WEEKLY BLOG ARCHIVE
Gold Medal Coverage
By Kyle Garratt Like their peers in more traditional sports, winter athletes who take to the snow and ice for the X Games and Winter Olympics are backed by a strong network of athletic trainers working behind the scenes to keep them safe. Here is a look at who and what is keeping these cold-weather athletes healthy as they enter their competitive seasons.
Functional Path Manifesto
By Vern Gambetta Athletic development is about optimizing training to enhance performance. The basic concepts are quite simple. My experience has shown that simplicity yields complexity--you don't have to make it complicated. That's why being a generalist is so important. It allows me to make relationships that specialist, with their narrower vision, will not see.
Gambetta Sports Training Systems
NATA Youth Sports Safety Summit
By Brendon P. McDermott, PhD, ATC There have been 115 sport-related youth deaths since January 2008 in America. To address this growing problem, the NATA recently organized the Alliance to Address the Youth Sports Safety Crisis in America and held a summit on Jan. 12. The purpose of the Alliance, comprised of 30 healthcare and sports organizations, is to raise awareness, advance legislation, and improve medical care for young athletes across the country. A major goal in this endeavor is to help put an end to what has been labeled a crisis.
Supplemental Living
By Kyle Garratt According to the Nutrition Business Journal, the nutritional supplement industry produced $25 billion in revenue in 2008. Athletes represent the largest group of consumers of these supplements. Be it through protein powder, flaxseed oil, or nitric oxide, many athletes competing at a high level try to give themselves an advantage. But are all these supplements effective or, more seriously, safe?
Speed Training Specifics
By Vern Gambetta Preparing for competition means understanding sport demands and learning to train in ways that mimic game conditions. Develop your speed training philosophy based on those specific needs.
Building Physical Confidence
As physically active individuals, we all take mobility for granted when every day our mind commands our muscles and they easily comply with just the right type of movement and appropriate force production. At Twist Sport Conditioning, we call this Smart Muscle®. With each repeated action, our mind to muscle communication pathways strengthen and like building muscle, each successful action that our mind commands, our physical confidence grows.
By Peter Twist
Mouthguards Enhancing Performance
By Mike Phelps Once upon a time, mouthguards were used only by athletes playing contact sports who wanted to protect their precious pearly whites. While that's still a popular reason today, athletes are also beginning to use mouthguards as a performance-enhancing device.
Strength Training in Paradise
This past Thanksgiving, while most people went home to their families, the Xavier University women's basketball team traveled to the Bahamas for the annual Junkanoo Jam Tournament. Though traveling to an exotic location for work may sound like the fulfillment of a strength coach's fantasy, being on the road presents all sorts of challenges--specifically keeping the team healthy while maintaining the optimal strength and conditioning levels cultivated in the off-season and preseason.
By Rich Jacobs, MS, SCCC, CSCS
Specialization Still Rising
By Abigail Funk Many athletes still view sport specialization as the only way to keep up with their competitors, and many parents still think it's the only way for their kids to land a college athletic scholarship--despite numerous studies and expert advice that declare otherwise.
Cutting Through the Haze
By Abigail Funk Due to close relationships with athletes, athletic trainers and strength coaches sometimes see and hear more of what's going on in the locker room than sport coaches. That's why it's important that they keep their eyes and ears open when it comes to hazing issues. Preventative measures begin with defining and identifying what hazing is.
The Workout: A Means to an End
By Vern Gambetta Developing an optimal training plan takes more than a desire to make an athlete work so hard that they throw up. It means knowing your athletes, understanding their goals, and taking the time to carefully evaluate how you can help get them where they want to be athletically.
The Core of Four
Wayzata (Minn.) High School Head Strength and Conditioning Coach Ryan Johnson, shares an innovative, systematic approach to performing the Olympic lifts using a 13-pound, five-foot-long steel rod. Called the "Core of Four," Johnson uses the bar to progress less experienced athletes through primary lift movements. For more experienced lifters, the Core of Four serves as a dynamic warmup. 
By Ryan Johnson
Recycling a Myth
By Todd Brown, CCS The speed development world appears to be going green. Here's a baseless training philosophy that has been recycled as fact: Pull your toe up to your shin! Dorsiflex!
Mandate Sickle Cell Trait Testing?
By Greg Scholand The March 2008 death of University of Central Florida football player Ereck Plancher, who collapsed after a supervised workout and was pronounced dead at a hospital hours later, was the most recent wake-up call for the athletics world about the dangers of sickle cell trait. The trait, which Plancher had, increases the likelihood of exertional rhabdomyolysis and other health problems during hard workouts, especially in hot weather.
All-In-One Facility
By Abigail Funk The University of Iowa's homecoming weekend earlier this month also marked the opening of its brand new sports medicine center. The Institute for Orthopaedics, Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation is a one-stop shop on Iowa's campus for patients of all ages--and a sign that the trend of housing multiple medical amenities in one building is quickly becoming mainstream.
False Step Acceleration: Friend or Foe?
By Todd Brown, CCS Using data-driven analysis, the author breaks down the effectiveness of using a "false," or backward, first step as an acceleration tool. His findings may surprise you.
USC Accident Raises Awareness
By Mike Phelps Through four games this season, University of Southern California running back Stafon Johnson had rushed 32 times for 157 yards and five touchdowns. But before the senior had a chance to add to those stats, his season came to a screeching halt after a weightroom accident left Johnson with a crushed neck and larynx that required seven hours of surgery to repair. The accident has shined a spotlight on weightroom safety and serves as a cautionary tale to athletes and coaches across the country.
Inside Concussion Headlines
By Abigail Funk When University of Florida quarterback Tim Tebow was diagnosed with a concussion after being knocked out during a game in late September, head injuries were again a source of much conversation in the sports medicine community and among the general public. Here, T&C rounds up the latest buzz, including concussion injuries in the news, two recent studies of interest, and what some groups are doing to raise concussion safety awareness.
Speed Development in Baseball
By Todd Brown, CCS With college baseball teams around the country engaged in off-season strength and conditioning work, now is a good time to evaluate speed training methods. So what's your philosophy and what drills are you using? Todd Brown recommends taking a scientific approach to examining the sport's speed and agility requirements.
Tackling Swine Flu
By Kyle Garratt The "traditional" flu season is on its way, although it feels as if flu season started in April and hasn't quit. And in the year of the pandemic H1N1 influenza, also known as swine flu, it's more like flu season on steroids. As always, college and high school students face increased risk for the flu thanks to close quarters and increased interaction. Student-athletes are even more susceptible for the same reasons, so here is a look at how different athletic programs are handling the swine flu situation.
