Strength Coach Thoughts

       In today's strength and conditioning community, there seems to always be a debate, discussion, or even heated argument about something. This could be about technique, programming, periodization, or development theories. I am fully aware that this is not isolated to strength and conditioning, as this applies across sports coaches as well however, I have noticed that strength and conditioning researchers and coaches seem very set in their specific beliefs or methods. Though this may not be a bad thing, failure to grow or evolve in the face of new theories or research is a recipe for failure or stagnation.        I am currently pursuing my Ed. D in kinesiology so I want to state that I fully support scientific processes, research, and application to strength and conditioning as well as human performance. Understanding scientific principles are essential to efficiently move weight and improve performance while reducing the risk of injury. ...

       One thing I routinely ask and remind my athletes of is their why. Your why is the reason you do what you do both in sports and in life. It is the reason for getting out of bed in the morning; the very reason for your being. Without a why, you are doomed to meander aimlessly through life, like a ship without a port, you have no destination to aim for.       Having a why is probably the single most important thing you can do for your mental, social, and physical well-being. Your why will make you go workout when you don't feel like it, follow your meal plan even when you're bored with it, get up and go to work when you're tired of the same thing, etc. According to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America, "264 million people worldwide live with depression" (Anxiety and Depression Association of America, ADAA, n.d.). I am not saying that having a why is the cure to depression however most of the clinical symptoms of depression could b...

    The weight room is a very unique place in today's society.      Today's society is shifting to focus more on individual feelings, opinions, perceived identities, etc. Although feelings can vary on if this is a good or bad shift, the weight room remains a constant light in the storm of social chaos. I am not talking about corporate gyms that focus on creating an "environment" to improve and retain membership, but rather the weight room in the truest sense of the word. This could be a school weight room, home gym, athletic performance facilities, or anywhere that focuses on improvement, rather than money.      In the weight room, the weight is cold and uncaring. It is there ready to humble you and wanting to keep you down. The weight will bully you and make you want to walk away and quit. It doesn't care if you're having a bad day or a good day, if you're really sore or feeling fresh, feeling athletic or feeling slow and sluggish; it...