New S&C coaches

We are excited to announce that our strength and conditioning coaches are ready for the new season! Once again, Kacper Gregorczyk will be working with the Royal Family, and he will be joined by Piotr Grabka!
Kacper is a true professional in his field. He has been with the Kings for three years, and thanks to his passion for innovative training methods, our players can improve their skills at a highly professional level.
Piotr Grabka initially joined us as an intern as part of his strength and conditioning certification course. Today, we are proud to say he is a certified coach whose dedication and knowledge are already enhancing our players’ skills. His expertise and detailed approach to every exercise help the Kings push beyond their physical limits!
Kacper and Piotrek, we’re thrilled to have you in Royal Family!

autor: Stanisław Beciński

INTERVIEW WITH COACHES

Kacper Gregorczyk

What led you to choose this career path? Tell us about your beginnings – was becoming a strength and conditioning coach your plan from the start?

It won’t be surprising if I say that sports have been a part of my life since childhood. I practiced many sports disciplines, and my last adventure as an active athlete was basketball. While attending the School of Sports Excellence in Krakow, I realized that a career as a professional athlete was not meant for me. However, I was always one of those players who enjoyed strength training, took an interest in it from an early age, and maintained good relationships with my strength and conditioning coaches. It was those coaches I had the chance to meet along the way who inspired me to pursue this career path.
I started in “my” sport—basketball—but the deeper I delved into my profession, the more athletes from other disciplines I had the chance to train. I’ve been involved in strength and conditioning for seven years, coaching American football players for the last four, and I’ve been a member of the Kraków Kings coaching staff for three years.

You’ve been with the Kings for some time now, and it seems to be a fruitful collaboration for both sides. If you had to choose one thing you’ve learned or realized during this time, what would it be?

Definitely the power of the team. I still remember my first game that I watched from the sideline, standing next to the guys. The brotherhood and bond I saw that day with the Kraków Kings stays with me at every game, practice, and even in my gym. Working with these people is pure pleasure and genuine fun. Many of them have become close friends. I know that thanks to them, I’m a different, better person.

We’ve just had the Offseason Combine, where players tested their physical capabilities. How would you assess the Kings’ current form? Are you satisfied with their performance and the event overall?

The Offseason Combine was definitely a great event. I’m glad we’re introducing new, high standards of strength and conditioning within our team. It was an opportunity for the players to show how they’ve worked since the last season ended, as well as a way to evaluate whether my previous work is delivering results and determine the next steps forward.
The guys definitely took the event seriously. For many, it was their first time undergoing such tests with advanced technology. Several players showcased excellent, even phenomenal performances. Each player’s results were analyzed, and everyone received personalized guidelines for further physical preparation for the season. We’re in a good place, but I know we can reach an even higher level. Given that our team is already known for its strong, physical style of play, I can’t wait to unleash our full potential in the 2025 season.

You approach your work professionally, with an innovative mindset, using advanced scientific knowledge about the human body. How much does strength and conditioning really influence the demands of a football season? What is the most significant advantage of a well-prepared player?

American football is what it is—collisions, falls, tackles—all involving high forces and speeds acting on the body. Add accelerations, direction changes, and jumps—all while wearing a helmet and pads. On top of that, factor in the stress of the game and the cognitive demands required to follow tactical instructions and make effective decisions on the field.
This combination creates an extremely demanding environment in which athletes must perform. Physical preparation is definitely an essential element of successfully playing this sport. The right mix of body composition, strength, power, and speed can create a physical package that performs well on the field. Considering these abilities and combining them with proper load management in training helps reduce the risk of injuries.
It’s tough to say what gives us the most significant advantage— the human body and the sports environment involve numerous aspects that need consideration. However, if I had to choose one thing, I’d say: speed kills.

PIOTR GRABKA

This is your first season with our organization—how would you rate your time with the Kings so far? Had you ever heard of American football before? What brought you to us?

Hi! As you mentioned, I’ve been with the organization for a short time. At first, I felt a bit stressed entering a new, unfamiliar environment. However, the people involved with Kraków Kings and the atmosphere within the Royal Family quickly made me feel accepted.
Although I come from a soccer background, which I played for over 10 years, I’ve been interested in sports “from across the pond” for quite some time. In my free time, I enjoy watching NFL or NBA games. The first time I heard about American football in Poland was when games were still played at the MKS Krakus field.
As for what brought me here—I was taking a strength and conditioning course and decided to look for a team where I could do an internship. I chose Kraków Kings, where I was warmly welcomed—and I’ve stayed ever since. I hope this will be the first of many seasons ahead of us.

If you had to choose one specific area of strength and conditioning that interests you the most, what would it be?

If I could choose only one thing from the broad field of strength and conditioning, it would definitely be speed and everything related to it. It’s undoubtedly one of the most important motor skills, which largely reflects an athlete’s overall level of athleticism. Strength training aimed at improving speed performance, sprint biomechanics, and running technique are the topics that interest me the most. And of course—#speedkills.
I know I was supposed to pick just one area, but I also have to mention strength training, which is an essential part of athletic development, especially in a sport like American football.

We’ve just had the Offseason Combine, where players tested their physical capabilities—how would you assess the Kings’ current form? Are you satisfied with the results and the event as a whole?

I’ll borrow the words of our Head S&C Coach, Kacper Gregorczyk: “It’s good, but it’s going to get even better.” The results are satisfying, though they still leave room for improvement. However, we must give credit to the players who put a lot of heart into their strength and conditioning training.
The most important takeaway from the tests is that we now have hard data that allows us to create precise training recommendations moving forward.