Training Thoughts and Ideas From a Lifetime in the Trenches
Ashley Jones started training in 1979 and has coached athletes and general population alike. Forty-four years later, he shares some of his most poignant takeaways.
Training the Youth Athlete
Youth athletes need more attention and individualization than typical athletes. Use these tips to help them thrive during their development so they can crush it in their prime.
The Coaching Process
It’s up to us as coaches to stay relevant and be open to changing methods to meet the demands of the changing generations.
#127 Paul Onied | Co-Owner of Coaches Corner University
Paul Oneid is a coach and the owner of Master Athletic Performance and Coaches Corner University’s co-founder.
Trialing a Rotating Weekly Plan
Here are my ideas for a rotating weekly plan that I’ve been trialing this month with my exact exercises and training loads. I’m sore!
#119 - 8x WPC World Champion: Doug Heath
Learn how the 20-year-old version of Doug met Louie Simmons and his lifting career blasted off the ground in this podcast episode!
#116 - Dave Tate Introduces Our Newest Athletes!
In this #116 episode of Dave Tate’s Table Talk Podcast, Dave invites three new elitefts athletes to the table. Meet Haley Hill, Jaden Lacaria, and Adam Zavchik!
#115 - The Future of Powerlifting & Gym Culture And How To Create A ...
In episode 115 of Dave Tate’s Table Talk, Dave opens the flood gates to answer YOUR questions that you asked on his Instagram page.
The Devil is in the Detail for Gym Start-Ups
As strength and conditioning coaches, before you buy the gym equipment and create an exercise selection chart, answer these questions.
Going Back to Where We Started
I cherry-picked the best of the best from twenty-plus years of programming. Here’s how our football players trained this summer.
The S&C Role in Early Sport Specialization
From a physical literacy perspective and contrary to popular belief, playing sports is not enough to become physically literate for life.
The Best Lift for Collegiate Athletes
Although collegiate athletes are not powerlifters, powerlifting is the ultimate inspiration for their training. Hands down, the barbell Romanian deadlift should be a part of their exercise selection.
8 Tips to Become a Better Performance Coach
Here's what to do and what not do as an intern, graduate assistant, and assistant as you try to climb the ranks. I didn't find these tips by reading a manual, but through the first-hand experience as an intern at Florida International University and an assistant for the Division I HBCU North Carolina Central University.
How I Teach the Squat
Everybody learns differently. Using five easy steps, this is my way of teaching clients and seminar attendees how to execute a squat.
To Master, With Love
The world was a wiser, kinder place with Master in it. Now his body is dead. I guess it's up to me, then, to live up to his legacy.
How Private-Sector Gyms are Surviving
The gym owners you are going to hear from are from places similar to where you train or have trained. None of these gyms are the big-box gyms that thrive off of selling thousands of memberships for $10.00 a month.
All Lined Up
The last time I had the opportunity to train a Division II collegiate football team, I produced their first winning season in five years. The main tools I used were a measuring tape, masking tape, and string.
WATCH: Equipment Feature: The elitefts 5 Rings Bar
More precise bar positioning, simpler coaching cues, and easier chain and band placement are just a few of the many benefits of this innovative bar design.
Explosive Strength and Plyometric Options for Upper Body: How and When t...
Speed is king, right? Then you'd better train it. I have some medicine ball throws to get your athletes up to speed. Make sure those movements are crisp and fast! Go, go, go!
Seven Rules of Customer Engagement for Personal Training
I wanted to know the similarities between college coaching and private sector training, so I asked our director of customer engagement to write out his rules of personal training. Here they are.
It's as Easy as 1, 2, 3…4, 5, 6, 7
The path to becoming a strength and conditioning coach at the collegiate level is unique to everyone. However, there are some similarities and tips that this strength and conditioning coach wants you to know.
ConjugateU for College Baseball — A Powerful Combination
Jim Seratt doesn't understand how anyone wouldn't want baseball players to bench press. Here is his method for implementing conjugate training in his baseball program.
The Rise of Live Stream Conferences
A key part of being a strength and conditioning coach is something many people may not expect: networking. Be sure you're not missing out on making important connections that online productions can't imitate.
5 Must Do’s for an Intern
There is much to learn from being an intern. Take it from a former intern himself, there are a few things you should keep in mind during your interning process. Do this and your dreams of being a coach get closer.
5 Things I Learned in the Transition From Intern to Strength Coach
Becoming a strength and conditioning coach is not the path for everyone. However, for those ready for the challenges, here is some advice from a young coach.
Conjugate for Throwers—Putting Your Athletes on the Right Trajectory
Conjugate training can make a huge difference in track and field athletes' overall performance. For throwers in particular, give this conjugate workout a try and see the improvement for yourself.
Don’t Forget Who You're Dealing With
It's easy to assume a young athlete is slacking off due to laziness. However, it's always important to remember that there may be more than meets the eye.
The Waverly Project: Phase I and II
In phase I of Nate Harvey's Waverly Project, it's all about movements; getting them down properly before moving on. Phase II is where the work really comes in for student athletes.