Soccer Preseason to In-Season
With only three weeks of organized preseason strength training, time is of the essence for the Xavier University men's soccer team. That's why Assistant Strength & Conditioning Coach Rich Jacobs's training plan includes orderly progressions that build to the first competition while accounting for the inevitable soreness that accompanies preseason workouts.By Rich Jacobs, MS, SCCC, CSCS
H.S. Heat Illness By The Numbers
Researchers from The Center for Injury Research and Policy at The Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital in Columbus, Ohio share their analysis of heat illness and hydration for high school athletes.
By Dawn Comstock, PhD
When Functional Becomes Dysfunctional
By Todd Brown, CCS Approximately one month ago in a health club, I witnessed a trainer working with a stay-at-home mother of two. The trainer was explaining the concept of "functional training," its benefits for injury prevention, and how specific functional movements would enhance her ability to perform daily activities. But I wonder, did the exercise address her function?
Battling Concussions Head-On
By Mike Phelps As preseason football camps swing into gear across the country, concussion prevention and awareness has once again crept its way into the news. Here, Training & Conditioning takes a look at the latest concussion news, on the gridiron and beyond.
A Proud Look Back
With the Wayzata (Minn.) High School summer Trojan Power Program all wrapped up, Head Strength and Conditioning Coach Ryan Johnson shares his highlights from a busy "off-season," which include his players rubbing elbows with NFL greats, a fresh approach to training younger athletes, and off-the-charts female participation numbers.By Ryan Johnson
Feeling The Heat
by Kenny Berkowitz Earlier this year, the NATA released new guidelines for heat acclimatization, with major recommendations for the number, duration, and types of practices that should be held during the first two weeks of preseason training. But across the country, many schools are ignoring those suggestions and continuing to put their student-athletes at risk for muscle cramps, heat stroke, and even death.
All Aboard
The summer is fast coming to an end, and as small packs of athletes who worked out on campus over the summer evolve into larger groups, expectations for the upcoming season are growing. Depending on one's organizational style, this can be an exciting time of year or a stressful one. The transition from summer to fall can be productive and smooth if the strength and conditioning coach has a plan--one that includes getting on the same page with sport coaches and athletic trainers.By Rich Jacobs, MS, SCCC, CSCS
Beyond Face Value
By Todd Brown, CCS Strength and conditioning specialists are constantly presented with new studies that they use to shape their training philosophies. But when considering new information, it's important to consider the source and the biases and mitigating factors that surround and contribute to any research project.
Certified for Surveillance
By Kyle Garratt As the Datalys Center for Injury Research and Prevention continues to prepare to take over day-to-day operations of the NCAA Injury Surveillance Program, it has certified the first commercial vendor for injury data transmission--the first step in the transition, especially for athletic trainers who already use Electronic Medical Records (EMR).
Summer Sessions
After the grind of grueling workouts, practices, and school comes to an end, student-athletes need a break to recover mentally and physically. For the Xavier University strength and conditioning program, summertime is more laid back than the school year, but the standards of progression and intensity remain the same. For athletes working out in the summer, we design goals that empower them and provide more variety in their routines while also increasing strength and speed and preparing for the upcoming season. By Rich Jacobs, MS, SCCC, CSCS
Snooze to Improve
By Kyle Garratt Athletes are constantly tinkering with their nutrition and training plans to gain an edge. But a study performed by Stanford University researchers suggests that good old fashioned sleep, and plenty of it, may help an athlete's performance as much as anything.
Youth Is Served
A summer strength program that incorporates middle school athletes ... an exchange agreement with a local speed-training guru ... there's a lot going on in the Wayzata (Minn.) High School summer conditioning program. By Ryan Johnson
On With The Show ...
For the second year in a row, T&C Managing Editor Greg Scholand blogged at the NATA Annual Meeting. Check out Greg's take on the educational sessions and panel discussions he attended, as well as other observations he had from the convention floor.
Positive Peer Pressure
While high school state associations continue to debate the merits of testing athletes for steroids, a program that takes a different approach to reducing their use is gaining ground. ATLAS and ATHENA, which have been 20 years in the making, are peer-led programs that educate athletes about the dangers of performance-enhancing substances--and the benefits of a healthy lifestyle--in a proactive way.
Increasing Workout IQ
Executing whole body movement relies on excellent proprioception and coordination derived from rehearsed mind-to-muscle communication pathways. Strategic training for this outcome will create bigger, faster, stronger and smarter muscles. By Peter Twist
Study Examines Genetics and Concussions
By Kyle Garratt Researchers from the University of Toronto recently looked at whether certain people might be genetically predisposed to sustaining a concussion. Though the findings were inconclusive, scientists believe more such studies are on the way.
Prepared For The Worst
Do you have an emergency response plan for when a crisis occurs at your facilities? Wayzata High School in Plymouth, Minn., does. Recently, that plan was put to the test when an athlete had a seizure. Ryan Johnson, CSCS, Strength and Conditioning Coach and Coach Practitioner at the school, was first on the scene and blogs about the lessons he learned from the incident.By Ryan Johnson
High School ACL Injury Rates
On average, athletes are eight times more likely to suffer anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries in competition than practice and girls are eight times more likely to suffer ACL injuries than boys when playing similar sports. These findings are among those reported by researchers from The Center for Injury Research and Policy at The Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital in Columbus, Ohio. Here, they share their analysis of knee injury rates for high school athletes as they relate to sport and gender.By Dawn Comstock, PhD
Lighting A Fire
It's one thing to design a great strength and conditioning program. But unless you can get your athletes to buy in completely, that program won't be worth the paper it's printed on. Xavier University Assistant Strength and Conditioning Coach Rich Jacobs shares his keys for keeping the Musketeers men's soccer team hungry and motivated during their workouts.By Rich Jacobs, MS, SCCC, CSCS
Coaching Your Coaches
As a strength and conditioning coach, one of the most important parts of your job is educating and gaining the confidence of the sport coaches you work with. Ryan Johnson, CSCS, Coach Practitioner and Strength and Conditioning Coach at Wayzata High School in Plymouth, Minn., shares his thoughts on teaching coaches about the value of strength training, especially as it pertains to multi-sport athletes.By Ryan Johnson
Help On The Way?
By Kyle Garratt From bills that would increase testing for concussions in Texas and steroids in Illinois, to proposals aimed at improving high school athlete safety in North Carolina and Kentucky, sports medicine legislation is making news across the country. Here's a look at where these and other bills stand.
