All Blog Posts (2,791)

Concurrent Training

While some sports primarily use one energy system (such as a cross-country athlete who primarily uses her/his aerobic system), others, such as American soccer, require excellent aerobic and anaerobic conditioning in order to maximize performance. While professionals working in sports requiring equal aerobic and anaerobic training seem to incorporate training that taxes both systems on a regular basis, I am curious about professionals working with athletes who primarily use their aerobic systems… Continue

Added by David Harris on December 11, 2008 at 5:01pm — 1 Comment

Weight Room quotes

hello coaches,
just looking for some ideas of weight room quotes that you all have up in your weight room.
I'm going to have some input as which quotes/sayings are going to be up in our new weight room and I'ld like to see what others have.
Thanks,
B

Added by Brijesh Patel on November 24, 2008 at 3:22pm — 17 Comments

Basketball training: Specialization?

Over the years strength and conditioning programs have evolved from a "one size fits all" philosophy for a more customized program that bases specific strength and conditioning exercises on the types of movements/actions an athlete performs due to her/his specific role on the field/court. For example, while most athletes on an American-style football team will perform similar exercises, there will be some strength & conditioning exercises designed specifically for linemen and others… Continue

Added by David Harris on November 21, 2008 at 9:53am — 16 Comments

Baseball: Strengthening the throwing arm

Those not familiar with strength training as it relates to baseball athletes (or athletes in other sports requiring overhead throwing) may believe that the secret to improving speed and longevity/conditioning in the throwing arm of these athletes lies solely in the continued development of the throwing arm. Coaching specializing in such athletes, however, know that the secret to developing a strong, powerful and well-conditioned throwing athlete resides in the development of the entire kinetic… Continue

Added by David Harris on November 11, 2008 at 8:48pm — 1 Comment

The Top 5 BCS Teams: Coaching, Athletes and TRAINING

Lets consider the top 5 BCS teams as of the latest poll posted November 2, 2008:

1.) Alabama

2.) Texas Tech

3.) Penn State

4.) Texas

5.) Florida

Recruiting top tier Division I athletes is obviously an important variable in the success of these programs. Further, premier (as determined by their experience and success during their tenure) coaches implementing sound strategies are yet another block in the foundation of a winning football program. One can… Continue

Added by David Harris on November 3, 2008 at 11:27pm — No Comments

Caffeine: A good pre-workout/competition stimulant?

While many performance enhancing "drugs" have been ruled illegal by the National Collegiate Athletic Association, the use of caffeine as a supplement has been deemed legal up to a urine caffeine concentration level of 15 µg/mL. Moreover, in 2005 the International Olympic Committee removed caffeine from its "banned substance" list. (It does still monitor caffeine consumption, however). The limits placed on the consumption of caffeine by some governing bodies and the removal of limits by other… Continue

Added by David Harris on October 29, 2008 at 11:27am — No Comments

Football Winter Conditioning - Competition

I'm a true believer that you have to be a competitor in everything, I just think when you can win or lose you work harder. I was wondering what some of you do at your program in the winter to force your athletes to compete.

At Fordham, we break our team up into small groups and have a points system with rewards. We also have a rating system based on test results with categories that the athletes can achieve. This year, I want to make our conditioning drills more competitve, once the… Continue

Added by Ted Perlak on October 21, 2008 at 2:46pm — 3 Comments

American Football: In-Season strength training ideologies

While many collegiate and professional American Football strength programs follow similar intensity in the off-season, if one were to pull 10 coaches into a room for a discussion of the intensity and types of exercises to be used to support/maintain the strength of American football players DURING the season, it is likely that 10 different philosophies would be realized. The purpose of the off-season strength program is to promote functional strength & power AND prepare players for the… Continue

Added by David Harris on October 20, 2008 at 1:27pm — 2 Comments

University of North Carolina: Finding the talent and building them into champions

Given the way that the University of North Carolina football team is playing so far this year it's difficult to argue against the great job he's done in rebuilding a program that hasn't had much to cheer for over the last decade. He's brought in excellent assistant coaches and is convincing quality recruits who never would have looked at UNC in the past to come create glory as a Tarheel. I had the fortunate opportunity to watch the Tarheels play live as an on-field spectator vs. Notre Dame this… Continue

Added by David Harris on October 14, 2008 at 11:08am — No Comments

Wake Forest: One of the fittest football teams in the country?

I spent Thursday night, Oct. 9th, on the field and in the stands watching Wake Forest pull out a 12-7 win versus Clemson in a battle of two ACC heavyweights. This win was the second "come from behind" Wake Forest performance. After watching the 4-1 Demon Deacons up close and in person I now have a better understanding of why they are able to close out a game with the same level of performance as they start each game. Simply put, I feel that they are one of the best conditioned football teams on… Continue

Added by David Harris on October 12, 2008 at 12:21am — 1 Comment

Another Fantastic College Football Weekend

Well, another great weekend of battles on the college gridiron has come to a close. I continue to be amazed at the difference a finely integrated strength and conditioning program can make in a team's ability to compete in the second half of football games. Those of you who were able to catch the Florida State vs. University of Miami football game understand exactly what I mean.

Whether these two teams are competing for a national championship or not, one can usually expect an… Continue

Added by David Harris on October 6, 2008 at 9:31am — 2 Comments