Just a short time ago, high school strength and conditioning coach was not a job. Now, across the US, more schools are hiring strength coaches. What makes a good program and how can coaches make the biggest impact at the youth level? On this week’s episode NHSSCA co-founder Gary Schofield joins us to look at these topics and more.
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Every month we take a deep dive into the latest research in sports science. This month we start with a look at how well genetics can be used to predict talent. Then we move on to the latest research on changing team culture, mental health, performance management, and how coaches learn.
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Every month we take a deep dive into the latest research in sports science. Players are key partners in building a team culture, and their contributions depend a lot on their informal roles. The first article we look at in this month’s edition breaks down key traits of cultural architects, which can assist coaches in developing their own team culture. Then we look at ecological dynamics, acute:chronic workload ratio, training time, and more. Read more
Underdogs come and go, but Gonzaga University’s basketball team keeps coming back. The small school team is the perennial overachiever and strength coach Travis Knight has been there the whole time. He joins this week’s podcast to discuss the unique team culture and process that helps them keep up with their bigger budget competitors, as well as his approach to training agility for one of the most demanding sports out there.
Coaching has evolved, and so has how we develop coaches. As director of coach development at Sport Singapore, Troy Engle has tried to set up a new approach to developing both coaches and the coaching culture in the city-state. He joins us on this week’s GAINcast to talk about his project, his philosophy of developing coaches, and the challenges of coaching across cultures. Read more
Eugene might be TrackTown USA, but Los Angeles has a good claim to being ThrowsTown USA. Not only does Nick live there, but it is home to UCLA and USC, with two of the nation’s top throwing traditions. Five years John Frazier got a unique opportunity as a coach: he got to return to his alma matter UCLA to continue the school’s legendary tradition of throws dominance. Since then UCLA throwers have only gotten stronger and Frazier has solidified himself as one of the top shot put coaches in the country, routinely qualifying multiple athletes for the NCAA Championships. On this episode of the podcast we talk to coach Frazier about his experience starting out as a throwing at UCLA under Art Venegas, his evolution as a coach, and his approach to continuing the UCLA tradition. Read more
Jamaica is know around the world for the speed it produces, but their sprinters are not the only powerful athletes coming from the island. In recent years, Jamaica throwers have emerged as dominant forces in the shot put and discus. Coach Julian Robinson has helped lead the way, with his discus throwers sweeping gold and silver at the recent Commonwealth Games. On this episode he joins us to talk about the growth of Jamaica throwing, the throws culture, influences, and his own philosophy of training. Read more
Culture, in many ways, is the holy grail of a team, group, or organization. Much has been written on culture and more surely will be. It is the blood of an outfit, without it any fellowship becomes toxic and extinct. If we agree culture it vital, then what is it and how do we implement and refine culture? Read more
Just over 15 years ago, the Space Shuttle Columbia began its re-entry into the Earth’s atmosphere at the end of its 28th mission. As it did so, Mission Control in Houston started to receive unusual readings from sensors within the left wing, with heat recordings higher than the usual 1370º celsius. These sensors then failed, as did the ones in the landing gear well on the left wing, puzzling the engineers. Read more
Culture. Everyone is talking about it these days. When most people think of culture perhaps it conjures up images of highly charged coaches and athletes producing lots of energy in a motivating environment. Is this the ultimate demonstration of positive culture to be aspired? Read more
