Archive for “youth sports training” Tag

Qualifications to Work with Young Athletes

Posted on: August 19th, 2010 by IYCA 19 Comments

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Young Athletes and the qualifications needed to train them

I started my career by training nothing but Olympic Champions, National Team Competitors and Professionals Athletes.

But what I came to realize is that none of those experiences made me qualified to train young athletes. Neither would I be qualified if I had an Olympic Medal around my neck or a Super Bowl ring on my index finger.

We constantly mistake ‘big names’ or ‘big credentials’ as qualified.

Let me put it this way… The most impressive and decorated mathematician at NASA is a literal genius with the topic of math, but would you really think them qualified and ideal to teach your 7 year old son how to multiply?

Success in sport or at the highest level of Coaching doesn’t mean that one is suited to understand and be fluent in the unique sciences of youth sports training. Seek experience and education pertaining to the specialty at hand – not glitz and glamour.

Please, comment below… We truly want to hear your thoughts on this!

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2 Lessons on Business & Life… Taken from the World of Youth Sports Training

Posted on: July 21st, 2010 by IYCA 8 Comments

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Youth Sports Training Tips

Most professional Trainers, be them Fitness Gurus or Sports Performance Experts, may not ever take the time to realize that much of what we hold true and dear in our pursuits of enhancing both the health and ability of young athletes, also translates to the world of business and life as well.

Perhaps this lack of ‘connecting-the-dots’ between the two is more than just something that has been overlooked – it’s because the values on which we pride our work with young athletes is far too limited in scope to be accurate.

Let me explain that.

Our industry holds strong to the notion that short-term, ‘work ’em hard’ training situations that involve high intensity on everything and a slow, methodical infusion of skill on nothing, is what best serves young clients in their need to get better (faster, stronger etc) now.

But how often does this gun-slinging approach to life or business prove successful? And can we take lessons from that as it relates to developing young athletes in Youth Sports Training?

How many times do we become handicapped by vein, unplanned and quick attempts to overhaul our businesses or restructure our lives in short periods of time?

Think about it. How many New Year’s Eve goals for the impending year have you set (be them business or life alterations) only to find yourself exactly where you were in November come March?

Here’s another one for you.

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Warming Up For Sport – What? Why? How?

Posted on: April 20th, 2010 by IYCA 18 Comments

By Richie Whall

soccer warmup

What is the purpose of the warm-up? Why do we warm-up? How do we warm-up?

The majority of coaches and athletes will perform some form of warm-up prior to training or competition but how often do we actually take the time to think about:

:: What we need to do to warm-up appropriately

:: Why we do what we are currently doing to warm-up, or

:: Wow can the warm-up be conducted more effectively?

In my previous article I discussed a goals – principles – strategies – activities approach to developing your coaching philosophy and system. So, applying this system – what does this mean for warm-ups?

The two key warm-up goals are to:

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Maximize Your Young Athletes’ Time

Posted on: April 18th, 2010 by IYCA 16 Comments

youth football

Earlier this week I was asked to consult with a local youth football organization.

Ordinarily, these types of consulting services include me conducting conference call educational seminars with as many as 30 – 40 coaches at one time.

I present on the topics that they have requested as they listen and follow along with a Power Point presentation that I email to them prior to the call starting.

At the end of my presentation, we all enjoy a round-table discussion in which they are free to ask me anything they want in reference to how my ‘Grasso Methodologies’ can fit specifically into their league and respective practice schedules.

If I dare say so myself, it’s a great service.

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The Myth of Speed Training

Posted on: February 2nd, 2010 by IYCA 27 Comments

treadmill

So a great question was asked on the message board over at www.IYCAMembers.com a couple of days ago.

"Why are high speed running treadmills NOT recommended for training young athletes?"

I’ve been talking about this issue for as long as I can remember.

So naturally… I offered my two cents.

Here are my thoughts:

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When Do You Train Young Athletes?

Posted on: September 17th, 2009 by IYCA 4 Comments

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Train Young Athletes Correctly

From a study published in the Swimming Science Bulletin. Authored by Brent S. Rushall & John Marsden:

"All sports require high degree of skill for superior performance. The major emphasis of a (youth athletic) training program should be skill excellence. For skills to be developed, learning should occur in non-fatigued states… It is advisable to schedule auxiliary training sessions either after a (sport) session or at some time that allows complete recovery from its execution so that no residual fatigue is carried over".

I’ve never mentioned this in literature, but have advocated it several times through lectures and seminars. Learning how to create appropriate training sessions is crucial to working with young athletes. If you are forced to have the technical practice AND the training session within the same day (as is typical), make sure that the training session comes AFTER practice. This keeps the body and CNS rested and for skill acquisition and demonstration during practice.

Ever notice that the "science" of strength, conditioning and fitness is more
complex than many realize?

Train Young Athletes

It’s really got nothing to do with just throwing some exercises together and
counting sets and reps.

Does speed training come before or after strength training?

When is it best to train the "core"?

Where does flexibility training fit into the daily picture?

Getting the most from your young athletes and truly making them the very
best they possibly can be means knowing as much as you can about how
to train them properly.

It’s not a day-by-day concept or fly-by-the-seat-of-your-pants situation.

It requires a system.

A complete and comprehensive system that is internationally proven to be
successful and can be implemented by you TOMORROW with ease.

A system just like this one…

Youth Fitness Protocols: Am I Being Unfair?

Posted on: July 9th, 2009 by IYCA 33 Comments

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Youth fitness Questions

A great number of posts were placed on my blog yesterday.

Some in support of my thoughts regarding the golf video I displayed and some
in complete opposition (calling me, in fact, "mean spirited").

Now you know me.

I’ve never been one to shy away from a good debate and certainly never afraid
to admit that I’m wrong.

But instead of defending my position on yesterday’s topic, I wanted to
encourage you to post your thoughts.

Don’t defend me for no good reason.

If you feel I’m being overly harsh, please say so.

Unfair, too critical…. Lay it on.

If you think I’m correct in my assessment, explain why.

I love good, healthy debate and firmly believe that a revolution won’t have near
the impact it could unless disagreeing sides can be fostered, each given the
opportunity to convince the other.

I’m going to stay out of it… All I want to do is read and learn from what you
have to say.

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