Pfaff explains how overemphasizing concentric calf work and neglecting loaded lengthened positions can lead to Achilles injuries.

A lot of athletes look strong in the weight room but fragile in the moments that expose the Achilles. One reason: too much concentric calf work and not enough loading in lengthened positions. Dan highlights the pattern he sees across sport. Many programs build strength with endless calf raises and isolated foot work, but very little training where the tendon must hold tension as it lengthens. That bias shows up on the field as rapid heel drop, high shank velocity, fast dorsiflexion, and no isometric “stop point”. When those ingredients combine at speed, the tendon is at risk. The problem isn’t a lack of effort. It’s a lack of alignment between the strength we train and the mechanics athletes need. This is why The Coaching Eye teaches coaches not only how to spot the risk – the shin roll, the loss of isometric control, the compensations that show up in early steps – but also how to intervene. The intervention module and live sessions address how to choose tasks, constraints, and loading strategies that reinforce the control patterns athletes must rely on under real speed. If you want to recognise these patterns early and build interventions that actually change them, The Coaching Eye shows you how. The first 2026 Coaching Eye cohort begins January 10, building the skillset to observe with clarity, interpret confidently, and guide athletes through movement problems. 🚨 Secure your spot: loom.ly/NK783K8