The 750 Club: Bench-Squat-Clean

Many high school and college strength and conditioning programs test the squat, bench press, and clean to evaluate muscular strength and power.  These exercises may also form the foundational lifts of the strength training program given that they are compound, large muscle group movements. In terms of testing and assessment, the one-rep max (1-RM) of […]

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 […]

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 […]

FOCUS ON RESEARCH: Variable Resistance Training improves Upper Body Strength & Power

The bench press is the cornerstone exercise for developing upper body strength and power, especially for sports that include contact such as football, rugby and wrestling. As athletes get stronger, it is common to reach a plateau in 1RM bench press. This is often experienced in the ‘‘sticking point’’ region as they ascend during the […]

Training Considerations for Improving Muscular Strength: Q&A with Dr. Tim Suchomel

Muscular strength and power are critical for athletic performance, and most, if not all, coaches recognize the importance of resistance training in the overall program.  However, this also leaves the question – what is the best way to train my athletes? This certainly opens a big can of worms that can take several directions including […]

FOCUS ON RESEARCH: Q&A with Dr. Andy Galpin – Effects of Elastic Bands on the Deadlift

This is the first of several blogs that Focus on Research. Here, we will provide a summary for the time-crunched coach, and whenever possible provide insight from the researcher(s) themselves. Recently, there seems to be increased attention on using elastic bands for strength training. This type of training method is referred to as variable resistance […]

You Can’t Fire a Cannon From a Canoe: Training the Lower Body

By Joe Eisenmann, PhD “You can’t fire a cannon from a canoe.” “Don’t build on sand.” “Build the foundation of the house before you put up the walls.” In the context of athletics, these analogies highlight the importance of lower body strength as a foundation to athletic performance. Indeed, several studies have shown that lower […]

Basketball Conditioning: Linear Training Applications

By Dan Hutchison, MS, ATC, CSCS The ability to run fast up and down the basketball court is a game changer when it comes to the offensive transition game, and adequately defending an ‘up-tempo’, transition style team.  Linear speed on the basketball court, especially with the basketball in hand, has been personified by the likes […]

Basketball Conditioning: The Importance of Lateral Resistance Training

By Dan Hutchison, MS, ATC, CSCS Lateral movement in the game of basketball is essential for defending ones opponent both on and off the ball.  The ability to anticipate and ‘beat’ the dribbler to a specific spot requires conditioning, technical repetition, and court awareness.  Basketball coaches usually cover the latter two aspects by consistently implementing […]