May 2010 Blog Posts (23)

The idea of “striking a balance” is one that I’ve supported for quite sometime, and it seems that in the process of doing so, I’ve been misunderstood by several individuals. For clarification, when I say

balance, I am referring to the appropriate mix of training components

to optimize performance in a specific sport or event group–running,

sprinting, paces, jumping, mobility, flexibility, strength, power,

therapy, etc–and not the ability to maintain…

Head injuries in sports are an epidemic – and Mike Gittleson is sticking his neck out to do something about it.

Gittleson believes the concussion risk for men and women can be reduced through what should be a tenet of any training program: neck-strengthening exercises.

Gittleson, though, has learned first-hand that most schools don’t place nearly the same…

While there is much made lately about training movements and not muscles, and many place a higher credence in neurodevelopmental/neurological

approaches to patterning (I am one), I still believe that there should

be importance placed upon the kinesiological approach if for nothing

else than simply understanding movement better.…

Last week I wrote a bit about the overreaction to the “core stability” issue, today I’ll talk a bit about the idea of dorsiflexing whilst running. For those who don’t know what I’m talking about, this

is in relation to the idea that many strength and conditioning coaches

cue athletes to dorsiflex your ankle during sprinting. While it sounds

nice and gives a coach a reason to stand there, does it even matter and

if yes, why?

A common answer is one I…

A while ago I wrote an article detailing two “must own” training interventions called “core competencies.” In summary, a core competency is something that a person or company sees central to the

way they get things done.

After writing that article, I thought it would be interesting to identify what “core competencies” must be met before an athlete should utilize X, Y, or Z exercise. In essence, it is simply discussing a

matter of early-stage progressions to…

In 15 years working in strength and conditioning, Jim has worked with notable athletes such as Jalen Rose, Antonio Gates, Willie Green and Paris Lenon to improve their performance.

Listen in as Jim talks about:

• How he went from a college strength coach to running his own facility
• The different “mind set” he needed to create a successful training business
• What it takes on a day-to-day…

3rd Annual Baylor University Athletic Performance Clinic



When: Saturday, June 5th



Schedule



• 8:30 – Registration

• 9:00 – Welcome and Staff Introduction



Kaz Kazadi, Asst. AD for Athletic Performance, Baylor University

• 9:15 – Coaching the Coach



Andrew…

In honor of the passing of legendary track coach, Charlie Francis I spent some time yesterday and this morning re-reading The Charlie Francis Training System and picked up a gem from the regeneration

chapter.

Before I get into that point, I have to credit Charlie with his excellent utilization of a multidisciplinary performance paradigm for his athletes. The…

The transverse abdominis is a cool muscle. It originates at the iliac crests, inguinal ligaments, lumbar fascia, and the lower six ribs and inserts into the xiphoid process, the linea alba, and the pubis.

It is a muscle that some call a local stabilizer, others call the inner

unit, and others call the holy grail. Unfortunately, in the past

decade with the “core training” obsession, much of the TA talk and

training has been less than…

The emphasis of “core” training and particularly the emphasis on training the core as an anti-rotation, anti-flexion, and anti-extension entity has reached a point where we have overreacted and, as coaches,

may potentially be harming our athletic development. Now don’t get me

wrong, I’m not coming down and saying that we are over emphasizing core

training and that we shouldn’t be training it in the weight room with

respect to said functions. Instead, I’m asserting that…