Athletic Development – Defining the Field
What is Functional Training
Functional training is a label for a concept. As with any label it is subject to various interpretations. I originally conceived it as multi lateral training integrating various training modalities (m...
Toenails to Fingernails
The body is a link system; this link system is referred to as the kinetic chain. Great training and optimum performance is about linkage – it is how all the parts of the chain work together in harmony...
Strength – Functional or Measurable?
Functional strength training is not about measurable strength. How much you can lift or how many foot-pounds of force you can express on a dynamometer are meaningless numbers. Instead quality of movem...
Perils of Reductionism
A reductionist, mechanistic approach that segments the body into parts and separate systems results in biased one-sided training regimens. This creates robotic athletes that are good in a sterile trai...
Some Lessons from GAIN 2015
Quality, Quality, Quality Less is more, be focused and on task PE is the foundation Important it is to be a non-specialist Pay your dues
The Gray Area
The gray area is a dark shady place with indistinct boundaries to the dark side. If you are choosing to coach in the gray area, looking for new chemicals that will enhance your athletes performance in...
Quality Training
The distinguishing factor of an effective training program is quality. Quality is defined as a measure of perfect. Each training session in pursuit of competitive excellence must strive to be as close...
Sport Performance – Tangible Intangibles
You can measure it; you can define it with precise algorithms – But then there is competition day. Competition is random and chaotic; there is the human element that adds tremendous variability and un...
Youth Sports Problems – Some Solutions
Here are the conclusions to my presentation on LTAD at the 2015 NSCA Convention in Orlando. We know the problems we need to focus on solutions, here are mine: Reinstitute mandatory daily physical educ...