1. Positive Reinforcement: Build Confidence First Image: Coaching a youth athlete performing drills on an agility ladder. Youth athletes thrive on encouragement. The tone you set as a coach can make or break a kid’s confidence in the early stages of their athletic development. Positive reinforcement doesn’t mean sugarcoating everything. It means being intentional about …
Patellar tendonitis, commonly known as jumper’s knee, is a condition where the patellar tendon is inflamed, which connects the kneecap (patella) to the shinbone (tibia). It often affects athletes involved in sports requiring a lot of jumping (hence the name) and running. Symptoms include pain and tenderness around the patellar tendon, swelling, and a tough …
Introduction I’ve had the opportunity to train professional, college, high school, middle school, and even elementary school athletes, but if I’m being honest, middle school training is my favorite. Those years are when you can truly make or break an athlete. It is the stage where habits are built, movement patterns are learned, and confidence …
Introduction To put it simply, the Exer-Genie is a compact cylinder with a rope threaded through the device. It is often overlooked in modern performance centers dominated by sophisticated isoinertial devices and linear resistance machines. While it may look retro because it looks like something from the 1970s, this device offers a unique and valuable …
As always make sure you stream this on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and right in the video above! Episode Summary In this episode, Chris Kerr, Chris Korfist, and Dan Fichter dive into one of the biggest debates in athletic performance: Should athletes squat—and if so, how, when, and why? The crew breaks down why squats became …
How the Skyhook Modular Plyo Box changes the game in athletic fitness training Introduction Besides designing and supervising workouts to improve athletic performance, strength coaches must also teach and implement “prehab” techniques to reduce the risk of injury. After all, an injured athlete can’t contribute much to their team beyond cheering from the sidelines. To …
What Earning a Ph.D. Taught Me About Leadership, Discipline, and Family Series Introduction — Why I Wrote This When I started my doctoral journey, I didn’t plan on turning it into a story. Like most people chasing big goals, I just kept my head down and worked. But looking back, I realized how much I …
Introduction One of my favorite topics to discuss in the performance space is the topic of getting back to the basics, and doing them REALLY well. Especially at the youth ages, but I find myself more and more grounding myself in these concepts even in my advanced and professional clients both in the performance and …
What is Blood Flow Restriction (BFR)? Blood Flow Restriction (BFR) training is a science-backed method that helps people increase strength, muscle mass, and endurance using lighter weights and in significantly less time. BFR works by partially restricting blood flow to the working muscles during low-load, low-intensity exercise. This restriction mimics the metabolic stress and muscular …
Think twice before adding this popular exercise to your program. Introduction Strength coaches regularly explore new exercises, training methods, and innovative technologies to gain a competitive edge. An example of this mindset is the focus on the Romanian deadlift. While the exercise is an effective muscle builder, it may not live up to its hype …
