Articles

Chris Korfist shares the before and after raw data of the 40-yard dash and vertical jump tests from an eight-week spring training program for ninety high school athletes. The average vertical improvement was 2.35 inches and the average fly 10 improvement was 0.12 seconds.

What do Napoleon, the Wright brothers, and Zen have in common? They are books which have influenced one of the country’s most influential coaches. He cites eight titles and their respective contexes which helped him develop his coaching style and techniques.

It’s better to do a few things well rather than doing a lot not so well. Focus on the essentials for your sport. And make sure that your athletes aren’t overwhelmed with work and that they get enough rest.

I think part of the reason for my passion as a coach was my inability to find someone to help me on my path to my athletic goals in my younger years. Of the many things that I enjoy about what I do, this is really my favorite. I like to be the bridge to help an athlete accomplish their athletic goals. What is cool about the process is the ability to look back and see where they started and where they finished.

When athletes go into the weight room, they have one goal, get bigger, faster stronger. No football player wants to be the guy who has a 10 and a 5 on each side of the bar in the squat rack. I think we all remember the pride of slamming 45’s together on the pins. Big boom. And athletes will do anything to move up the chart and get a 500lb club shirt. And this is where the problems begin.

Hip extension is the name of the game in athletic development. It is the thrust that drives your athlete forward or up, or both. The stronger or more powerful your thrust, the faster and farther you will go. At the end of the chain is the ankle.

Coaches have limited control of high school athletes which limits the effectiveness of periodization. Autoregulation is a simple and effective alternative for planning speed workouts.

The best assistant coach a track coach can have is an electronic timer. An electronic timer doesn't lie or, cheat. He makes athletes and coaches deal with reality. He tracks athletes’ progress. He motivates without talking. He solves team problems.