The Power Phase for Field Athletes
What are the training phases that field sports athletes go through? The National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM) developed an evidence-based fitness training system based on scientific principles more than 20 years ago (NASM, n.d.). Dr. Mike Clark, its creator, established five distinct but complementary training phases to improve the physical performance of field sports […]
Oscillatory Training: A New Approach to Strength and Conditioning
History of oscillatory training Oscillatory training is a method that emerged based on Sherrington’s law of reciprocal inhibition which states that for one muscle to contract, another must relax (Johnson, 1960). Several decades ago, Matveyev, one of the most influential Russian scientists in the field of training, found that one of the main differences between […]
Workload Management for S&C Trainers with VBT Technology
Workload for strength and conditioning coaches: why is it essential to work with VBT technology? A strength and conditioning coach must administer the workload as precisely as possible to obtain maximum results with minimum fatigue. Velocity-based strength training (VBT) is the fastest and most optimal way we currently have to control whether the administered load […]
Key Points to Becoming a Great S&C Coach
First key to becoming a great S&C trainer: specialist of specialists They say that “knowledge does not take up space”, but it does take up time. They also say that “learner of everything, master of nothing”. There are many personal trainers who have a client portfolio that includes pregnant women, older adults, people with […]
All About Long-Term Athletic Development (LTAD)
What is long-term athletic development (LTAD) and why is it important? Image taken from Brett Wharton (Unsplash) Physical activity improves the overall health of children and young adults by reducing the risk of obesity, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, depression, and suicide, among other chronic medical conditions (Washington et al., 2001). Increasing youth physical activity has become […]
How To Analyze the Main KPI Of Your Athletes
What is a key performance indicator (KPI)? Image taken from Jonathan Chng (Unsplash) A Key Performance Indicator (KPI) is a measurable value that shows how effectively an athlete’s specific objectives are being met. Key Performance Indicators (KPIs from now on) are useful to evaluate the success of the objectives set for each athlete. Every athlete […]
Boxer Velocity, Strength and Explosiveness Training
Why is velocity training important for the boxer? The main objective of boxing is to land a clean blow to the opponent without receiving any in return. The greater the impact against the opponent’s head or torso, the greater the likelihood of success in achieving a knockdown or knockout, as well as to get a […]
Difference Between Rotary and Linear Encoders
What is an encoder? What is a motion velocity analyzer? An encoder is a motion sensor that generates digital signals in response to motion (1). Encoders can provide users with information on the position, velocity and/or direction of all types of machinery (2). Encoders are generally used to measure one or more specific parameters about […]
All About the Bat’s Exit Velocity and How to Improve It
What is Bat Exit Velocity and Why is it So Important in Baseball and Softball? Image taken from Chris Chow (Unsplash) Bat velocity is the speed with which the ball leaves the bat just after the impact (Nicholls, Elliott, Miller, & Koh, 2003). Exit velocity is one of the main metrics taken into account in […]
Baseball Velocity Training: How to Throw Faster
Specific Training Needs of The Baseball Pitcher to Gain Velocity Pitching velocity is one of the most highly valued performance metrics in baseball. Since the radar gun was introduced in baseball in the 1960s, pitching velocity has become a major part of evaluating pitching talent (Erickson et al., 2020). That is the reason why many […]
