I am sick of seeing 13 to 15 year old kids labeled as the next superstar. We anoint these kids to the point where they think they are above the rules. Adults tolerate ant-social and sometimes illegal behavior; we enable these kids to the point where they never have to grow up, this is not a racial thing, it transcends race and gender. They don’t have to go to class, they don’t have t [...]

You heard it here first:Perhpas the earliest example of "specialization" I've seen (and practiced) that has the most noble of intentions / purpose, but stands to detract from future athletic potential is.............having newborns & infants sleep on their backs. NO I am not suggesting parents do otherwise, but its been shown that because of this, a large number of kids are skipping the crawli [...]

I believe that we have a lesser pool of true athletes at the very same time the gene pool continues to improve. Through natural selection, better per & post natal health care, etc, we bring healthier, more gifted children into the world but from day 1, poor parental decisions and later on, the individual’s poor choices, are detrimental from an athletic development standpoint. The race to [...]

This is Kevin McGill’s response to my post on specialization, a little different viewpoint.One of the most famous progressions in track history is the development of Igor Nikulin, from age 6 to 21. His father had been in the Olympics, and of course, taught the little guy the basics with a very light hammer. (It is the same with Koji Murofushi) No one in the US knows exactly what the father [...]

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 [...]

Here's an excerpt:This story could begin in many places — it's about beginnings, after all — but I'd like to start with the recent evening when my 4-year-old daughter, Zoe, appeared before me wielding a yellow baseball bat and an important announcement: batting tees were for babies. From now on, she would hit real pitches, like the big kids.By way of biography, I should mention th [...]

I found this on ESPN.com last year and saved it. This article really hit home with me, I think what he is talking about transcends basketball, it is a problem with all sports. In regards to basketball I can’t watch a game at any level anymore. There are no fundamentals. The most basic aspects of the game are non existent. America needs more 'teaching' from its coaches By Jay Bila [...]

There is a saying that “You don’t need to see different things, but rather to see things differently.” Sometimes we overlook the obvious. In the incessant search to improve performance we have gotten away from the essence of it all, the foundation of athleticism. It can be developed through a systematic approach to athlete development. It is imperative to look for every opportuni [...]

I am not as given to hyperbole as others. When you say someone is the greatest that means they are able to stand the test of time. Their performances should transcend eras. Ladainian Tomilson’s recent record splurge has elevated him into the lofty status for consideration as one of the greatest running back ever. He may well be among the greatest running backs, but in my book the greatest at [...]

These are not necessarily original ideas, but the experience in Holland stimulated me to reflect on these. I certainly will post more detail on many of these in the next few weeks.It is what you do with what you have. Holland is a nation of around of 14 million people. They do more with what they have than many other much larger countries. It is really about optimizing and directing your resources [...]