Coach Vick posted some great thoughts on resisted sprints with sleds and questioned the 10% rule. When something innovative or new comes along I am completely open but skeptical because often people believe they have stumbled on something other's didn't grasp or think of. The question is can we use acceleration protocols that are not following the guidelines of the coaches before us regarding h [...]

On Saturday, Jamaica's Nesta Carter ran a wind legal 9.78 for 100m. That makes Jamaica, a country with a population about the same as Brooklyn, NY, by far the most dominant sprint country in the world. They now have 3 of the 4 fastest men in history in Usain Bolt, Asafa Powell, and Nesta Carter all running at the same time. That make's the Miami Heat's lineup of LeBron James, Dwayne Wade and Ch [...]

It's not what to coach, it's what to leave alone. Often I hear cues that are most likely descriptive factors, meaning hints to athletes of what to do when in reality they have no real ability to execute such a task. I remember when Richard Quick presented in Burlington at a local clinic before his passing someone asked a question of what drills or cues he used to fix certain movements. His respo [...]

I had the pleasure of sitting down with Tom Tellez and asked the questions that most coaches had about the current debates on forums and one of them was on vertical and horizontal forces. Like any master of coaching, Tom at a ripe age of 76 was sharp and created clarity to what was going on. I can't say enough good things about him as for two hours we addressed some very high level concepts and T [...]

The simple question is "What impact will hip thrusts and other exercises coined by Bret Contreras" have on elite sprinting? My answer is I am not sure, since every few years a new or old idea comes up claiming it will be the next big thing and always seems to loose ground when the track season starts. Why? Reality. The reality of the exercise list is that no evidence of transfer is available. So [...]

What is going on in high level sprinting?The reality is that simple physics and basic math illustrates that those that are running faster are improving by increasing the total work during the stance phase. The take off angle and stride length changes are marginal since it's about more work being put down in order to overcome an increase of forces. What happens beyond 12.5 meters per second I am n [...]

What's the limit in the 100m dash? 12.75 meters per second? Is a .78 10m split possible? What information is best to predict performance? I think the Bob Hayes split set the tone long before Rome and Berlin, since it happened and the context was clear that he was limited. Great performances in bad conditions (dirt, little training, special diets, sports medicine....) clue us to what can be done w [...]

I work with a variety of athletes from different events in Track & Field as well as many athletes from other sports. Although the technical and biomotor qualities necessary for success may be very different across the spectrum of events and activities I train, one training commonality is that everyone sprints. At least a little bit. There’s an obvious need for some type of sprint training in [...]

My post-collegiate track and field group resumed training last week following the conclusion of their seasons and 4-6 weeks of complete and active recovery. This year at least half of the group will be coming in following a year of training with me and should still be in pretty good shape. And because we're starting training relatively early (late July) we're going to take our time in the genera [...]

Been here since last Sunday teaching with my colleague Ed Ryan ATC, formerly head of Sports Medicine at USOC. Have not posted much, just no time. Did a 3.5 workshop with soccer coaches; a half day off and yesterday started 3.5 days with rugby coaches. Very knowledgeable and well educated coaches who are very open and hungry for knowledge. We have had some great interchanges of ideas. I hope our wo [...]