This is an article from yesterday's New York Times sports page. As soon as I read it I ran the gamut of emotions starting with astonishment and ending with anger. What are we trying to do here? Isn’t this just exploiting kids? Why don’t we just let them be kids? I have a long time interest in Long Term Athlete Development, youth sports and physical education, this concept and many o [...]

I have been thinking of writing this post for a long time. I have been hesitant because of the risk of pissing off a whole bunch of people, but so be it. I say wake up because those of you that identify yourself as strength coaches are painting yourselves into a corner. The more you chase numbers in the weight room, the more you create adapted athletes that are disconnected with what they are tryi [...]

While I was at the USATF Level 2 Coaches Education School 2 weeks ago in Houston, I had several conversations with students about what certifications were important and beneficial. Some heated discussion came up regarding the National Strength & Conditioning Association's CSCS certification and whether it was beneficial and worthwhile. A couple of my fellow instructors were pretty passionately op [...]

This post from Seth Godin reminds of the guy at the NSCA Convention - What my favorite lower trap exercise was? Does it matter? Hopefully this will make those of you that are still hung up on tools and exercises think!I need to build a house, what kind of hammer should I buy?I want to write a novel. What word processor do you recommend?Yesterday on the radio, Jimmy Wales was talking about the Wiki [...]

I have maintained for several years that Strength & Conditioning is a field crying out for definition. The four days here in Las Vegas at the NSCA Convention did nothing to dispel that notion. I am convinced that there is no profession, no field, only confusion. The convention program and the exhibits only confirmed that for me. What is strength and conditioning? This was definitely not a conventi [...]

After volleyball practice I will leave for Las Vegas for the NSCA Convention. Going to Las Vegas is not something I look forward to, I am not into gambling, smoking, drinking and crowds, but it is chance to catch up with friends and professional colleagues. I can’t help but reflect back to my first NSCA Convention in Los Angeles in 1983. Most of the attendees were coaches. The personal trai [...]

Thefollowing is an excerpt from my book. In light of the sheep walkingphenomenon (Blindly following the flock)I observed at the NSCAConvention I thought this would be appropriate. Hope it makes you think. Inthe athlete development process the role of Olympic style weighttraining has occupied a large role. This has good and bad implications.Olympic style weight lifting is a training method tha [...]

I must admit I left with my head spinning. Not 100% sure what I expected, it had been three years since I last attended the NSCA Convention. The attendance was certainly impressive. The composition of the attendees seemed to be different than three years ago, less personal trainers more people oriented to performance. That also may reflect bias, because you do see what you are looking for. I could [...]

LONDON -- The prosthetic legs double-amputee sprinter Oscar Pistorius uses provide less air resistance than normal legs, the IAAF said Monday. The following is the introduction and summary of my presentation at the 2007 NSCA Conference. I will post my comments on the conference tomorrow.Following the Functional PathEverything Old is New AgainGoalsChallenge Inspire Provoke Educate Define the field [...]

What...???Who are you going to give more credibility to?Joe Blow MS, CSCS, NASM-PES, ACE, IFFA, ACSM, USWForJoe I Don't Have All The Letters After My NameTHATS VERY EASY - NO LETTERS IF HE HAS BEEN COACHING WHILE THE OTHER GUY HAS SAT IN CLASS TAKING TESTS TO GATHER MORE LETTERS!!! [...]