September 2011 Blog Posts (34)

Functional strength is the type of strength athletes seek for improved sport performance and reduced risk of injury. Functional strength is also the type of strength that you would use in non-gym situations. Most arguments for the use of weightlifting straps come from people who are interested in weight training for aesthetic value or body building, not for functionality.

When considering weightlifting, it is practically inefficient to neglect your hands (grip strength), as they are…

"The use of machines that buttress joints and restrict range of motion at specific joints not only retard the various levels of motor learning required for optimal functional performance, but can encode patterns that are detrimental to both performance and the avoidance of injury."

- Dr Stuart McGill

Do You Still Do Hamstring Curls?

September 25, 2011 by Matt Siniscalchi  | Edit

Dear Strength Coach/Personal Trainer,

How smart are you?

I realize that by asking that question, I may come across as an arrogang SOB.

However, there is a deeper meaning, with the question.

Hang on.

It is my observation that some of us can take a principle, for example.

MAKE IT AS SIMPLE AS POSSIBLE,

YET AS COMPLEX AS NECESSARY

and use it, in MANY DIFFERENT SITUATIONS.

In my eyes, that is…

Going to Seattle today to teach the two-day version of “Return to Play Strategies – Rebuilding the Athlete” seminar. The philosophy behind this seminar is simple:

Rehab and rebuild the athlete not the injury.…

September 21st, 2011

Dear Strength Coach,

Systematic Athletic Development Principle Four - Train core strength before extremity strength

Train core strength before extremity strength. The Core is an integrated functional unit consisting of the Lumbo-Pelvic-Hip Complex, the Thoracic and Cervical Spine.  It is a Muscular Corset that lends integrity and support to the body. The…

The other day someone told me that I was old school. By their tone it was clearly meant as a putdown. I took it as a huge complement. If old school is holding to your core beliefs, turning those beliefs into action through the principles I have been outlining over the past few weeks, then I am…

Systematic variation is a basic principle of training. The key word here is systematic. The variation must be planned and serve a specific purpose in the context of the whole training program. Just throwing a bunch of random different” stuff” into a program is not variation with a purpose. That is confusion and despite what some of the commercial “fitness ‘ programs advertise that is not training, that is entertainment.…

Lately it seems I have been getting many questions about various popular training programs. Rather than speaking directly to any one program I think it is better to give insight into how I evaluate a program. I start pretty basic:

What – What actually is a program? What is the philosophy? …

In my years as an athlete it was hammered into to me that repetition was the mother of learning. I worked harder and harder and repeated drills and exercises by the hour. Sometimes I got better, but just as often I stagnated or regressed. Then in my first sport psychology class at UCSB I learned that practice made permanent – well da! Back in 1969 I did not need Anders Ericsson’s research, Malcom Gladwell or Coyle’s…

The second Rice University Speed Symposium will be held Saturday November 12 from 2:00 to 5:00 Pm at Rice University in Houston Texas. The clinician will be legendary sprint coach Tony Wells of the Colorado Flyers, Vince Anderson of Texas A&M and Vern Gambetta. For information and to register contact Casey Thom at cdt1@rice.edu or go…

Dear Strength Coach,

I have gone through, and seen other strength coaches gone through 4 phases of maturity with program design.

Phase 1: I don’t know that I need to create a long-term training plan.

Phase 2: I know that I need to create a long-term training plan, but I have no idea about how to do it.

Phase 3: I work with some…

The following are the cornerstones of effective coaching:

Communication –The ability to get your message across in a clear concise manner will determine your success as a coach. It is important to remember all dimensions of communication, sending, receiving and seeing. Talk, show and…

     How often do we hear athletes say they have tight hamstrings?  It is probably the one muscle that everyone has stretched once in their life. Literally.  I feel that having been an athlete myself, everyone that I have every played with stretched their hamstrings (ok, 95% maybe) before a game or they complained of their hamstrings always feeling "tight."  The typical answer, by many, is if a muscle feels tight, stretch it.  It is the simple answer, but how can this tightness seem to stick…

 Systematic Athletic Development Principle Three - Train fundamental movement skills before sport specific skills

Effective athletic development is based upon the principle of the development of fundamental movement skill before specific sport skill. Today athletes at all levels are lacking fundamental movement…

Si se’ puede is an expression in Spanish that literally translated means yes you can. It has been a favorite expression of mine for years. All to often in coaching and in life we tend to focus on what can’t be done, the problems and the weaknesses. I prefer to focus on the possibility, what can be done. What are the strengths of athlete? Find and build on those strengths. Minimize the weaknesses,…