May 14, 2018

The NBA Combine, Correlation, and Tryouts: Individuality Matters!

May 14, 2018/ Volt HQ/ Joe Eisenmann, PhD

Each May, the NBA invites top college basketball players to participate in their annual Combine, a series of physical measurements and athletic tests that can help determine a player’s fate in the NBA Draft in June. But combine performance doesn’t necessarily correlate to performance in the NBA (just look at Kevin Durant’s failed combine bench press attempt!). Breaking down the research on the validity of the NBA Combine, Joe Eisenmann, PhD, examines the statistical concept of correlation and how it relates to combine testing, and shares some valuable lessons for coaches about tryouts at the youth and high school levels.

April 23, 2018

LTAD Part 2: Is Early Specialization Good or Bad for Athletes?

April 23, 2018/ Volt HQ/ Joe Eisenmann, PhD

We live in an age of youth sports where our kids' schedules are jam-packed with practices, camps, private coaching sessions, and pay-to-play leagues—all specific to a single sport. But we also live an age of research, and studies are now showing that athletes who participate in a variety of sports have fewer injuries and play sports longer than those who specialize before puberty. Volt's Head of Sport Science, Joe Eisenmann, tackles this issue as part of his series on long-term athlete development (LTAD) and unpacks the research about early specialization, and what parents and coaches should do.

March 19, 2018

LTAD Part 1: Definition and History

March 19, 2018/ Volt HQ/ Joe Eisenmann, PhD

What is the purpose of youth sports? Are we trying to produce 8-year-old city champions—or healthy, active adults who can give back to the game? Volt's Head of Sport Science, Joe Eisenmann, kicks off his series on long-term-athlete-development (LTAD) in this new article, which unpacks the definition of athleticism and the history of athlete development—from Ancient Sparta to JFK's America to today.

February 23, 2018

The Science of the NFL Combine: What High School Coaches Should Know

February 23, 2018/ Volt HQ/ Joe Eisenmann, PhD

Every February, 300 or so of the country's best college football athletes gather in Indianapolis to participate in the NFL Combine: essentially a job interview consisting of a battery of physical, medical, and psychological tests in advance of the NFL draft. So what does the Combine measure? How do those measurements correlate to on-field performance? And—most importantly—should high school coaches test their players the same way? Volt's Head of Sport Science, Dr. Joe Eisenmann, unpacks the research and takes a hard look at the purpose of testing, asking: are we measuring what really matters?

February 07, 2018

Long-Term Athlete Development: From Cradle to Grave with Dr. Joe Eisenmann

February 07, 2018/ Volt HQ/ Joe Eisenmann, PhD

How should we be training young athletes? Issues around youth fitness and sports—like whether early specialization in a single sport is beneficial for young athletes—are becoming more prominent. That's why we're excited to team up with Volt's new Head of Sport Science, Joe Eisenmann, PhD, to address these topics in an article series on long-term athlete development, or LTAD. In this initial article, Dr. Eisenmann outlines his approach on "cradle-to-grave" physical development, and why parents and coaches should pay attention.

June 07, 2017

The Importance of a Flexible Training Program

June 07, 2017/ Volt HQ/ Christye Estes

If you want to train athletes safely and effectively for performance, your program MUST be flexible. This is why static programs just don't work for athletes. Period. Volt Advisory Board members Patrick McHenry and Mike Nitka weigh in on the importance of a dynamic, nimble training program, and why rigid, off-the-shelf plans just don't cut it.

May 17, 2017

Pro Tip: Track Your Rest

May 17, 2017/ Volt HQ/ Jace Derwin

Believe it or not, one of the most important training variables in your workout is REST. The amount of rest helps dictate what adaptation your body makes, and should NOT be the same for every type of exercise. Here’s a quick primer on how rest time should vary.

May 03, 2017

3 Rules for Testing Your Athletes

May 03, 2017/ Volt HQ/ Christye Estes

Testing your athletes is crucial for implementing a successful strength and conditioning program. After all, how else will you know if your program is working?! But to obtain the most accurate and objective data, there are a few important rules to follow. Coach Christye explains the 3 most important rules to remember when testing your athletes, to help you get the most out of your data.

April 05, 2017

Should Early Workouts be Banned for High School Athletes?

April 05, 2017/ Volt HQ/ Christye Estes

The NCAA recently passed legislation prohibiting coaches from scheduling early morning workouts for D1 collegiate athletes. But what about high school athletes? In this article, Volt Advisory Board member and veteran high school strength coach Mike Nitka and I discuss the pros and cons of early morning training for teen athletes—and how it may be doing athletes more harm than good.

March 15, 2017

The Reality of Strength and Conditioning

March 15, 2017/ Volt HQ/ Doug Berninger

Are you a new strength coach, or planning to become one? Doug Berninger, M.Ed., CSCS,*D, RSCC, USAW-ASPC has been there—and now he’s sharing his expertise in a brand-new ebook written just for coaches! From nailing your resume to the day-to-day duties of weight room life, The Reality of Strength and Conditioning: Expectations for New Coaches offers invaluable advice for coaches who want to start their careers off right.

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