When coaches evaluate sprinting mechanics, what should they look for? Here is a simple template to use when working with multi-directional sport athletes during sprinting. When working with sprinters in track, because this is the track athletes’ skill, be more particular. They don’t decelerate or change direction. They need to maximize linear speed only. Tips […]
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Incorporating balance into youth coaching is one of those “Oh yeah, I should throw some balance activities in some time” components to athletic development. Honestly, it should be the main staple of a youth training program. Train for Balance Incorporating balance into youth coaching falls under many areas like, coordination, stability, body awareness, proprioceptive awareness,
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One of the most common phrases said in athletics is Bend Your Knees. It is an important phrase with good reason. When an athlete bends their knees correctly they are in a better position to move quicker in any direction. Of course there is more involved, but you get the point. There is another reason bending
Value of Sprinting is a Skill Sprinting is one of those skills that are taken for granted. Most of the time we just say “Go run a few sprints” without knowing the outcome of the sprint work. Here are my views on the value of sprinting. Other than track athletes, I probably don’t assign enough
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Teach a Young Sports Coach If you have been a coach in the industry for quite sometime, have you taken the time to show any interest in helping younger coaches? This is something I have always tried to be involved with. A young sports coach has a window of opportunity to create a solid foundation
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When I first began coaching basketball, I developed a set of basketball conditioning drills for my players. I called them the “Final Four” of basketball conditioning drills. There are four drills that are completed on a time frame which somewhat mimic basketball speed, but are slightly longer in duration compared to a normal sequence of plays,
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Basketball speed and quickness…why do some players have it and others don’t? This is an easy one….Genetics! Is that the only way basketball players can have an explosive, quick first step? Not at all! A Key to Basketball Speed and Quickness. The unique part of basketball speed and quickness is timing, fakes, body position, and
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Off season basketball begins in June and it is now in session. It is paramount that work on the offensive and defensive systems be mastered. Coaches must understand how important it is for their athlete to move better so they must include speed training into each practice. As all coaches know, there isn’t a lot of time
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Body Control Have you ever noticed the way certain athletes change their direction or make quick cuts without seemingly changing speeds? It is so fun for me to watch. When I watch some of the top players in their sports; the world cup soccer players who change directions with the ball in an almost magical
Testing Movement Does testing movement really do what we think it does? I have tested more athletes over the past two decades than I can possibly count. Did I become any smarter or learn more about my athletes from it? I am not so sure… The Athlete’s Movement Ability: Athletes are designed to move. They
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