The GAIN Story

GAIN started in 2007 but the genesis of GAIN goes back to the start of my coaching career in 1969. It is forged in my experience early in my career when I was able to gather in an Intense concentrated setting with bright inquisitive minds in one place to share and learn. It quickly became clear to me that anytime I could gather with professional colleagues to exchange ideas that my performance as a coach would improve. It started to come together for me in July 1972 at the first AAU Learning By Doing Track & Field Clinic. This clinic lasted four days from 7:00 AM in the morning to 9:00 PM at night and then there were the discussions about what we had learning that went late into the night. I came away from that experience vowing to repeat that experience wherever and whenever possible. It was career changing for me. I now had a network of coaches I could communicate with, I no longer felt like the Lone Ranger. Going forward into the 1980’s a group of us would gather at every opportunity, usually at National Championships or conventions with the express purpose to share ideas and cross check each others training programs.

→ Related Content: Listen to GAINcast 41 for a look inside GAIN and a preview of GAIN 2017.

In 1992 when I started teaching Building and Rebuilding The Athlete seminar which started as a two and one half day seminar and then after a couple of years it was shortened to two days. It was a broad overview of all the components of training and rehab for the athlete. The emphasis as the name indicated was on the complete athlete, making connection and emphasizing linkages.

Needless to say it was not in-depth, the volume of information and format only allowed us to scratch the surface. Each seminar someone would ask me if I ever was going to something beyond Building and Rebuilding. Because of various factors I was unable to until 2007 when we had our first GAIN at the Holiday Inn Sports complex in Sunrise Florida. There were twenty brave souls in attendance (that included faculty and staff); I don’t think any of us had a good idea what it would be. We are now looking at beginning GAIN X this June. It has evolved and grown into the career changing experience I hoped it would be. We have highly motivated attendees who are professionals in their various areas and a superb faculty who are high-level practitioners who have their skin in the game, they know through practice based evidence what it takes to achieve at the highest levels of sport.

Join us in this learning journey of professional development. To apply go to http://www.thegainnetwork.com/. There is no experience like this total immersion for five days with highly motivated professionals. I am only a facilitator, a catalyst – the strength is in the network & the subsequent connections into a learning community of highly motivated professional eager to challenge ideas, generate new ideas and take a different look at old one.

GAIN Mission/Philosophy

The GAIN Network’s goal is to provide a global platform for education, innovation and motivation in Athletic Development.  We focus on developing and strengthening the connection between all elements of the sports performance team to produce adaptable athletes that are prepared for optimum performance.

GAIN 2017 Theme

Making connections to foster meaningful change and innovation

Past Participating Organizations

• English Football Association
• Rugby Football Union (RFU)
• Texas Tech University
• University of North Carolina
• Pace University
• Rice University
• Houston Rockets
• Portland Trailblazers
• Milwaukee Bucks
• Washington Capitals
• Phoenix Coyotes
• Philadelphia Flyers
• Australian Institute of Sport
• US Skiing
• Northampton Saints (Rugby)
• Arsenal Football Club
• West Ham United Football Club
• Everton Football Club
• Scottish Rugby
• Scottish Institute of Sport
• New South Wales Institute of Sport
• Queensland Academy of Sport
• FBI
• Leicester Tigers (Rugby)
• Queensland Reds (Rugby)
• Manhattan College
• ACT Brumbies (Rugby)
• Essenton Football Club
• University of California Berkeley
• Collegiate School, Richmond Virginia
• North Shore Country Day School, Chicago
• Philadelphia Union Soccer Academy
• Westmont College
• University of Minnesota
• University of Arkansas
• University of Illinois
• Scottish Athletics
• University of Oregon
• Arsenal Football Club
• Philadelphia Eagles