Severe Injury Trends For Prep Sports
Injuries can run the gamut from a contused leg that results in no playing time loss at all to a season-ending complete knee ligament sprain. We recently used data from the National High School Sports-Related Injury Surveillance Study to examine rates and patterns of severe injury in nine high school sports: football, boys' and girls' soccer, volleyball, boys' and girls' basketball, wrestling, baseball, and softball.By Dawn Comstock
Twist On Dynamic Warmup
Having athletes go through a dynamic warmup is a good first step toward injury prevention and performance optimization. Here, Peter Twist, MS, BPE, CSCS, President of Twist Conditioning, describes the importance of a dynamic warmup and provides sample exercises to achieve pre-game and pre-practice neuromuscular activation.By Peter Twist
Net Gains
As defending Atlantic 10 Conference champions, the Xavier University men's tennis team entered the 2009 season with a large target on its collective back. Repeating would be difficult and Head Coach Eric Toth knew that doing so would require that his athletes get in better shape than ever before. That's why he asked me to design a program that would improve the team's strength and conditioning during the off-season and maintain those gains throughout a long, grueling season.By Rich Jacobs, MS, SCCC, CSCS
A Safe Place
Is your athletic training room a place where athletes feel safe from homophobia? The majority of high school athletic trainers have witnessed homophobic behavior in their athletic training rooms, according to a study presented at the Sport, Sexuality, & Culture Conference last week.
By Abigail Funk
All Eyes On Concussions
Because of the high incidence and serious nature of concussions, the Brain Injury Association of America (BIAA) designates every March as brain injury awareness month. This year, the BIAA is dedicating their efforts to concussions in youth sports. Dawn Comstock examines this important issue and provides guideline analysis and communication tips for treating and educating high school athletes.By Dawn Comstock
What's On Your Resume?
Wondering what it takes break into the strength and conditioning coaching ranks at the NCAA Division I level? A recent study queried head strength and conditioning coaches across all levels of Division I to find out what they look for in a candidate.
By Mark Brennan MS, SCCC, CSCS
Study Supports Accelerated ACL Rehab
As the debate over how long an athlete should wait before returning to play after undergoing ACL reconstruction surgery continues, evidence has surfaced supporting an accelerated rehab approach. Two physicians from the Shelbourne Knee Center at Methodist Hospital in Indianapolis, IN, presented their findings at the 2009 Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS) in Las Vegas this past week.By Abigail Funk
Something In The Water
By Mike Phelps Vitaminwater and its parent company, Coca-Cola, made headlines recently after a report surfaced alleging that six of the brand's flavors could result in a positive banned-substances test under NCAA rules. As an NCAA corporate sponsor, the allegations against Vitaminwater were particularly troubling for both the company and the NCAA and caught the attention of college athletic departments across the country. After that initial report, however, the NCAA quickly issued a correction. But confusion remains for many.
More Than Meets The Ice
The Center for Injury Research and Policy at The Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital in Columbus shares its analysis of injury rates for hockey players high school-age and younger based on injury type and gender.By Dawn Comstock
Heart Screens Studied at Texas H.S.
By Mike Phelps In 2007, the Texas state legislature allocated $1 million for a statewide study to determine whether or not electrocardiograms (EKGs) and echocardiograms should be mandatory for all students in Texas. Children's Medical Center in Dallas was selected to conduct the study, along with researchers in Austin and Houston. Those researchers then chose students from Garland (Texas) Independent School District to participate in the study. Here's the latest on heart screenings at high schools nationwide.
Football's Concussion Crisis
By Kyle Garratt Leading medical experts announced several discoveries this week linking concussions and degenerative brain disease. Included in this data is the case of a now-deceased 18-year-old whose football-related head trauma may have contributed to a rare brain disease.
Coming In From The Cold
The holidays are over, winter sports are in full swing, and athletes preparing for spring sports are chomping at the bit to begin preseason practices. Ryan Johnson, CSCS, Coach Practitioner and Strength and Conditioning Coach at Wayzata High School in Plymouth, Minn., checks in with T&C and brings us up to speed on what's going in his program this winter.By Ryan Johnson
Breaks in the Action
The Center for Injury Research and Policy at The Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital in Cincinnati shares its analysis of fracture rates for high school athletes as they relate to sport and gender.By Dawn Comstock
The Balance Challenge
Consider a high-speed collision-oriented athlete relying on movement mechanics, whose weight is supported only by a thin skate blade while navigating a slippery surface. Visualize a pro golfer driving a ball over 350 yards, a downhill skier blasting over icy terrain, a mountain biker riding over rocks and roots, or a Major League Baseball player making a spectacular diving catch. One of the movement skills that each of these athletes relies on for optimum performance is balance, which leads to one question: Why hasn't every level of athlete development embraced structured balance training?By Peter Twist
The Profession In Print
By R.J. Anderson Though athletic trainers usually operate behind the scenes providing services that largely go unnoticed by the general public, occasionally their efforts are recognized in the mainstream news. From time to time, Training-Conditioning.com will present a collection of links to newspaper articles from around the country featuring high school and college athletic trainers in action, as well as other news from the field.
A Growing Weight Problem
By Greg Scholand You don't have to be an athletic trainer to see that football players, especially linemen, are a lot bigger than they used to be. Two decades ago, the average NFL lineman weighed 281 pounds--today, he weighs more than 315 pounds. And new research shows this trend hasn't been limited to the professional ranks. High school and youth players are bulking up more than ever, and the results aren't all positive.
The Bigger They Are...
The Center for Injury Research and Policy at The Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital in Cincinnati shares its analysis of injury patterns of high school athletes as they relate to those athletes' body mass index.By Dawn Comstock
Legends of the Fall
State championships in hand, Ryan Johnson, CSCS, Coach Practitioner and Strength and Conditioning Coach at Wayzata High School in Plymouth, Minn., shares the strength and conditioning secrets behind his athletic program's successes.By Ryan Johnson
New in Nutrition
In November, the 2008 American Dietetic Association's (ADA) Food & Nutrition Conference & Expo was held in Chicago. Susan Kundrat, MS, RD, CSSD, LDN, a sports dietitian for athletes at the University of Illinois and Bradley University, was there, and she shares with us what she learned.
By Susan Kundrat
A Twist on Rotational Training
Peter Twist, MS, BPE, CSCS, President of Twist Conditioning, describes his approach to core development and shares a sample progression.By Peter Twist
Been There, Done That
The only thing worse than an injury is a re-injury. Here, the Center for Injury Research and Policy at The Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital in Cincinnati shares its analysis of recurrent injury rates and trends for high school athletes.By Dawn Comstock
News From The Field
By R.J. Anderson Spending most of their time working behind the scenes, athletic trainers rarely receive the kind of recognition their work deserves. When they do make headlines, we like to spread the word with a selection of links to articles profiling athletic trainers and sports medicine education programs.
