With the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics just a couple of weeks away let’s take a look at one aspect of getting to the highest level in a sport, Strength training. While yes a vast majority of sport specific coaches have a decent understanding of strength training the truth is their expertise is the specific skill and tactical development of the sport which is why athletes need an additional component to their support staff, Strength and Conditioning Coaches.
Using track and field as an example, the main staples that 90% of track coaches program for their athletes are:
Power Cleans
Partial Range Back Squats
Barbell Flat Bench Press
[insert random abdominal exercise here]
As a strength coach I have to look not only at what will improve performance by making the athlete faster (stronger to improve stride length) but also what will prevent injury and the biggest injury in the sport is a hamstring injury, but yet not one of the above exercises addresses the issue of ensuring the hamstring is sufficiently strong to prevent being overpowered by the quadriceps and glutes and then leading to a strained/pulled hamstring. This can then be extended to every sport and the specific strength qualities related to them whether its acceleration/power, speed, strength, endurance, strength endurance.
Strength Coaches study and are better equipped than sport specific coaches to find various imbalances and then using the tools in our toolbox, scientifically formulate a program to reduce the discovered imbalance to reduce injury risk and improve athletic performance whether that’s running speed, jump height, racquet speed or punching power. This requires another approach to periodization training and even mini periodization within a specific training cycle/block to maximize the effect of training to translate onto the field of play. Just in a program this includes:
Exercise selection
Variation of exercise selection (Range of motion, implement, grip, angles)
Specificity to sport skills, tasks and movements
Taking into account physical and emotional demands of practice
Taking into account physical (metabolical, hormonal, neurological) and emotional demands of training session (repititions, sets, intensity/load, tempo and speed of movement, rest intervals, range of motion)
Nutritional demands and status of athlete
Elite athletes need to have a strength coach in their support staff to help to ensure they are physically ready to perform at their highest level, to be their strongest/fittest for competition. Take a look at every NCAA collegiate program, they have a department dedicated to strength and conditioning for this very reason.
To perform at the highest levels, elite athletes require their training to be catered and specific towards them. This gives the added NEED to have an additional coach who specializes in strength and conditioning training to ensure the athlete is at their best when in competition and able to handle the rigors and demands of day to day practices and come out of it healthy.
- Tony Risling
Do you think bootcamp is tough? Try it in the sand! Starting Saturday December 7th 2013. Join Alicia at Beach Blast for an indoor bootcamp. Choose the morning session or the afternoon session. Bring your own yoga mat and get ready to have some fun!
Location
Beach Blast 15 Leswyn Rd Toronto, ON, Canada, M6A 1K1
TTC Directions
From Yorkdale Subway Station:
Take any Lansdowne 47 (B or C) Bus to Caledonia and Leswyn Rd. Walk to #15 Leswyn
From Lawrence West Subway Station:
Take any Lawrence Ave. W Bus # 52 or 58 to Caledonia. Walk North 1 block to Leswyn Rd. Turn right walk to #15
From Lansdowne Subway Station:
Take any Lansdowne 47 Bus North. Get off at Caledonia and Leswyn. Walk 2 buildings in on Leswyn.
2 Minutes from Yorkdale Mall
Features
7 indoor courts
8 outdoor courts at Caledonia Park (adjacent to Beach Blast parking lot)
Easy access to Caledonia Park
Licensed cafe and snack bar
3 Large Patio Areas on multiple levels
Register on the December 7th in person or email trainitright@gmail.com
I attended the launch of Reebok One's Fitness app this weekend at the Can Fit Pro conference (more on this later). Below is the official Press Release.
Toronto, ON – Reebok today announced the launch of two innovative digital tools inReebokONE and the Reebok Fitness app. ReebokONE is an online fitness community unified by one mission - to make people fit for life. The network acts as a hub where fitness professionals from around the globe can connect and find inspiration among fellow professionals, helping them to develop their skill set, progress their careers and create a brand for themselves. The Reebok Fitness app, designed to inject variety into workout programs, helps consumers rejuvenate their fitness routine by creating new and varied workouts using a combination of popular disciplines – walking, running, dance, yoga and training.
