Why Coaches Are Fired Up about Perform-X
Interview with Nick Reese Resistance cord training with Perform-X is great because it offers coaches and trainers nearly unlimited possibilities for customization, combination, and configuration to fit the unique goals and needs of their athletes and facilities. But once these possibilities are realized in your training environment, what are the benefits for you and your […]
What’s So Great About Resistance Cord Training? Possibility.
Interview with Nick Reese Resistance bands have been around for a while—over 100 years, in fact. Known for their light weight, affordability, and simple functionality, they’re a staple in most gyms, fitness centers, and physical therapy offices. And yet, it’s not a stretch to say that the full potential of resistance cord training hasn’t been […]
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 […]
The Platform: Beyond Weightlifting – the Integration of Plyometrics and Variable Resistance Loading
The lifting platform, like the rack, is a staple in most weight rooms. The platform provides a dedicated space for the deadlift and the Olympic weightlifting movements (clean, jerk press, and snatch) and their derivatives (clean high pull, jump shrug, etc.). These platforms are often above ground but more recently facilities have begun installing inlaid […]