One aspect with Bobsled that I wished was further explored is rendering a formula to improving push clearance with the start. Oddly their is very little research and proposed theories on the best way to get a sled to it's fastest "escape velocity". Unlike track where countless conferences exchange great kinetic and kinematic data, the sport of bobsleigh doesn't have the economic resources to i [...]

Defining the Field of Athletic Development - Where We Are NowWhy am I writing this? Who am I to tell you how to train or rehab your athletes? How can I have the impudence to question some of the hallowed concepts of training and performance, even question sports science? I have consistently questioned much of what passes as conventional wisdom in regards to training and rehab and I have the audaci [...]

Mobility is the trendy item of the moment and it looks like the usual suspects of sports performance are at it again at your expense. In efforts to stay cutting edge they share new progressions, foreign exercises stolen from PT, misinterpretation of basic research, or unfortunately original moronic epiphanies. The prime example is dorsiflexion of the ankle joint. Well people the foot has over 30 j [...]

Whole Body Vibration Training? Don't believe the hype. Some of my peers use it judiciously so I am not saying that it does nothing but frankly let's get real. We have some proponents that must be using the vibraflex as a pillow at night because they are saying outlandish statements. Based on the peer reviewed research vibration training is washed out of a complete program. When Jordan dunked in [...]

Training information is easy to find, go anywhere on the internet and you will all kinds of information, some valuable, some trivial and some downright useless and misleading. How can you separate the wheat from the chaff? Maybe it just reflects my age, education and the era when I grew up. A good sound base of knowledge is so much more important than information. I think to be able to sort throug [...]

Innovation is probably one of the most overused words in our language today. Innovation is closely linked with change, as it should be. What I notice is that people and organizations seem to be willing to talk about innovation and change, but when it comes to decision making time it is back to the same old way of doing things. I think what people do not realize is that to stay the same requires ch [...]

I was recently asked to contribute to the "Ask Anything" column in Maxim magazine. In this front-of-the-magazine section, Maxim solicits random questions from readers, thenconsult "real experts for actual, scientific answers." I was asked to answer the question why so many gifted athletes are pigeon-toed? Here's my answer (and a special thanks to CFKA for the ball analogies):While there� [...]

The results of tonight's Pennsylvania Democratic primaries are in. Hillary won the state by over 10 percentage points giving her justification to stay in the blood bath that was the Democratic primaries. I bring this up only because one of the central talking points of both the Clinton and Obama camps is the value of experience vs. expertise. Clinton says experience is needed. Obama says expertis [...]

In the popular press, in the scientific literature, at conferences everyone is talking about and writing about the core. Have we put the cart before the horse here, everyone is using the term core, but has anyone ever accurately defined the term? If there is a concise and accurate definition I have not seen it or been able to find it. It bothers me to see the term “core” used in peer r [...]

I asked Jack Blatherwick to address his viewpoint on establishing an aerobic base. Jack is with the Washington Capitols and was conditioning coach for six American Olympic Ice Hockey teams including the 1980 “Miracle Team”). The following is his response:Establishing an aerobic baseby Jack Blatherwick, Ph.DThis question comes up often: is it appropriate for young sprinters and athletes [...]