We’ve all seen it at one point or another. It typically happens on the first day of pre-season training camp while testing 40-yard dashes. About 20 yards in, he pulls up in agonizing pain and grabs the back of his thigh like he’d just been shot by a sniper. If you’re lucky it’s just a …
There are two major components to power: force and velocity. It’s been suggested that prior to a young athlete hitting his or her growth spurt, velocity of muscle contraction is primarily responsible for the expression of power. However, subsequent to an athlete’s growth spurt, increases in force production end up being the major factor in …
The formula for power is: Power = Work/Time. The key element in this formula as it pertains to sport performance is the “time” component. How fast you are able to complete a given task is generally the determining factor in successful performance outcomes. Therefore, developing power in the weight room that transfers over to athletic …
Apart from enhancing performance in athletes, one of the other primary objectives of strength and conditioning training is to reduce injury potential. There are a variety of ways in which we can work to protect our athletes on the field. Some common methods include teaching proper mechanics and skill execution. In field sports, this includes …
There are very few nutritional supplements that are worth taking, relative to the seemingly infinite amounts that are currently available on the market. Creatine stands out as one of the few that may be beneficial for athletes. Beta-hydroxy-beta-methylbutyrate (HMB) is a supplement that has generated a lot of debate in the strength and conditioning community …
Time is limited in the weight room. We’re often limited to 1 – 3 sessions per week with our athletes at about one hour per session. It is vitally important that we are very economical with this time in terms of exercise selection and prescription. We want to utilize exercises that will have the biggest …
The topic of self-myofascial release continues to be a topic of debate among coaches and strength and conditioning professionals. Is foam rolling before a workout necessary? It’s impact on subsequent performance markers remains inconclusive. Its effect on injury prevention is difficult to test in a research setting. Other alleged benefits of foam rolling may include …
Coaches refer to it as “game speed” when an athlete plays faster than their testing numbers would suggest. How can an athlete who runs a 4.5 forty yard dash play slower than another player with a 4.8 forty yard dash? Two logical explanations come to mind. The 4.8 athlete is in better physical condition and …
Wouldn’t it be nice if there was a simple strength test that we can administer to athletes that is quick, convenient and inexpensive and provides us with a general indication of their total body strength levels? One that requires minimal equipment, is relatively in expensive and can be used with any athlete without making any …
Athlete monitoring continues to be a hot topic in the field of sports performance training. Ensuring athletes are coping positively to training and are not over-worked come competition time is important for the overall health and longevity of the team. Various monitoring tools exist that have successfully been implemented in the field. To name a …