Dr. Andrews Partners with West Florida
By Kyle Garratt James Andrews, MD, is possibly the world's foremost orthopedic physician. His reputation transcends the medical world, and his name is known by coaches, doctors, and millions of sports fans. So when the University of West Florida partnered with the Andrews Institute to help enhance the school's Department of Health, Leisure, and Exercise Science, it was very big news.
H.S. Shoulder Injury Analysis
The Center for Injury Research and Policy at The Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital in Cincinnati shares its analysis of high school shoulder injury data it gathered during the 2005 to 2007 school years.By Dawn Comstock
Game of Emotions
By Ryan Johnson Being a strength and conditioning coach in today's athletic landscape requires more than just a knowledge of how to shape athletes' bodies. In this Blog, Ryan Johnson, CSCS, Coach Practitioner and Strength and Conditioning Coach at Wayzata High School in Plymouth, Minn., writes about helping his players through the diverse emotional and psychological challenges they face on and off the field.
Analyzing ACLs Beyond Gender
By Mike Phelps It is widely accepted that females are more prone to ACL tears than males, but the specific reasons behind the increased risk are not yet fully understood. A recent consensus statement from the NATA says the association hopes to help future researchers answer these questions, while also stating a need for fewer gender studies, which look simply at sex differences.
Athletes Donating Brains To Science
By Mario Nishihara Former New England Patriots linebacker Ted Johnson, along with 15 other athletes from the NFL, NHL, and past Olympic swimming and soccer teams, has agreed to—upon his death—donate his brain to research at the Center for the Study of Traumatic Encephalopathy, a joint venture between the Boston University School of Medicine and Sports Legacy Institute. Johnson and the other donors hope to contribute to productive research on the long-term effects concussions have on the human brain.
Athletic Trainers in the News
By R.J. Anderson Spending most of their time working behind the scenes, athletic trainers rarely receive the kind of recognition their work deserves. When they do make headlines, we like to spread the word with a selection of links to articles featuring athletic trainers in action.
Lightning Safety
By Dennis Read While spring may be the time of the year most often associated with thunderstorms, there’s plenty of action—and danger—in the skies during the fall. Numerous college football games were delayed by lightning last weekend while some high school games have ended early for the same reason. So now is as good a time as any to review the basics of lightning safety and some of the new technology that can help keep your athletes safe.
High School Heat Tips
By Dawn Comstock The Center for Injury Research and Policy at The Research Institute at Nationwide Children’s Hospital in Cincinnati examines simple tactics high schools can use to prevent dehydration and heat illness during the fall season's very warm early-season practices.
Happy New Year!
By Ryan Johnson Refreshed and recharged by a strong summer, Ryan Johnson, CSCS, Coach Practitioner and Strength and Conditioning Coach at Wayzata High School in Plymouth, Minn., is amped up about the upcoming school year. With much anticipation surrounding the kickoff of high school and college sports seasons across the country, the buzz is electric.
Spanning the Sports Medicine Globe
By Dave Ellis From preventing anemia to MRSA to sleep deficit effects, a number of hot-button stories and recent studies caught the eye of contributor Dave Ellis, RD, CSCS, a sports nutrition and recovery professional who works with a variety of professional and collegiate athletic teams.
International Support
By Mike Phelps There won't be any athletic trainers on the medal stand during the Beijing Olympics, but odds are they'll play a significant role in helping the athletes who do get there. A handful of athletic trainers from high schools and colleges across the country will be working in Beijing, while a pharmacist from Washington is also making the trip.
Sickle Cell Precautions
By Kenny Berkowitz At an off-season football workout earlier this year, sickle cell trait proved fatal for University of Central Florida wide receiver Ereck Plancher. But with proper precautions, the sickle cell doesn't have to be a barrier to safe athletic participation.
Athletic Trainers Making News
By Kenny Berkowitz Spending most of their time working behind the scenes, athletic trainers rarely receive the kind of recognition their work deserves. When they do make headlines, we like to spread the word with a selection of links to articles featuring athletic trainers in action.
Jumping for Joy
By Ryan Johnson At Wayzata High School in Plymouth, Minn., Jordan Helgren, a two-time Minnesota girls’ state champion triple jumper, dislocated her patella three weeks before the 2008 state meet. Ryan Johnson, CSCS, Coach Practitioner and Strength and Conditioning Coach at Wayzata, blogs about the team effort that got Helgren back on track and able to successfully defend her title.
Rugby Injury Breakdown
By R. Dawn Comstock Dawn Comstock, PhD, Principle Investigator at The Center for Injury Research and Policy at The Research Institute at Nationwide Children’s Hospital, analyzes injury rates and trends for rugby while sharing the results from two new studies.
Supplement and Nutrition Notes
By Dave Ellis Contributor Dave Ellis, RD, CSCS, a sports nutrition and recovery professional, provides a list of recent links to important health and nutrition news and studies from across the country.
Views From the Floor
T&C Assistant Editor Greg Scholand blogged from the 59th annual NATA Meeting and Clinical Symposia in St. Louis. Read his take on convention happenings as well as interesting tidbits he saw on the floor, during seminars, and while attending different events.
Sweet Taste of Recovery
By Ryan Johnson Ryan Johnson, CSCS, Coach Practitioner and Strength and Conditioning Coach at Wayzata High School in Plymouth, Minn., has been seeing great results with a low-cost post-workout recovery drink that is readily available at his school's cafeteria. Chocolate milk is now an essential part of his strength development program.
Injury Rates for Practice Vs. Competition
By Dawn Comstock Contributor Dawn Comstock, PhD, Principle Investigator at The Center for Injury Research and Policy at The Research Institute at Nationwide Children’s Hospital, compares rates and trends for injuries sustained during competition versus those that occur at practice.
Skipping Specialization
By Nate Dougherty In many places, the three-sport high school athlete is an endangered species. Whether it's fall baseball, indoor soccer in the winter, or summer volleyball leagues, more young athletes are being pressured into choosing one sport to play year round. This becomes especially important when college scholarships are on the line and student-athletes are more or less forced to pick one sport just to keep up with competitors.
Strong Days of Summer
By Ryan Johnson Ryan Johnson, CSCS, Coach Practitioner and Strength and Conditioning Coach at Wayzata High School in Plymouth, Minn., shares his thoughts on running an eight-week summer strength training program for his student-athletes.
Banishing Blisters
By Stan Reents Blisters occur commonly and they can occur anywhere. Here, contributor Stan Reents shares tips for blister treatment and prevention.
