Force Plates in Practice: What I Learned in My First Year I finally got to cross the big one off my tech wishlist. When the opportunity came up last year for our department to get a set of force plates for the weight room, I was ecstatic. I work with our beach and indoor volleyball …
Lessons From A Strength Coach Why More Work Doesn’t Equal Better Results for Athletes Introduction A major frustration for strength and conditioning (S&C) professionals is encountering uneducated practices that center around "the way we've always done it" despite the way not being rooted in sound training principles. In this article, I discuss this topic and …
How We Trained for the 2025 NFL Draft Summary This article details an eight-week NFL Combine training program designed by Coach Stephen Haggerty. He details his time working with five under-the-radar college football athletes aiming to improve their draft stock. He uses the science behind sprinting and jumping to explain his model, as well as …
From the Inside Looking Out: What Force Plate Testing Has Taught Me By Ryan McLaughlin, BSc, MSc Summary Ryan McLaughlin reflects on his experiences working with force plate technology at VALD, emphasizing how real value comes from consistent retesting and actionable insights—not just amassing data. He highlights the importance of taking a simple approach and …
The Benefits of Coaching an Effective Warmup (and How to Do It) By Raymond Tucker Summary A well-structured warm-up not only prepares athletes physically but also offers insight into their mental and physical readiness, enhances focus, reinforces quality movement patterns, and reduces injury risk. The warm-up provides coaches the opportunity to teach correct movement patterns …
Enode Sensor vs. GymAware Powertool Summary Choosing the right velocity-based training (VBT) device can make or break your training strategy. In this article, we compare two of the most popular tools on the market, the Enode Sensor and the GymAware Powertool. Whether you’re a coach working with elite athletes or a solo lifter tracking bar …
Source: https://www.pexels.com/photo/a-man-doing-a-dunk-5586409/ Alt-text: An athlete dunking a basketball on an outdoor court. Summary Achieving a higher vertical jump is a common goal for athletes. To improve, you need to incorporate strength training, plyometrics, and velocity-based training. Exercises like squats, deadlifts, and lunges strengthen the key muscles involved in jumping, such as the quadriceps, hamstrings, glutes, …
Photo by Karim Ghonem The Six Absolutes of Perfect Technique The practical coach’s guide to teaching optimal human movement By Kim Goss Summary In this article, Kim Goss outlines a simple yet powerful coaching framework developed by Dr. Greg Shepard to teach optimal movement across athletic disciplines. These six verbal cues help athletes maintain …
Building a Better High Jump: A Review of Stride Patterns Noah Kaminsky Summary In this article, Coach Noah Kaminsky explores the biomechanics that can make or break your performance in the high jump. One key variable he dives into is the athlete's stride pattern in the final steps before takeoff. Despite decades of research and …
How We Got Our First Sprint Relays to State in Program History By: Coach Robert Dunn, Taylorville High School (IL) Summary In just three seasons, Coach Robert Dunn led Taylorville High School’s girls sprint relays from humble beginnings to record-breaking state qualifiers – making program history along the way. This article details how this transformation …
