One of the hot topics in the world of strength & conditioning and sports performance is how to actually train for improving agility. The debate comes down to the definition of agility and how it differs from change of direction, and ultimately what you are actually training. There is one significant difference between the two [...]
Recently I had the opportunity to work with a freshman team sports physical education class. I don’t remember what our first unit was, but I remember what I did on day one. I started with agility drills. I figured if we were going to be teaching a group of youngsters how to play sports, we [...]
In every sport played on two feet, there is always a need for speed. Some individuals are born fast, with beautiful technique, but most of us can improve our speed with some good coaching. Today we are looking at the role the arm and hands play in speed development. These tips can be used on [...]
Aside from performing the box squat to reinforce good squatting technique, the exercise itself has restorative qualities. It allows an athlete to squat twice a week without causing over-training or overuse injuries because the exercise is performed with a sub-maximal load (50-75% of 1 repetition maximum). Another advantage the box squat provides is the athlete [...]
The squat is one of the cornerstones of the Trojan Power Program. We teach movements rather than “lifts” in our facility, and the squat is one of the first movements we incorporate, making it essential that students have a solid squat foundation to build upon. Wall Squats To start, I suggest taking athletes to a [...]
The Back Squat and Its Relation to Sport Last year I wrote an article that stressed the importance of the back squat and how it related to sport. For instance, virtually all sports, with the exception of water sports, cycling, and polo, are “ground-based,” meaning the athlete’s legs are in contact with the ground throughout [...]
When it comes to squat philosophy, mine is fairly simple - a squat movement is included in every single workout. If we are doing a 3-day lifting program, we are squatting 3 days. If we are on a 4-day program, we are squatting 4 days. The squat, in my opinion, is the most functional lift [...]
The squat has often been referred to as the “King” of movements in the weight room. To master the King you must, like most things, learn to crawl before you can walk, and then run. In the video below we go through several of the squat progressions that we feel are highly beneficial when you [...]
The Benefits of Yoga for Athletes The health benefits from regular yoga practice cover a broad spectrum, ranging from flexibility to strength. For athletes, yoga can benefit them tremendously in terms recovery and from a restorative point of view. There are many different types or styles of yoga practice. For those just starting out, it [...]
Improving Muscular Recovery with Body Tempering and Buffering There has been a significant increase in the use of different implements and massage to speed the recovery of athletes post workout. Two methods that are gaining popularity which we use on our athletes are buffering massage and body tempering. These methods have become an integral part [...]