ReebokONEBy signing up to the free online platform at www.Reebok.com/ReebokONE, fitness professionals can create their own personalized web page, with customizable URL, where they can upload photos, update an “About Me” section, upload their certifications and areas of expertise plus add locations where they teach. This enables members to connect with clients and other fitness experts around the world, making ReebokONE the premier fitness destination for fitness professionals. Along with being able to connect with other experts, instructors that sign up to ReebokONE also gain access to a number of member rewards, including:
A 25 per cent discount on Reebok products
The ability to earn commission on Reebok products they recommend
Access to exclusive fitness content from Reebok
To earn commission, members are required to sign up to the commission program, which then allows visitors to purchase products displayed in the ‘My Favorite Gear’ section of their profile. Members will then receive a commission on every purchase made through their page without having to do anything further. In addition to the financial benefits, signing up to the network instantly unlocks exclusive fitness content from Reebok covering a wide range of topics to help further enhance the careers and skill set of fitness professionals. This includes a ‘Learn From The Best’ feature, where members can gain insights into the latest fitness trends, gear and advice; and a ‘Featured Professional’ section that allows members to learn from other fitness and training experts. “I am so grateful to be a part of the ReebokONE network,” said two-time CFL all-star defensive back Tommy Europe, now personal trainer and fitness blogger. “As a professional, I strive to always continue my education so I can provide the best service possible. ReebokONE is a network of mentors, peers, and constant motivation; all real fitness professionals should join.”
Reebok Fitness AppThe free Reebok Fitness app, available on Apple and Android devices and online atwww.reebok.com/fitness-app, allows consumers to create customized workout programs based on activities they already love and new activities they’d like to try. Users simply need to select the length of the program they require followed by the percentage of time they would like to focus on each activity and the Reebok Fitness app will generate a workout routine based on their individual preferences. Consisting of a variety of different workouts to complete each week, the program can be personalized further by allocating certain workouts to specific days of the week to ensure you never miss a workout. Michael Rossi, vice president of Reebok Canada, said “We want to spark people’s passion for fitness and encourage them to get the most out of their workouts. We believe people make the most of their activities when they’re motivated, so that’s why we created the Reebok Fitness app. With over 200 workouts, the app gives people the chance to try new activities and plan a varied workout program in a few quick steps. We believe that mixing up your workouts and trying new activities will help you realize your full potential.” Reebok is dedicated to empowering people to be fit for life. The brand wants to inspire people to get moving and is passionate about helping people lead a healthy and active lifestyle. To find out more information and to register for ReebokONE, please visit www.reebok.com/ReebokONE.
Congrats to Snooki. She did an amazing transformation and she worked her butt off to do it. Yes it takes time and she did it gradually. Way to go girl! Check out her cover:
Okay, more than a few pounds. Waaay more than a few, actually: The four-foot-nine Jersey Shore personality and new mother shed 42 pounds in six months, and as she told Mehmet Oz, MD, yesterday on The Dr. Oz Show, she did it without starving herself or resorting to any other unhealthy tricks.
She just wants to be a good role model for Lorenzo, her seven-month-old baby, Snooki told Dr. Oz. Hey, she’s already a good role model for all of us who need to clean up a little, whether we’ve been acting out on TV or spending too much time in a seated position watching other people act out on TV. So here are Snooki’s rules for losing weight. The shorthand version: Don’t be like Snooki.
Anti-Snooki Rule #1: Be sensible. It was the first question Dr. Oz asked: How did you lose the weight? “You don't do anything crazy,” Snooki told him. “You just go to the gym. You work out.” She wasn't kidding about that: She goes to the gym five days a week or more. And no half-asleep trudging on a Stairmaster for her, either. Trainer Anthony Michael makes sure she keeps her heart rate up (she wears a monitor) and her core muscles working, with exercises like squats, plank jacks, mountain climbers and stars. She also eats right: lean protein and fruit and vegetables, and plenty of it. She sticks to 1300 calories a day, but with foods like those she can eat whenever she gets hungry. “I worked very hard to lose that weight,” Snooki told Dr. Oz. Sensible!
Anti-Snooki Rule #2: Be patient. Snooki lost a lot of weight fast, but she struggled for the first few weeks when she was doing everything right for no visible reward. “I went to the gym for probably, like, a month and a half and I didn't see any results,” she said. “I’m, like, what the hell’s going on here?” She kept at it, though, and soon enough the weight started to come off and the muscles started to show. Because that’s Snooki: She’s goal-oriented, deals well with frustration, and perseveres. Right? Well, that’s the new Snooki. The anti-Snooki.