Serving Up Support
Last April, the the Brigham Young University women's volleyball team found out that its long-time Athletic Trainer and BYU's Director of Sports Medicine, Gaye Merrill, MS, ATC, had been diagnosed with breast cancer. They wanted to show their support and came up with the idea to wear pink bracelets, signifying breast cancer awareness.By Abigail Funk
Nutrition Case Study
By Michelle Rockwell Contributor Michelle Rockwell shares the case study of a track and field athlete who used creatine to make lean muscle gains and performance improvements.
Youth Lacrosse Injury Breakdown
By Dawn Comstock Contributor Dawn Comstock, PhD, Principle Investigator at The Center for Injury Research and Policy at The Research Institute at Nationwide Children’s Hospital, takes a look at injury rates and trends for youth lacrosse players.
World Wide Workouts
By Ryan Johnson Contributor Ryan Johnson, CSCS, is Coach Practitioner and Strength and Conditioning Coach at Wayzata High School in Plymouth, Minn. This week, Johnson shares his experience with developing a strength and conditioning-specific Web page on his school's site.
Athletic Trainers In The News
Though they operate behind the scenes and do work that goes largely unnoticed by the general public, occasionally athletic trainers have their efforts recognized in the mainstream news. When these key contributors do make headlines, we want to share them with you. So from time to time, T&C will present a collection of links to newspaper articles from around the country featuring high school and college athletic trainers in action.By Abigail Funk
Baseball and Softball Injury Analysis
By Dawn Comstock Contributor Dawn Comstock, PhD, from The Center for Injury Research and Policy at The Research Institute at Nationwide Children’s Hospital again gives T&C readers an inside look at her recent studies of high school athletics injuries. In this blog, Comstock takes a look at injury rates and trends for high school baseball and softball players.
Living the Dream
By Ryan Johnson New contributor Ryan Johnson, CSCS, is a Coach Practitioner and Strength and Conditioning Coach at Wayzata High School in Plymouth, Minn. From time to time, Johnson will share his take on the challenges facing high school strength and conditioning professionals. In this blog, Johnson introduces himself and describes his role at Wayzata High School.
Cause for Celebration
Kelli Brewer Sabiston, MA, ATC, LAT, Owner/Consultant at Atlantic Athletic Training Services in Shallotte, N.C., shares what National Athletic Training Month means to her and the importance the profession plays in today's athletic culture.
Sharing the Functional Path
Vern Gambetta, a frequent contributor to T&C, recently announced a special educational opportunity called the Gambetta Athletic Improvement Network (GAIN) Apprentorship. The program was developed based on Gambetta's career experiences following and leading the functional training path.
Ex-QB Develops New Football Helmet
By R.J. Anderson Being a good quarterback is as much mental as it is physical. So it makes sense that former Harvard University signal-caller Vin Ferrara, MD, is helping to make sure quarterbacks--and all other players--can keep using their heads after violent collisions by developing a new type of helmet.
Knees to Know
By Dr. Dawn Comstock Each month, The Center for Injury Research and Policy at The Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital provides T&C with an inside look at their studies of high school athletics injuries. In this installment, Dawn Comstock, PhD, takes a look at knee injuries, examining gender-specific trends and breaking down each sport's most common mechanisms of injury.
Performance Enhancement Awareness
By Dave Ellis, RD, CSCS We caught up with contributor Dave Ellis on his way to Major League Baseball Spring Training to get his thoughts on the recent headlines involving performance-enhancing drugs (PED).
NATA Suing APTA
By Kenny Berkowitz T&C examines the recent lawsuit filed by the National Athletic Trainers' Association (NATA) against the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA).
Analyzing Intervals
By Stan Reents Contributor Stan Reents analyzes recent interval training studies conducted by Canadian researchers.
Grappling with Wrestling Injuries
By Dr. Dawn Comstock Each month, The Center for Injury Research and Policy at The Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital provides T&C with an inside look at their studies of high school athletics injuries. In this blog, Dawn Comstock, PhD, takes a look at injury rates and trends for wrestlers.
Practice What You Preach
By Gregory White Gregory "Graig" White, Strength & Conditioning Specialist at Rutgers University-Camden, shares his philosophy for working with sport coaches. This final installment in our two-part series examines how he shares his vision with the coaches he works with.
Working it Out
By Gregory White Gregory "Graig" White, Strength & Conditioning Specialist at Rutgers University-Camden, shares his philosophy for working with sport coaches. This is the first installment in a two-part series.
Peer Publicity
By R.J. Anderson Though they operate behind the scenes and do work that goes largely unnoticed by the general public, occasionally athletic trainers have their efforts recognized in the mainstream news. When these key contributors do make headlines, we want to share them with you. So from time to time, Training-Conditioning.com will present a collection of links to newspaper articles from around the country featuring high school and college athletic trainers in action.
Where it Hurts in Hoops
By Dawn Comstock, PhD Each month, The Center for Injury Research and Policy at The Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital provides T&C with an inside look at their studies of high school athletics injuries. In this blog, Dawn Comstock, PhD takes a look at injury rates and trends for both boys and girls basketball players.
Back On Track in '08
By Christopher Holder Christopher Holder, MS, RKC, CSCS, Director of Strength and Conditioning at San Jose State University, shares lessons he learned from a trying football season that saw the team finish 5-7. After plenty of reflection and self-evaluation, Holder talks about how he and his staff have regrouped and are preparing to attack 2008.
Cyber Structure
By Chad Kinart, MS, ATC Chad Kinart, MS, ATC, Athletic Trainer for ESPN Sports Medicine in Omaha, Neb., provides his perspective on progressing toward a Web-based injury tracking application within a collegiate athletic training room setting. Kinart served as an Assistant Athletic Trainer at the University of Nebraska-Omaha from 2000 to 2006.
Analyzing Easy Energy
By Stan Reents, PharmD In the beginning, athletes had sports drinks like Gatorade. Then, energy bars such as PowerBar were what serious endurance athletes used. Several years ago, energy gels arrived on the scene. Today, athletes who want a burst of energy during exercise have an even wider variety of sports nutrition products to choose from. In this article, frequent contributor Stan Reents reviews carbohydrate-containing gels and chewable products.
More Than MRSA
By Dawn Comstock Recent media attention has athletes, coaches, and parents on edge about methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, more commonly known as MRSA. However, despite a growing awareness of this potentially life-threatening condition, many student-athletes and parents may be unaware that MRSA is just the tip of the iceberg.
