Our recent series of GAINcasts looked at different aspects of training for endurance athletes. But what about training for fitness and endurance as a competent of other sports like for team sports like soccer or even individual sports like tennis? On this episode of the GAINcast we discuss the factors to consider when training fitness training for team sports and walk through several sample training methods. Read more
If you want pressure to perform, try working in professional soccer in England. To make matters more complicated, try working with young players and balancing the need for short-term results and setting up long-term potential. That is the challenge Des Ryan confronts every day as Head of Sports Medicine & Athletic Development at the Arsenal Academy. On this episode of the GAINcast he explains the Arsenal approach to athletic development and high performance. Read more
Bill Knowles has developed a reputation as the top return to play specialist in the game. But reducing the impact of injuries starts before the injury even occurs. Dating back to his time as a ski coach he learned how a proper athletic development program can reduce injuries before they even occur and make athletes better in the process. On this episode of the podcast, Knowles joins us to discuss how he integrates doses of athletic development into training for soccer and examples of how he uses randomness as a tool to develop stiffness and more robust athletes. Read more
Peter Vint has worked around the world to bridge the gap between sports science and on field performance. The former Senior Director of Competitive Analysis, Research & Innovation at the United State Olympic Committee joins this week’s GAINcast to discuss how to develop a high performance team and create an environment where their work brings results. Read more
Every year the University of North Carolina ranks among the top universities in the Director’s Cup race, given to the university with the most overall success across all sports. They have a track record of producing repeat champions in team sports like basketball, soccer, baseball, and lacrosse. On this week’s podcast Greg Gatz (Director of Strength & Conditioning, Olympic Sports) and Jonas Sahratian (Head Strength & Conditioning, Men’s Basketball) join us to discuss how their culture and approach to training have contributed to a culture of success. Read more
All eyes look towards Europe in the soccer world and if you look close enough you will see there are some interesting team sports planning trends gaining momentum. As the High Performance Director for the MLS champions Seattle Sounders FC, Dave Tenney has tried to keep his team on the cutting edge and has looked closely at the new models emerging from Europe. On this episode, we have a discussion with Tenney about the direction periodization is headed and how he has seen successful solutions implemented at various clubs. Read more
Speed is key in every sport, but not all speed is created equal. In many sports, maximum speed is not the game changer. Instead, it is how fast you can respond to the opponent, change direction, and get moving again. In other words, multi-directional speed is often more important than linear speed. On this episode of the podcast professor Ken Clark explains the three elements of multi-directional speed, how it differs from other types of speed, and strategies to improve it. Read more
A question that comes up nearly every time I present on specific strength exercises is whether such work in the weight room is really necessary for team sports. Athletes from these sports spend large quantities of time on the field and little time training off of it. As a result many strength coaches feel a need to balance out their training and focus only on general exercises once the athletes enter the weight room. I must admit, it is a great question. In fact, I’ve been pondering it for a few months now. Read more
Bill Knowles is a world-renowned expert in reconditioning, having worked with athletes and teams from across the globe at the Olympic and professional levels. He joins us on this weeks podcast to discuss injuries, coming back from injury, and athletic development. Read more
We all talk about speed as if it were one simple thing, but it is a complex combination of factors. On this week’s podcast Speedworks founder and elite sprint coach Jonas Tawiah Dodoo walks us through the factors and discusses the nuances of training for speed in team sports and how to individualize speed training. Read more
