An Innovative Approach to Cord-loaded Deadlifting

Besides traditional training methods using the barbell, many coaches and athletes are adding resistance with bands– known as variable resistance training. This method of training aligns with the Dynamic Effort method outlined by Russian sport scientist Vladimir Zatsiorsky in Science and Practice of Strength Training and also popularized by Louie Simmons’ Westside Barbell method of […]

Improving Speed and Explosiveness

There is old but common adage in sports – speed kills! Every coach has said at one time or another, “He/she is just not fast enough”. Or, they may have said, “He/she is just not explosive enough”.  Either statement usually refers to acceleration or top-end or maximal sprinting speed or both. So what are you […]

Training the Female Athlete: Ask the Experts

When it comes to strength and conditioning, much of the attention is focused on the male athlete and in particular football.  However, some strength and conditioning coaches prefer to work with female athletes for a variety of reasons, and over the course of their careers have developed great practical expertise in training the female athlete. […]

The Wall-mounted Trak-X™ system: Insight from the University of Michigan

As mentioned in a previous blog The Evolution of the Lifting Platform the Perform-X Trak-X system is being implemented into the inlaid platform of several high school, college and professional weight rooms across the country. However, this customized metal strip that allows for safe and effective anchoring of resistance cords is not limited to being […]

The Evolution of the Lifting Platform

By Joe Eisenmann, PhD   The days of the above ground weightlifting platform may be a thing of the past. More and more high schools, colleges, and professional strength and conditioning facilities who are either building a new facility or renovating an existing facility are going away from the traditional above ground lifting platform and […]

A Checklist for Designing Strength and Conditioning Programs

By Joe Eisenmann, PhD In my role here at Perform-X, I get a chance to ‘coach the coaches’ and also learn from them.  These coaches range from volunteer high school coaches with little educational background in strength and conditioning to well-educated and certified strength and conditioning coaches at the high school, collegiate and professional levels […]

A simple guide to improve the health of coaches

By Joe Eisenmann, PhD   Coaches – First, thanks for taking the time to step away from the practice field, gym, weight room, film room, telephone, meeting room, or laptop to read this blog. We spend so much time and energy preparing our athletes and team for the demands of competition that sometimes we fail […]

5 things to remember for summer workouts

By Joe Eisenmann, PhD   This blog serves as a follow-up to a recent tweet, and allows for the opportunity to expand a bit on each key tenet or basic principle of strength and conditioning. Summer offers a two-month window to focus on training and conditioning for many high school coaches & athletes.  Of course, […]

Variable Resistance Training in Advanced High School Athletes

Training with bands as added resistance – known as variable resistance or accommodating resistance – has become popular in strength and conditioning. Recently, a comprehensive scientific review article (summarized in a previous blog) noted that variable resistance training appears to offer some superior advantages in producing the greatest comprehensive strength adaptations compared to other methods […]

When to Eat? Optimizing the Timing of Intake for Optimal Performance

By Joe Eisenmann, PhD   Plain and simple – athletic performance and recovery are enhanced by optimal nutrition. Too often, hard work and training are not optimized because of inadequate nutrition! Sports nutrition is all about putting the right types of foods in your body, in the right amounts, and at the right time. It […]