Helping Hands Make Headlines
By R.J. Anderson Though they operate behind the scenes and do work that goes largely unnoticed by the general public, occasionally athletic trainers have their efforts recognized in the mainstream news. When these key contributors do make headlines, we want to share them with you. So from time to time, T&C will present a collection of links to newspaper articles from around the country featuring high school and college athletic trainers in action.
Handling Hamstring Injuries
By James A. Onate, PhD, ATC; Zahra Ismaeli, MS, ATC; and Bonnie Van Lunen, PhD, ATC Muscle strains are one of the most common injuries in sports, and one of the most frequent strains occurs in the hamstring group. Incidence of hamstring injuries ranges from 6 percent to 36 percent of all injuries in sport activities. Hamstring injuries often result in prolonged convalescence and time away from activity. Especially frustrating for athletes and the clinicians treating them is the high rate of recurrence. One-third of athletes who sustain an initial hamstring injury will reinjure their hamstring within a year of returning to play. This high prevalence has challenged clinicians and researchers to recognize and identify factors to prevent initial injury and recognizing those susceptible for reinjury.
Analyzing Sports Creams
By Stan Reents Stan Reents, PharmD, is a former healthcare professional. He holds Personal Trainer and Lifestyle Counselor certifications from the American Council on Exercise and has been certified as a tennis coach by the United States Tennis Association. He is the author of Sport and Exercise Pharmacology, published by Human Kinetics. A collection of Reents's articles is available at www.AthleteInMe.com and he can be reached at: Editor@athleteinme.com. On April 3, 2007, Arielle Newman, a 17-year-old track and cross-country standout for Notre Dame Academy on Staten Island, NY, died in her sleep. Following a two-month investigation by the New York City medical examiner, a spokeswoman for that office stated that Newman died of salicylate toxicity. It was determined that, for relief from the typical aches and pains that result from a grueling training regimen, she applied large amounts of sports creams to her legs. She died from an accidental overdose of methyl salicylate, the wintergreen-scented ingredient found in topical products like BenGay, Icy Hot, and Tiger Balm because her body absorbed a toxic amount. How could this happen? After all, Newman was a healthy high school athlete.
Examining Soccer Injuries
By Dawn Comstock Dawn Comstock, PhD, is a principal investigator at the Center for Injury Research and Policy at The Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital. She is also an assistant professor at Ohio State University in the College of Medicine and the College of Public Health. Her research interests include the epidemiology of sports, recreation, and leisure activity-related injuries among children and adolescents as well as the life-long health benefits associated with an active childhood. She can be reached at Dawn.Comstock@NationwideChildrens.org. Every fall, hundreds of millions of fans worldwide tune in to watch their countries battle in soccer's World Cup. Although soccer has not always been as popular in the United States as it is in many other countries, this tide is quickly changing. In the past 30 years, U.S. high school soccer participation has increased almost five-fold among boys and almost 50-fold among girls. Soccer is a great sport to help keep children in shape while teaching important life lessons such as teamwork and goal setting. However, soccer players can be injured. Understanding how and why soccer injuries occur can help coaches and athletic trainers work with athletes to prevent injuries from occurring.
Albohm Elected NATA President
By R.J. Anderson On Oct. 5, the National Athletic Trainers Association (NATA) general membership elected Marjorie Albohm, MS, ATC, LAT, to be its next president. After being sworn in at the NATA Annual Meeting held June 2008 in St. Louis, Albohm will lead the association's 30,000-plus members for a four-year term.
Females Face Concussion Risks
By Nate Dougherty Concussions among high school athletes are generally thought by most to be a boy's injury, suffered by football players crashing into one another at top speed or hockey players slamming into the boards. Girls, whose sports often have rules against hitting, aren't always at the front of people's minds when thinking about head injuries. But a new study shows it's female athletes who may actually be at a higher risk for concussions.
Conquering Cramping
By Dave Ellis, RD, CSCS Sports dietitian and strength coach Dave Ellis, RD, CSCS, has been refining and field testing his three-step Fueling Tactics sports nutrition system for over 26 years. He recently released his nutrition system on DVD at his Web site: www.fuelingtactics.com. Dave has experience at all levels of sport, which has made him a valuable asset for some of the most demanding sport coaches and a valuable sounding board for our readers. Recently Dave's work at the Olympic level was recognized when he was named a finalist for the 2007 USOC "Doc" Counsilman Science Award. There are a lot of ways to cramp, so you can bet the information on this topic is going to be confusing. The debate over the best way to prevent or resolve Exercise Associated Muscle Cramps (EAMCs) has historically sparked lively discussions in scientific settings like annual American College of Sports Medicine meetings.
Concussion Calculations
By Dawn Comstock Dawn Comstock, PhD, is a principle investigator at the Center for Injury Research and Policy at Columbus Children's Research Institute, Columbus Children's Hospital. She is also an assistant professor at The Ohio State University in the College of Medicine and the College of Public Health. Her research interests include the epidemiology of sports, recreation, and leisure activity-related injuries among children and adolescents as well as the life-long health benefits associated with an active childhood. She can be reached at ComstocD@ccri.net. Concussions, although often downplayed through the use of terms such as "having your bell rung," "seeing stars," or being "dinged," are serious and relatively common injuries. Sustaining repeated concussions throughout an athletic career can result in lasting physical and mental impairment. In extreme situations, receiving multiple concussions in a short period of time can even lead to second impact syndrome, a serious and potentially fatal condition. In recent years, concussions have been brought to the national spotlight by former NFL stars such as Mike Webster and Larry Morris suffering from post concussion syndrome and dementia.
A Cool Breakthrough
As Buffalo Bills backup tight end and special teamer Kevin Everett lay on the turf after colliding with a Denver Broncos kick returner last weekend in Buffalo, a worried silence went over the crowd. Everett lay motionless, while spectators, TV viewers, coaches, and players held their collective breath hoping to see any sort of movement. And, as it turns out, the worst of nearly everyone's fears was realized: Everett had suffered a severe spinal cord injury and was fighting for his life. However, thanks to a groundbreaking experimental medical procedure, there is hope that he will regain use of his extremities and may even walk out of the hospital. The following is a description of the innovative approach that has given Everett and his family hope for recovery. It's a method that athletic trainers across the country may need to familiarize themselves with in the near future.By Abigail Funk
Sizing Up Hamstring Injuries
By Vern Gambetta Vern Gambetta, MA, is President of Gambetta Sports Training Systems in Sarasota, Fla. The former Director of Conditioning for the Chicago White Sox, he has also worked extensively with basketball, soccer, and track and field athletes. He is a frequent contributor to Training & Conditioning. Vern also maintains his own blog at www.functionalpathtraining.blogspot.com I am amazed and astounded at the number of hamstring pulls and oblique pulls in Major League Baseball. I also find it appalling and alarming that players miss months with a hamstring pull. I do not have any first hand knowledge of specific injury situations, but I base my opinions on the many years I spent immersed in the training culture of the sport.
