Archives for November, 2009
This is the time of year when you can read quite a few articles on what triathletes should be doing in the off-season. The articles correctly bring out how this is a time for rest and the time to begin preparation for the new season. There are many recommendations given on how this should be done.
For example, one of the most frequently seen recommendations is to work on your weaknesses. This is a good but very general recommendation. On the surface it sounds great but what does it really mean? Read more… »
Posted on Nov 27, 2009 under Scapular stabilization |
Scapular stabilization is for the most part, becoming a trendy word. I see many exercises written up as being very effective in improving scapular stabilization. But yet, I have yet to see a definition of what is meant by scapular stabilization.
There’s no questioning the fact that the scapula must be “stabilized” during any movement of the arm or arms. By this I mean that the scapulae must be held under control by the muscles to allow for sliding and rotating in direct relation to the arm movement. Read more… »
Since introducing plyometric training in the US in the late 1960s- 80s, I have witnessed the misuse and misinterpretation of what constitutes real plyometric training. I have written many articles about this in an attempt to keep a clear distinction between jump training and true plyometric training.
The reason for this is that true plyometric training involves jumps, but not all jumps. However, with each ensuing year the misuse of the term plyometrics has continued to such an extent that it is now used as a synonym for jump training. Read more… »
In reading about Tim Linececum who won the NL Cy Young award, it reinforced my belief that pitchers today are getting paid more for doing less. For example, Linececum had 15 wins, the lowest ever for a starter in a full season of play. Of this total only four were complete games! And this was the most of any pitcher in the league!
Why don’t we see more 20 and 30 game winners? Many will say that it is due to better hitters but I disagree with this because the numbers do not substantiate it. The number of over 300 hitters is not increasing from year to year. It is easy to say is due to better pitching but then we find ourselves going around in circles making lame excuses that can’t be backed up. Read more… »
The wrist break must be forceful in order to speed up and/or maintain clubhead speed. If you do not do this, you will not have timely rotation of the arms to square the ball to the target. As a result, the clubface will remain open and your chances of hitting a slice are enhanced.
To strengthen the muscles involved you should do the ulna flexion exercise. This exercise is best done with the Strength bar so that you can go through the full range of motion in a very dynamic manner. In addition to gaining strength in the muscles involved you can also develop the ability to have a more explosive wrist break.
For more information on this topic, see Explosive Golf. For visual demonstrtion of this and other exercises specific to the golf swing see the Explosive Golf DVD
Runners often substitute cycling to maintain leg strength and sometimes to help improve running speed. Cycling is a good substitute when you are not able to run as it does involve the same muscles but not to the same degree.
For example, cycling relies mainly on the quadriceps in leg extension. It is a dynamic move that powers the cyclists forward. For runners, the quadriceps are used mainly for preventing excessive lowering of the body after touchdown and to create the vertical forces when pushing off in runners with poor technique who push off with a body above the foot. Read more… »
I keep talking to runners and athletes in different sports that require running, who maintain that they have tight hamstrings. However, upon questioning them in regard to how they know that their hamstrings are tight, I never get a straight answer. Most often it is, ” I just feel it” or “I just know it.”
It is almost as though they are supposed to have tight hamstrings. If they didn’t, something would be wrong with them. Is it a figment of their imagination or do most runners and running athletes truly have tight hamstrings? Read more… »
Although they do not specifically state this, most articles in running or other magazines that deal with running, are intended for beginners and novices. Howeve, they are typically written in a manner that indicates that they apply to all levels of runners. This is misleading.
As a result of this many runners incorporate recommendations in the belief that it will improve their performance when in reality, it can produce the opposite result. With sorrow, we still do not have a system that can identify different levels of performance so that each runner will know where he stands in relation to other runners. Read more… »
An interesting article from the New York Times Services appeared in the paper the other day titled, “Despite injuries, humans are born to run”. It was related to marathon running and brought out some very interesting facts.
For example in the US, 425,000 marathoners completed the marathon. This is an increase of 20% from the beginning of the decade. At the same time injury rates have climbed with studies reporting that 90% of those who train for the marathon sustained injuries in the process. Read more… »
I continue to read articles dealing with plyometric exercises in which the authors advocate absorption of force upon landing. For example, in doing double leg jumps it is recommended that you “jump straight up and land in the same position absorbing the landing”.
Do you really want to absorb the landing forces? The answer is a resounding no! Why? Because when you absorb the forces there is very little to give back in the takeoff. Plyometrics is not merely jumping up and down without any preliminary actions. See Explosive Plyometrics Read more… »
All teams that play the Yankees and non Yankee fans will probably give a resounding yes to this question. At the same time, they will also ask how you can beat them when they have so much money to buy the best athletes.
The answer is very simple; train the players to perform better. This is not a “well duh” response mainly because most people believe that this is already being done. But it is not, and can be proven very easily. Read more… »
One of the more popular Russian innovations that is being used by many coaches today is block training. Some swear by it while others do not find it as effective as touted. Some even get the same results by using the standard programs.
The problem lies in not only how this block training is applied, but with whom it is used. Understand that block training is intended for high-level athletes. It is not for beginners or novices. For these latter athletes conventional periodization programs are best. To learn why this is so see Block Periodization Read more… »
To ask what is player development may appear to be a silly question. However it is not; this term is often either misunderstood, misinterpreted or has completely different meanings.
For example, the new owners of the Chicago Cubs and San Diego Padres have stated that player development is a high priority. In Chicago’s case they feel that the team already has sufficient talent while San Diego is more interested in great scouting. Read more… »
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