Many athletes go throughout their career with a variety of training protocols. This is both good and bad as there are many philosophies as to proper conditioning. There are two types of training in-season and off-season. They should be different in how they approach developing the athlete through both phases of the season. I have been in the fitness industry for 24 years and have worked with young athletes all the way through professional athletes. I am going to share my thoughts on the best strategies I have seen in my career. On-season training protocol involves the athlete being in the … [Read more...] about On-season vs. Off-season training protocols
Flexibility: The Key to a Healthy Athlete
Coaches want athletes to show up to practice as well as put in time in the gym to become bigger, faster, and stronger. The reality of the situation is that many athletes are limited in achieving optimal performance because they do not take the time to do things that help them recover like stretching. I have seen many athletes be consistent in their efforts at practice and in the gym and all of a sudden succumb to an injury. I have heard of many stories from parents and athletes in which when they show up to practice there is little to no warm-up prior to starting on the field. Many coaches … [Read more...] about Flexibility: The Key to a Healthy Athlete
Have you gained the Covid-19?
The year 2020 has been an interesting year so far and we are only a few months into it. About mid-March, the United States discovered there was a new enemy in our nation called Covid-19. The entire country has been shut down with 90 percent of businesses closed and unemployment at an all time high. As most Americans have dipped into whatever savings they may have to try to continue their normal life, the shutdown remains. It has now been almost 3 months the entire country has come to a screeching halt. Unemployment numbers have hit an all-time high and many people struggle to maintain some … [Read more...] about Have you gained the Covid-19?
Coaches: What are you teaching your athletes?
Being an individual in the fitness industry for the last 21 years, I have seen a fair share of athletes from 6 years old to professional athletes. It's interesting because I am seeing more and more coaches who are improperly educating their athletes. Coaches who are of the older generation are still doing the same techniques and drills that they were taught 40 years ago. This is mind-boggling because with all the information we now have at our fingertips, I cannot understand why coaches haven't started educating themselves on the new science and techniques that are available. I still hear … [Read more...] about Coaches: What are you teaching your athletes?
How to Fix Low back pain
If you are like most aging individuals, you might notice that your body has started having some aches and pains. One of the most common is low back pain. The reasons for this are many, it could be from sitting at a desk all day. It could also be from standing on your feet for a number of hours. You might have just bent over to pick up your socks and your back has gone out. The pain caused by such issues can be excruciating and make moving about rather difficult. The most common issues related to low back pain are tight hamstrings, poor abdominal strength, and misfiring glutes. People who … [Read more...] about How to Fix Low back pain
Ways to Make an Athlete Slower
As an individual who has been in the fitness industry for 25 years, I have seen my fair share of athletes ranging in age from 6 to 25. My athletes have come from all different backgrounds and various levels of college. I have seen high school athletes from all over the state of Pennsylvania, each individual playing every sport that is imaginable. The coaches for these athletes have been both good and bad all with different types of training protocols. In my industry, there is a lot of false propaganda as far as the latest and greatest training protocols. Every year someone has something … [Read more...] about Ways to Make an Athlete Slower
Athlete performance is related to proper nutrition.
The phrase bigger, faster, and stronger is one that I hear repeatedly from coaches, athletes, and parents alike. They all want the same thing for their athletes which is to possess all of those characteristics. The problem is that most people focus on strength training, speed and agility training, and sport specific training. No one wants to talk about what you eat before practice or a game. It is easy to overlook the single most important aspect of training is nutrition. If you don't have proper nutrition, it doesn't matter what you do from a training standpoint because proper fuel is … [Read more...] about Athlete performance is related to proper nutrition.
Is your athlete pigeon toed?
In the recent months, I have noticed more and more athletes who have running mechanic issues. One of the more prevalent issues is being pigeon toed. The term pigeon toed refers to an athlete that points their toes inward while standing, walking, or running. It is possible that a young athlete can grow out of this phase, however there are a few things that can be done to help correct the issue. One way to help with correction is to have the athlete walk heel to toe trying to keep their foot straight instead of turned inward. This can be done as a drill and should be reinforced daily as they … [Read more...] about Is your athlete pigeon toed?
What’s your excuse?
We live in a busy society in which many individuals have to juggle a variety of balls in their life. Adulting is a lot harder than most people realize when growing up. When your a child, typically you have to worry about school, sports, and your social life. As an adult, you have to worry about your job, family, bills, health insurance, investments, chores, house maintenance, your health, and somewhere in there have time for a small social life. Any one of these things can disrupt your daily agenda of what you had planned to get accomplished that day. We often take on too many things and then … [Read more...] about What’s your excuse?
Shin Splints: The Athlete Killer
Female Athlete Sitting On Ground And Taking Treatment For Knee Pain During the course of a season there are many things that can cause the downfall of a team, injuries tend to be the most problematic. One of the most prevalent injuries that occurs are shin splints. The definition of shin splints is acute pain in the shin and lower leg caused by prolonged running, typically on hard surfaces. This type of injury can sideline an athlete for weeks if not treated properly. What is the treatment for shin splints? Most physicians and/or PT's will say that rest is the only cure. This is only … [Read more...] about Shin Splints: The Athlete Killer
How to Design your Strength Training Protocol
One of the most important aspects of an athlete's regimen is their strength training protocol. There are a variety of ways to determine what is the best, however here are some guidelines to follow when putting together a successful program. The first step is to fill out a medical history form to determine if there are certain injuries past or present that you may have to navigate around during a workout. The athlete should be cleared by a medical professional before starting any type of physical activity. Upon completion of both tasks, then the process of designing a program or hiring a … [Read more...] about How to Design your Strength Training Protocol