282: AI in the Weight Room: Jacob Rothman on the Future of Velocity-Based Training

This week on the Science for Sport Podcast, host Richard Graves sits down with Jacob Rothman, founder of Perch and now Head of Strength at Catapult, to explore how camera-based, AI-driven technology is changing strength and conditioning, velocity-based training, and athlete monitoring in elite sport.

Jacob shares the journey from an MIT startup to being trusted by pro teams, collegiate programs, and the military, and how the recent Catapult acquisition of Perch is creating a seamless ecosystem that connects weight-room data with on-field performance metrics.

What you’ll learn in this episode

• How camera-based velocity-based training (VBT) is revolutionising athlete monitoring.




• Why closing the feedback loop in the weight room is a game-changer for S&C coaches and sports scientists.




• Real-world insights: how LSU Football leveraged Perch to fuel a national championship season.




• What the Catapult–Perch integration means for the future of athlete data and performance analytics.




• The challenges and lessons of building a hardware-software platform for elite sport.

About Jacob Rothman

Jacob Rothman co-founded Perch at MIT after a back injury inspired him to find a safer, smarter way for athletes to train. Since 2017, Perch has become a trusted solution for pro teams, collegiate programs, and elite training facilities, capturing over 500 million reps in the weight room. In June 2025, Catapult acquired Perch to bring non-invasive, AI-powered strength analytics into its global athlete performance ecosystem. Today, Jacob leads Strength at Catapult, driving innovation in integrated performance and health solutions.

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