Archive for “Head Strength” Tag

Coaching Young Athletes Back in The Trenches: Part 2

Posted on: June 21st, 2011 by IYCA No Comments

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Coaching Young Athletes – We learn from the Best…

(2) Coaching Presence

Yet another intuitive intangible that I truly believe cannot be taught… But CAN be improved upon so long as you’re prepared to look in the mirror…

A quality Coach has a presence.

Not because they are dictators or aristocratic morons who feel compelled to proclaim their dominance, but because they simply have a commanding authority that is automatically respected and impossible to ignore when Coaching Young Athletes.

In my career, I have 3 Coaches who fit this bill perfectly –

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How to Create High School Training Systems

Posted on: January 17th, 2011 by IYCA 7 Comments

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Before you read how I created a High School Training System that became one of the most successful in the country, I want to invite you to this landmark event:

Wednesday January 19
7:30pm (EST)

“The High School Training Manifesto”

A LIVE audio with my special guests:

high school training

3 of the very best and most successful High School Strength Coaches in the world are going to share all their secrets with you…

Just click below and register for NO CHARGE:

—> https://iyca.org/highschool/

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Kids Coaching: My Memories – Part One

Posted on: August 19th, 2009 by IYCA No Comments

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Kids Coaching teaches us

Blake came to me as a quiet, shy and terribly uncoordinated
8th grader.

13 years old and quite tall for his age, I knew the second I saw
him that I was going to like the kid.

He never said much and certainly had a great deal of difficulty
learning how to perform even the most basic of exercises, but
he was steadfast in his work ethic and always brought a good
energy to the training center.

I learned a lot over the years from kids coaching and from Blake.

Mostly, how to enjoy and appreciate the very small things in life.

His last training session with me was on a humid and sweaty
Chicago-style, August afternoon.

Walking into my facility, I noticed an unfamiliar bounce to his
stride and a larger than usual, ear-to-ear grin on his face.

"What’s goin’ on, my friend" I greeted him.

"Why such a perky smile?"

"Tomorrow, football tryouts start and I’m geared up!" he replied.

I tend to get tunnel vision as the summer months dwindle down.
I have dozens upon dozens of college athletes returning to play
fall sports and even more high school kids phasing up for
football and basketball.

"That’s right! What position you trying out for? You expecting
a ton of playing time, I assume?" I asked.

"Don’t care to be honest. Just looking forward to strapping on a
helmet and being part of a team"

His answer struck something in me that I didn’t quite understand at
the time, but would be overwhelmed with a few short months later.

Fast forward.

Late September, same year.

Blake was attending the same high school that I served as Head
Strength Coach at.

Great bunch of kids all around.

Dedicated, hard working and a Coaching Staff that truly valued the
kid inside the athlete.

And I’ll be honest…

I ADORED Friday nights.

I got to patrol the sidelines.

Home games especially.

There is just something magical about high school football in the cool
autumn air.

So there I was.

Patrolling as usual.

Laid back as I am in my daily life, I get ultra-serious and intense when
it comes to competition.

My own or my athletes.

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Kids Fitness: My 15% Rule

Posted on: January 13th, 2009 by IYCA No Comments

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Kids fitness Education Success

I spend 75% of my time with resources from trusted names I know are
great kids fitness trainers.

I spend 15% of my time with resources from trainers I have never heard of.

I spend 10% of my time with resources that I completely disagree with.

This system has been the secret to my success.

In my 10% category, I force myself to learn something about a training
philosophy or exercise program that, at face value, I have no use for.

How different is that from most kids fitness trainers?

Do you ever spend time with training resources that you know you don’t
agree with, or do you brush them off as ‘not worth your time’?

The method to my madness is simply this –

I can never learn enough.

By reading a book or listening to an audio CD about a training style that
I disagree with, one of two great things happen.

Either I learn something I didn’t know (which often happens when you
actually read a book that you didn’t think you were going to like) or I
reaffirm and become more closely connected to the belief-system that I
already had.

Learn something new or validate that your system is the right one…
how is that anything but a positive experience?

The 15% category is reserved for trainers that I have never heard of before.

Why?

Because some of the best trainers I have ever met are simply NOT
household names.

They don’t have websites, they don’t market themselves and they don’t
try to become well known.

They just train people and then publish what they know to be true.

Professionals like David Jack and Carlos Alvarez come to mind.

David runs a CATZ training facility near Boston and Carlos is the Head
Strength Coach for a prominent high school in Ohio.

Both spend roughly 50 hours a week training young athletes from various
sports and kids fitness programs— and they do so successfully.

David has sent countless high school graduates on to successful college
careers and Carlos is responsible for the fitness levels of the 2007 National
High School Champion football program.

They don’t broadcast themselves.

They don’t have websites.

They don’t ‘beat their own drums’.

But they’re incredibly talented and insightful Coaches who know exactly
how to develop top level athletes.

And they’re both speaking at my International Summit in February.

Two guys in your 15%.

Two guys who know exactly what it takes to be the best.

And two guys you will absolutely never learn from again if you aren’t
at the IYCA Summit.

Something to consider…..

http://www.iyca.org/2009summit

– Brian

Fitness For Kids: Back in the Trenches…

Posted on: June 5th, 2008 by IYCA 4 Comments

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Fitness For Kids and the IYCA is rolling fast.

Speaking in Australia this summer.

Club Industry and the World Golf Fitness Summit, as well.

Town Sports International conference in the fall.

And have been asked to consult with the Singapore Sports Council.

But the funny thing is that this stuff doesn’t matter to me as
much as something I consider bigger and more important…

… I still coach everyday.

And something happened last night that has gotten me excited
beyond belief.

From 2004 – 2007, I proudly served as the Head Strength Coach
for Barrington High School here in Illinois.

I worked with the Tennis, Girls Basketball, Track and Football
teams.

And I loved every second of it.

Last night, I received a phone call from the Head Football Coach.

He wants me to come back.

“There has been something missing from our program since you
left, Brian. I want you back in our system”

Guess what me answer was?

A BIG TIME ‘yes’!!!

Coaching is my passion.

It’s how I identify myself.

And I don’t care how many international seminars I give, how
many books I write on Fitness For Kids or how many times I appear on TV.

I’m a Fitness For Kids Coach to the core.

In fact, I received a testimonial from an audience member at
a seminar I gave in Phoenix once and it has always been the most
touching and gratifying thing I have ever read.

He summed up his views in one sentence –

“Brian is a COACH. Capitalization intended.”

Next time someone asks you about the IYCA, asks you what makes
us different, you be sure to show them this newsletter.

The CEO, ‘Head Cheese’, ‘Top of the Pyramid’ isn’t sitting in an
office or conducting research…

… He’s on the front lines getting his hands dirty and doing
what he loves to do.

People have asked me what it’s like to be the ‘center’ of the
IYCA and I always respond the same way.

I’m not the center of the IYCA…

… Fitness For kids is.

No matter what happens in your career.

No matter how stressful or busy you get.

No matter how much things go wrong.

A good Fitness For Kids training session with a bunch of high spirited kids
always makes it right.

Remember your passion.

Brian