Time and time again, athletes tell me they just can’t seem to gain weight, or even maintain their weight during the season. And, time-and-time-again my question to them is, “Did you eat breakfast today?” Unfortunately, the typical answer is “No, Coach, I didn’t.” Here are some of the top lame excuses I’ve heard from athletes … Read more
There appear to be too many “rules,” too many “self-evident truths,” and too much egotism and close-mindedness in strength training for sport. The fact is, strength training for sport is a rather simple concept– no, not the training itself (which needs to be brutally hard), but the principles behind the training. I say let the … Read more
Coaches who are well read in the area of strength training will attest to the fact that considerable differences exist in training beliefs, philosophies, and the concurrent day to day implementation of techniques and exercises. As we have stated here many times in the past, any program that holds true to the tenets of comprehensive … Read more
The off-season is a time for athletes, regardless of their sport, to regain focus, and allow their bodies and minds time to recover from a season of intense training and competition. Although this is a time for recovery, I venture it can also be a time to push one’s limits. In fact, the off-season provides … Read more
Today in the strength and conditioning field there are as many ways to train athletes as there are different ways to run a football or basketball team. Being around collegiate athletics for almost 10 years I have seen hundreds of different strength and conditioning programs for virtually every sport. Some programs incorporate Olympic Lifting; some … Read more
Free weights and machines are just tools to place stress and tension on your muscles. At STANFORD we use barbells, dumbbells, machines, leverage equipment, manual resistance, and body weight exercises. This provides variety psychologically and physically, allowing us to use change as a motivator. Your muscles cannot tell where the tension comes from. It is … Read more
Many would argue that abs are the most wanted muscle on any physique. But what’s realistic when it comes to abdominal endeavors? I decided to write about the 7 myths I hear most often. Hopefully, this clears up any misleading information. Most Common Ab Myths 1. I Must Train Abs for Hours for Them to … Read more
I learned a lesson about how strong I really was training for my sophomore football season in college. I was at World’s Gym by my school, all pumped up and feeling good about myself doing my ego booster exercises like Smith Machine bench and squat. Out of nowhere this mountain of a man came up … Read more
Why you should go to the gym today. Thinking of skipping that workout today? Sounds tempting, doesn’t it? Sometimes it feels like you work out five or six days a week for one to three hours but you always manage to come across someone who works out less and looks better than you. Everyone has … Read more
Not as in military terms, however, it may seem like it to some. Basic training exercises are not glorious nor a whole lot a fun, but they are the basis of becoming HUGE! When we say “basic” we don’t actually mean “basic”, perhaps a more effective term would be “base” training. Before you can become … Read more