Anti-Snooki Rule #3: Be centered. Snooki wanted to make a major change in her life and her body, but not because she hated herself. She was motivated by wanting to be a good role model for baby Lorenzo, and by wanting to be able to keep up with him when he starts to get mobile. “And also I want to look good,” she said (which she does). “I don't want to be skinny—I want to be strong.” Snooki’s bottom line for all of us trying to get from where we are to where we want to be: “You should feel great about yourself, because you're an awesome person.” Then she took a sip of a cocktail Dr. Oz mixed for her: grapefruit, lime juice, and tequila, in a portion-controlled 125-calorie cup. Snooki, here’s to you!
We all know that Jillian Michaels has said before that she hates the gym. Well apparently she has spilled the beans on hating the gym again. Would you trust a trainer that hates the gym but is always in it training people? I think its one thing to say you don't like the gym and train people outdoors or with body weighted exercises. However this is such a bold statement. I love Jillian but if you are a motivator to both women and men for health and active lifestyles I don't think this is something you should just throw out there. Does she have anyone doing her PR? Well either way apparently she says that she actually hates the gym in an upcoming interview with Ben Tracy.
Jillian posted on her facebook "What if I told you that I absolutely hate the gym?"
Check out the gorgeous Jeanette Jenkins aka The Hollywood Trainer on the Ricki Lake show taping a segment. She looks radiant. Jeanette's energy is amazing! You can follow her on twitter here: https://twitter.com/JeanetteJenkins
Jillian Michaels announces “MAXIMIZE YOUR LIFE” tour coming to Hamilton, London, Ottawa, Oshawa and Toronto this May! I think I really want to go. She is an inspiration to me and is living the dream that I want to live.
Tickets on-sale Feb 25:http://bit.ly/WUgObx.
I love this concept! It is everything in one! Foam roller, ab wheel and rotating pushup handles! If only it iced too! I would love to have one of these in my training tool box! http://www.facebook.com/ProUnitPerformanceTrainer
Follow Alicia on twitter or email her aliciabellelite@gmail.com
According to their website:
Contestants come from all 50 states in hopes of becoming the Next Best Fitness Star. Fit or Flop, an online reality series features personal trainers and fitness instructors with a passion for fitness and dream to make it big. Grand prize winners receive a $150,000 prize package and are featured as an exclusive APOGEE brand.
Auditions aren’t easy though, you have to have what it takes and give it 110%. Contestants must first pass the initial round of auditions to then be featured on www.fitorflop.com. Initial auditions entail an introduction, workout demo of your program and Q&A session from our panel of celebrity judges and fitness experts. Contestants are judged on concept, star power, marketability, user-base and personality. Judges decide if you are a FIT or a FLOP to determine how America votes. If a “FIT”, you advance and have your audition and personal page featured on the website. If a “FLOP”, you can sign up and audition for the next season.
As the quest for the best continues, the contest is then opened up to the public for the next 60 days to vote daily on their favorite contestant. Not only can you vote, but also visit fitorflop.com to laugh, cry and be inspired as APOGEE Media rolls out exclusive episodes. As a pilot program, this online web series has soared expectations and has taken America by storm. With the influx of interest and excitement, we are eager to start gearing up for season 2.
Fit or Flop is hosted and produced by APOGEE Media, (www.apogeemedia.com), the leading digital agency servicing the health, wellness and fitness industries. Innovating the industry as a whole, APOGEE Media is committed to delivering innovative solutions for healthy living. At APOGEE, we provide web, media, education, and business services to a diverse group of healthcare, fitness and wellness partners (our "network"). Through an integrated portfolio of products and services, we empower our network to lead their clients and communities to live vibrant, healthy lives.
That's a pretty cool idea. I wonder when Canada will get their own version so I can enter.
INFO
For press inquiries email - press@apogeemedia.com
For advertising/sponsorships email - advertising@apogeemedia.com
For Season I Official Rules and Regulations - click here
For general information email - info@apogeemedia.com
To be considered as a contestant click here.
According to Global Grind. Kim plans on losing 10lbs and wants to bring a trainer with her wherever she goes. Sign us up over here at train it right. We'd love to help the beautiful socialite achieve this goal. Check out the article from Global Grind here and see at the bottom where they discuss her desire for weight loss and wanting to bring a trainer with her.
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