Looking back on 2018: top training resources
Each year we try to get a little bit better, and looking back at 2018 I think we achieved that goal. Throughout the course of 2018 our 22 contributors produced 104 new podcast episodes, over 300 articles, 8 premium video lessons, 12 monthly themes, 6 member hangouts, and our new movement Library. To help you sort through all the great content, we’ve assembled our top 30 articles, 10 podcasts, and 5 videos from the year, as well as some more highlights and links. If you want more, you can browse our archives and also check out our top posts from 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, and 2017.
Videos, podcasts, and themes
Each month this year we focused on a different monthly theme. Find links to each monthly theme below, as well as our top new videos and podcasts. For more videos, become a HMMR Plus member and visit the HMMR Classroom. In addition to the podcasts listed below, also find a compilation of top throwing guests on Episode 186 and top athletic development guests on Episode 187.
Monthly themes
- January: performance testing
- February: transfer of training
- March: training culture
- April: beyond the barbell
- May: training speed
- June: the art of coaching
- July: individualization
- August: rugby training
- September: training with Bosch and Pryor
- October: the microcycle
- November: book club
- December: warming up
Video lessons
- Lesson 15: Hip lock -Frans Bosch explains hip lock, how to address it in training, and walks through training examples.
- GAINtalk 5: Warming up (with Vern Gambetta) – Vern Gambetta shares his approach to creating both general and sport-specific warmups in his full-length DVD on the topic.
- Lesson 12: Mini-band exercise library – Steve Myrland demonstrates essential mini-band exercises.
- Lesson 13: Leg circuits – Examples of five intense leg circuits and progressions to develop strength away from the barbell.
- GAINtalk 2: Assessing trainability (with Randy Ballard) – The University of Illinois Associate Athletic Director for Sports Medicine explains their process for assessing sports-specific trainability of incoming and continuing athletes.
Podcast
- Episode 154: Force and velocity with JB Morin
- Episode 162: Find the right fit with Boo Schexnayder
- Episode 153: Sprinting myths with Brian FitzGerald
- Episode 158: Train hard, train often with Matt Price
- Episode 148: Coaching character with Dan Lange
GAINcast
- GAINcast 104: Polarized training with Stephen Seiler
- GAINcast 135 and GAINcast 136: The anatomy of agility with Frans Bosch and John Pryor
- GAINcast 134: Sports science has lost its way with Tony Strudwick
- GAINcast 119: Resisted and assisted sprinting
- GAINcast 111: No weight room, no problem
Articles
Our roster of world-class coaches contributing to HMMR Media has grown to 22 this year, including 7 new authors: Warren Young (Associate Professor, Federation University Australia), René Sack (German national discus coach), Nick Hill (Director or Rugby, VCU), Chris Gallagher (Lead Strength and Conditioning Coach, Hong Kong Institute of Sport), Michael Bingaman (US alpine ski strength coach, US Ski & Snowboard) and Brett Bartholomew (Strength and conditioning coach, author). We’ve categorized our most popular articles by topic below.
Periodization and planning
- Talking tactical periodization with Dean Benton by Martin Bingisser
- Creating and implementing template-based training by Nick Garcia
- What exercise classification can and can’t do for your training by Martin Bingisser
- Rethinking the 7-day microcycle by Vern Gambetta
- The challenge of training over the break by Nick Garcia
Training methods
- Four more things I learned from Frans Bosch by Martin Bingisser and A critical look at a constraints-led approach to training by Nick Lumley
- Work capacity: application of the concept by Vern Gambetta
- Is that functional training or a circuit trick? by Steve Myrland
- 10 athletic development tools you can find at any track by Nick Hill
- Preparing athletes for impact by James de Lacey
Individualization
- A needs-based approach to individualizing team sports by Nick Lumley
- From simple to advanced individualization by Rene Sack
- Individualization made easy by Craig Pickering
The art of coaching
- 4 simple strategies to enhance the athlete learning process by Brett Bartholomew
- England Rugby and the art of coaching by Martin Bingisser
- Reflections on the art of coaching by Chris Gallagher
Sports science
- How relevant is sports science research for elite athletes? by Craig Pickering
- The science of warming up by James de Lacey
- Sports science monthly archive by Craig Pickering
Critical analysis
- Searching for transfer in Fiji and How John Pryor adapts training to culture by Martin Bingisser
- The most effective solution is not always the best by Craig Pickering
- Two methods to break down complex sports by Martin Bingisser
Throwing
- September member hangout: hammer throw technique with Sergej Litvinov and Sean Donnelly
- Understanding the orbit in the hammer throw by Martin Bingisser
- We all just want to be Litvinov by Martin Bingisser
Sprinting and agility
- Understanding and implementing hip lock into training with Frans Bosch and Leigh Egger
- Specificity of resistance training for sprinting by Warren Young
- The speed-specificity of Olympic lifting for sprinting by Warren Young