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 […]
3 Optimal Devices for Running Speed Improvement

By Dan Hutchison, MS, ATC, CSCS There will most likely never be a magic pill or potion that miraculously makes humans rich, good-looking, athletic, thin, or famous. But, can there be a magic ‘tool’ to make humans run faster? Most likely NOT, but the question has been contemplated since the first Olympic Games in […]
Deceleration Training with Variable Resistance: Importance for Sports Performance & Injury Reduction

By Dan Hutchison, MS, ATC, CSCS An automobile with no brakes is literally an accident waiting to happen. This holds true for athletes and athletic performance involving any sport or activity that involves sprinting, agility, and change-of-direction (COD) movements. All athletic movement depends on two fundamental practices – starting and stopping. Whether this involves […]
Cord-Loaded Deadlifts using The Trak-X™ System

By Dan Hutchison, MS, ATC, CSCS The Deadlift is one of the most implemented weight lifting movements for improving strength and power. The muscle groups of the low back, glutes, and hamstrings, commonly known as the ‘posterior chain’, have numerous effects on the majority of athletic movements and are deemed key training areas for […]
Lateral Training for Improving Forward Sprinting Velocity

By Dan Hutchison, MS, ATC, CSCS The running motion predominantly occurs in the sagittal plane, which is the plane in which forward and backward movements of the body and body segments occur. So why should we talk about ‘lateral training’ with forward sprinting velocity? Many muscle groups associated with optimal forward sprinting can be stimulated […]
Using a Circuit Training Approach for Improving Strength, Speed, and Agility at the High School Level

By Dan Hutchison, MS, ATC, CSCS The phrase ‘circuit training’ is not new to the exercise industry and has been mentioned more frequently with various routines, concepts and training applications at the fitness level. Circuit training by definition involves a program, or “circuit” of exercises, that an individual performs either in order or within a […]
Speed Development Using Resistance Cords

By Dan Hutchison, MS, ATC, CSCS The training applications for running speed development have taken on a number of different concepts for optimal enhancement. Some concepts have shown to be highly effective but coach dependent, others just as effective but equipment dependent. Another words, there are good coaches out there, as well as good pieces […]