Heart of the Issue
By Greg Scholand This week's tragic death of 22-year-old Spanish soccer player Antonio Puerta, who collapsed during a match and died in a hospital three days later, provides the latest grim reminder of athletes' susceptibility to heart failure. As fall high school and college sports get underway and the NFL, NHL, and NBA seasons are just around the corner, it's something sports medicine professionals at all levels should be thinking about.
One More Year
At age 59, most strength coaches are training student-athletes and just trying to keep their physical conditioning at a functional level. Not Mike Flynt, a former strength and conditioning coach at the Universities of Nebraska and Oregon and Texas A&M Univeristy, who recently made the roster of an NCAA Division III football team.By Abigail Funk
Shaping a Philosophy
By Chris Carlisle I've been coaching for 23 years. During that time I've coached at the high school level, the junior college level, and the NCAA Division I level. I've been fortunate to be associated with teams that have won 14 national championships in seven different sports. I've worked with Olympic gold medalists, Heisman trophy winners, and numerous All-Americans. Yet, after all of this time I have found that I am just scratching the surface of finding the best way to train young men and women to be at the top of their athletic ability.
Chris Carlisle, BSE, MA, CSCC, is beginning his seventh season as Head Strength and Conditioning Coach at the University of Southern California. Questions for Carlisle can be directed to USCRipsIt.com Online Media Director Ben Malcolmson at: Ben@USCRipsIt.com.
Ice Baths Get Chilly Review
By Nate Dougherty On the surface, it sounds like medieval torture. Filling up a tub with ice and jumping in following a workout can bring moments of incredible pain to an athlete, but those who dare to take the dip say the feeling afterward makes the discomfort well worth it. But as the steamy summer days continue and outdoor practices and competitions pick up, new research shows that athletic trainers may want to think twice about having athletes submerge into ice water to relieve cramping muscles.
Medicine Ball For All
By Dr. Avery D. Faigenbaum and Patrick Mediate Due to the poor performance of Greenwich High School students on standardized physical fitness testing, we developed a progressive, challenging, and inexpensive physical activity intervention. Our goal was to develop a physical activity program that would enhance physical fitness abilities and provide school-age students with a meaningful learning experience consistent with their developmental needs. We call our program "Medicine Ball for All" because it utilizes medicine balls and is appropriate for all school-age children regardless of body size or fitness level.
Avery Faigenbaum, EdD, CSCS, is an Associate Professor in the Department of Health and Exercise Science at The College of New Jersey. He recently served as Vice President of the National Strength & Conditioning Association. Faigenbaum has published over 100 articles on fitness and conditioning and is the author of five books, including "Progressive Plyometrics for Kids" and "Strength and Power for Young Adults." Patrick Mediate, CSCS, is a former member of the NSCA Board of Directors and Regional Coordinator and State Director of the NSCA. He currently teaches physical education, coordinates the strength and conditioning program, and coaches track and field at Greenwich (Conn.) High School. Mediate and Faigenbaum co-authored the training handbooks, "Medicine Ball for All" and "Medicine Ball for All Kids."
Debate on Young Arms Continues
By Nate Dougherty This season, Little League Baseball instituted pitch counts that limit young players to a certain number of pitches per game based on their age, and also required set rest periods between appearances depending on the pitch count of the previous outing. The changes, which have been well-received, are part of an effort to curb overuse injuries to young pitching arms in hopes of avoiding surgery down the road. However, there is also new research from the American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine (AOSSM) that says not all young pitchers who log a large number of innings are headed for the surgeon's table.
A Strong Showing
By Jeffrey A. Segal Jeffrey A. Segal, CPTS, CSCS, NSCA-CPT, CPR/AED, is President of Balanced Personal Training, Inc., based in Boca Raton, Fla. He filed this report after attending the 2007 National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA) National Conference and Exhibition. The 2007 National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA) National Conference and Exhibition was a true success and firmly supported the organization's mission statement. As the worldwide authority on strength and conditioning, we support and disseminate research-based knowledge and its practical application to improve athletic performance and fitness. One of many important topics covered at the conference was youth fitness. Some of the most highly regarded minds in the field, such as Juan Carlos Santana, Avery Faigenbaum, Patrick Mediate, N. Travis Triplett, and Clive Brewer gave great lectures on this topic with evidence and literature that backed up their claims. Other interesting presentations focused on injury prevention, Olympic lifting movements, and power specificity. There were also a number of different lectures on undulating periodization, which provided the audience with a variety of perspectives on a much-discussed topic. The last lecture, Speed, Power and Agility Training for Athletic Performance by John Graham, may have been one of the best. Many of the speakers referred to research studies conducted by well-known attendees, including Steven Fleck and William Kraemer.
R.I.P. Periodization?
By Vern Gambetta Vern Gambetta, MA, is President of Gambetta Sports Training Systems in Sarasota, Fla. The former Director of Conditioning for the Chicago White Sox, he has also worked extensively with basketball, soccer, and track and field athletes. He is a frequent contributor to Training & Conditioning. Vern also maintains his own blog at www.functionalpathtraining.blogspot.com Is Periodization Dead? This was one of the questions asked at a presentation I did for athletics and swim coaches at the University of Queensland during my recent trip to Australia. It is an important question, and one that certainly should not be taken lightly. That said, periodization as it has been commonly taught by Bompa et al. is dead! To me, that neat, defined world of general preparation, special preparation, competition, and transition does not exist anymore.
NCAA's Word on the Street
By Laura Ulrich Colleges and universities are doing a fine job of monitoring their athletes for recreational drug use, and the NCAA doesn't need to get involved in the effort. That was the decision made by an NCAA committee in June, when it shot down a proposal that would have had the association begin testing athletes for street drugs, including marijuana and cocaine.
The Beta on Asthma Meds
By Stan Reents Stan Reents, PharmD, is a former healthcare professional. He holds Personal Trainer and Lifestyle Counselor certifications from the American Council on Exercise. He has also been certified as a tennis coach by the United States Tennis Association. He can be reached at: Editor@athleteinme.com Asthma makes training and competing difficult... but not impossible. Athletes with asthma can, and do, achieve a high level of cardiorespiratory fitness (Freeman W. 1990). Elite athletes such as heptathlete Jackie Joyner-Kersee and swimmers Tom Dolan and Amy Van Dyken have won Olympic medals despite having asthma.
