Jim Kielbaso MS, CSCS is the Director of the Total Performance Training Center and author of Utlimate Speed & Agiity as well as creator of the IYCA’s Ultimate Speed Drills and Ultimate Speed Mechanics resources. He is a former college strength coach and has trained thousands of athletes at every level of competition.
Q: What’s your background?
A: I am a former college strength coach and the author of the book Ultimate Speed & Agility. I have a BS in Exercise Science from Michigan State and an MS in Kinesiology from the University of Michigan. I have been in the industry for 20 years, have multiple certifications and have spoken at many conferences and clinics.
Q: What do you do in your career today?
A: I’m currently the Director of the Total Performance Training Centers in Wixom and Rochester Hills, MI. I work with multiple high schools and run an NFL Combine Prep program every year. I also enjoy the educational aspect of this profession which is why I helped create both www.FootballTrainingPros.com and www.UltimateStrengthAndConditioning.com to spread quality training information to coaches and trainers around the world.
Q: What does the IYCA mean to you?
A: I discovered the IYCA about three years ago and was instantly impressed with the organization, mission and professionalism of the group. There were no egos, just genuine people wanting to grow the profession and learn from each other. It was a refreshing attitude, and I knew I wanted to be more involved. Since then, I’ve been able to speak at two of their events and I’ve created two speed & agility products with them. Every interaction I’ve had with the IYCA has been positive and the people, both members and staff, have been incredible.
Q: Can you share why you created the IYCA Ultimate Speed Mechanics & IYCA Ultimate Speed Drills resources?
A: When I talk to other trainers and watch their speed & agility training sessions, I often notice a couple of issues. The first is that many coaches just run athletes through drills with very little instruction or feedback on proper movement mechanics. I see coaches using speed training tools like sleds and bands, but they aren’t correcting faulty movement patterns.
The second thing I notice is that coaches get stuck in a rut and use the same old drills all the time. Not only is this boring, there are often more appropriate drills available.
With these two things in mind, I helped the IYCA create two products that address these issues. The first is called Ultimate Speed Mechanics where I break down many common sport movements so that we can teach athletes how to move properly. I include simple and effective coaching cues so that you can make immediate changes with just about any athletes.
The second product is called Ultimate Speed Drills. This product includes dozens of drills and variations that will allow you to expand your toolbox. You’ll never have to worry about having the right drills for every situation.
When I shared my idea with the IYCA leadership, they agreed that these products would help plenty of their members, so we put together two fantastic resources that include both video and written portions.
You can learn more about IYCA Ultimate Speed Mechanics & IYCA Ultimate Speed Drills at the links below:
IYCA Ultimate Speed Mechanics:
http://ultimatespeedmechanics.com/
IYCA Ultimate Speed Drills:
http://ultimatespeeddrills.com/