Is Experience the Same as Wisdom?
By John Platero John Platero is the Director of Education for the National Council for Certified Personal Trainers. His work has been published in a variety of books and magazines. When I'm at conferences and workshops, or conversing with and observing other strength and conditioning professionals, I often hear them say "I've been training people for 20 years" or "I've got 20 years of experience." When I ask them questions or observe them during training, it seems obvious to me that they don't have a clue as to what they're doing. In fact, they probably have one year of experience and repeated that same year 20 times.
A Look at Sickle Cell Disease
In 2001, Florida State University football player Devaughn Darling collapsed and died shortly after an off-season workout during which he complained of dizziness and chest pains. In an eerily similar situation in 2005, University of Missouri football player Aaron O'Neal died suddenly after a preseason practice. There was no definitive cause of death in Darling's case, and O'Neal's death was caused by viral meningitis. But during autopsies, both players were found to have had the sickle cell trait, which many medical officials say was a contributing factor in the players' deaths.By Abigail Funk
Speakers with T&C Ties at NATA
By R.J. Anderson From June 26-30, certified athletic trainers will descend upon Anaheim, Calif., for the 58th NATA Annual Meeting & Clinical Symposia. The event will feature many great presenters, including three with close ties to Training & Conditioning. Below is a list of speakers who have either appeared in T&C, or who serve on the magazine's Editorial Board. Their presentations promise to be chock full of cutting-edge information, so if you're at the meeting, make a note to stop by and check them out.
Setting Summer's Stage
By Christopher Holder, MS, RKC, CSCS Any football strength coach who has been in the profession longer than a week knows that the programs you have your team on in the winter, during spring ball, and in the weeks prior to school letting out for the summer, are as important as the summer itself. We prove our worth in the summer, but the three or four months leading up to it set the stage for dramatic improvements that take place during June and July.
NCAA Injuries Breakdown
By Randall W. Dick, MS, FACSM The NCAA was created more than 100 years ago over safety concerns associated with the new sport of football and its dangerous formation, the "flying wedge." Consistent with its health and safety foundation, the NCAA created the Injury Surveillance System (ISS) in 1982 to identify "flying wedges" (injury risks) in a variety of college sports. Certified athletic trainers at participating institutions provided injury information that allowed appropriate NCAA committees to develop health and safety policies and rules applicable to student-athlete welfare. This 25-year collaboration between the NCAA and the NATA has created the largest ongoing collegiate sport injury database in the world. In a special spring issue of the Journal of Athletic Training, the quarterly scientific publication of the NATA, a group of lead authors summarize 16 years (1988-89 through 2003-04) of critical NCAA ISS information from 15 college sports.
Probing Pregnancy Participation Policies
By Laura Ulrich Throughout the 2006-07 season, Fantasia Goodwin started every game for the Syracuse University women's basketball team. However, during the team's final game on Feb. 25, the six-foot guard watched from the bench. The reason: The night before, Goodwin had told Head Coach Quentin Hillsman that she was pregnant--and that she had been playing that way for many months. Goodwin sat out the last game, gave birth to a daughter eight weeks later, and then announced she intends to return to classes and to the team this fall.
Gone in a New York Minute
By R.J. Anderson It used to be that when the New York Yankees had a losing streak, Owner George Steinbrenner's first instinct was to fire his manager, and then eventually fire that manager's replacement. But in a sign that these aren't your father's Yankees, after this season's 14-16 record in the month of April, and an unusually high number of hamstring injuries, Steinbrenner and General Manager Brian Cashman reached way down the Yankee corporate ladder, axing the team's recently hired Director of Performance Enhancement. It was the second time in less than six months that the Yankees had fired their top strength coach.
HGH Hogging the Headlines
By Dave Ellis, RD, CSCS Articles about the prevalence of steroids and Human Growth Hormone (HGH) in sports are breaking with the regularity of game scores and player transactions. The latest story--one that has Major League Baseball on edge--involves a former New York Mets clubhouse attendant who has informed authorities that he dealt steroids and HGH for years.
Cooler Heads Will Prevail
By R.J. Anderson With the warmer temperatures of summer just around the corner, it's never too early to start thinking about strategies to avoid heat illness and dehydration. It's also a good time to re-examine heat illness and hydration policies, and the data that help you form those policies.
Nutrition Takes the Field
You may have noticed a few new initials after some nutritionists' names lately--specifically CSSD. Offered by the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR), the credentialing agency for the American Dietetic Association, CSSD recognizes a Certified Specialist in Sports Dietetics.By Abigail Funk
Striking Out Conventional Theories
By R.J. Anderson When Daisuke Matsuzaka joined the Boston Red Sox this spring, the Japanese pitcher brought with him eight different pitches and a training regimen the likes of which many American baseball coaches had never seen. With little regard for in-game pitch counts and post-game icing, Matsuzaka also has a much more aggressive between-start throwing routine than his American counterparts. These training tactics seemingly fly in the face of traditional western philosophies that call for bringing a young pitcher along slowly and limiting how much and how often they throw. Critics, however, wonder just how long the 26-year-old Matsuzaka can keep up his prolific workload before he eventually breaks down.
Counting Calorie Costs
By Dave Ellis The NCAA Division I rulebook seems to expand annually, and each year some of those changes involve training table or nutrition supplementation issues for student-athletes. In 2004, I asked a compliance officer at a major university to summarize all the food and nutritional supplement topics covered in the NCAA rule book. That synopsis turned into a 39 page report! Everything from how much, when, what, and how often student-athletes can be fed or supplemented is tightly regulated. And yet something as fundamental as what constitutes a "meal" is very poorly defined.
From Neutral to Drive
By Vern Gambetta In the fall of 1992, when Training & Conditioning was a new publication, finding its niche and its voice, we hooked up with Vern Gambetta, then the Director of Conditioning for the Chicago White Sox. He wrote an article for T&C titled "A Tailored Program." Then, he wrote another article for us. And another. And another ... He has since penned dozens of articles for the magazine, on everything from training pitchers to periodization. Now 15 years later, we are pleased to offer a different side of Vern Gambetta--as a blogger. Here, he offers thoughts on a current buzz question: How important is a neutral spine? Read More »
'Roids Roundup
By R.J. Anderson Performance enhancing substances continue to gather more and more negative publicity at every level of athletics. With news of new steroid investigations and indictments virtually every week, states and academic institutions across the country are stepping forward to find solutions to what some view as an epidemic. As a result, in the coming months, many high school student-athletes, as well as student-athletes at NCAA Division III schools, may find themselves having to prove that they're competing drug-free.