5 No-Bullshit Tips to Help You Reach Your Resolution Goals
Have you considered that you may be the reason you're not reaching your goals? It's time to reevaluate what is really holding you back.
Create SMART Goals for 2020
It's not enough to simply declare a goal. In order to stay realistic and successful, make sure your goals are SMART.
Mount Baker High School Looks at What Really Matters
Chris Bartl is an experienced powerlifter dedicated to teaching high school kids the proper way to lift weights. More than that, he's teaching them life lessons they'll take with them well past graduation.
WATCH: Matt Rhodes on Getting His Foot Through the Door
“People I knew got my foot in the door, and I got myself through the door.” Morehead State strength and conditioning coach Matt Rhodes shares his story of how he made his way into the collegiate strength and conditioning world.
Everything You’ll Ever Need to Know about Competing: The Beginner's...
Looking at competing in a Powerlifting meet? This is all you need to know to get you on your way.
Mental Health First Aid Training for Strength Coaches
After 20 years of mistakes and heartbreaks, I've learned that we need to do better when it comes to mental health training for our student-athletes. There's no one-size-fits-all solution, but we can start to do better by being more empathetic.
What It Means to "Pass On"
Lately, I've noticed a lot of coaches telling other coaches to be careful of people who ask for advice in case they'll steal their trade secrets. Knock it off. Where did you learn the stuff you know now? That knowledge is not yours alone.
Make Light Weight Heavy with Controlled Eccentrics and Concentrics
You don't have to train in pain. How? Drop the heavy weights and work in some lighter options while focusing on using the best technique you can.
Add 100 Pounds To Your Squat — 5 Seminar Takeaways
It took more than 20 years of surveys for us to define what is optimal. These are some of those key items and teaching points we've picked up from those surveys, such as training group size considerations and training the squat from the bottom up.
How to Coach Based on Personality Type
Knowing your clients' personalities and using that knowledge for communication and programming can make you a better, more effective coach. Here's how you can do that using the DISC personality model.
Under the Baa-r: Lessons Learned in Herding, From Me to Ewe
In a week, my girlfriend and I went from the APF Women's Pro-Am in Cincinnati to taking our dog an Intro to Herding Class in Nova, Ohio. I didn't know what I was getting into, but I learned a lot about dogs, sports, and life in general.
LISTEN: Table Talk Podcast Clip — How the Hypertrophy Coach Met Dave Bau...
"That's kind of fucked up." Learn how Joe Bennett met Dave Bautista, a retired WWE wrestler, former mixed martial artist and bodybuilder, and Guardian of the Galaxy — and Joe's one full-time client.
Reminder: Stay Focused and In Your Own Lane
Every team has areas that need attention, and if we are not careful, we can step on the toes of others by doing their jobs, and then we have no time to develop what OUR job calls us to do.
The Poopy Raccoon
In preparation for our next training session, I knew I needed the help of my coworkers. The next morning they all received the following email blast...
Refueling and Recovery for BAMF Wrestlers
In the final part of the #BAMF Wrestler series, Steve "Kono" Konopka and I answer questions about post-match recovery, supplement suggestions, and refueling. Sleep, cryotherapy, contrast showers, foam rolling, vitamin C, beetroot powder, and protein powder are just a few things we suggest.
How Strong is Strong Enough?
Generally speaking, if we can get an athlete stronger, that athlete will get faster. But at what point is the athlete strong enough for continued speed improvements? I hope you weren’t looking for a quantifiable answer on this one...
Championship Nature Series: Dealing With Fear and Accepting Responsibility
This month, I have three stories to share on the topics of dealing with fear and accepting responsibility. Using illustrations from Joe Montana, the founder of Aikido, and Harry S. Truman, hopefully, next time you're faced with adversity you won't question, "Why me?"
The Leadership Parallels Between the Successful Coach and the Successful...
After eight years of competing in strength sports and seven years of supervising employees, I've found that these parts of my life share several similarities when it comes to success. I've learned what makes the best coaches and bosses stand out from the rest. These three keys will help you do just that.
The Two Variables That Change It All: Load and Speed
Your athletes' load and acceleration will vary greatly depending on the skillset and experience of your athletes. Your athletes' levels of experience will impact the ability of what they can and cannot do, as well as how you can assess and train these athletes at each level.
Ask Questions, Read, and Ask More Questions
A beautiful transformation occurs when you begin to accept that difficulties are as inherent to our lives as breathing. For strength coaches, there is nothing more substantive to our daily lives than questions and books. Do you diverge from the routine?
How to Program for a Large Group of Athletes with Limited Resources
The DOMINATE method is a way of working out a team with the bare minimum while still being able to maximize results. It consists of eight principles that all successful strength and conditioning programs must have and must be able to do.
Bring the Juice
In order to fully help your athletes maximize their performance while bringing the juice as a coach, you have to be able to communicate to them how to do the lifts properly — through effective and efficient cues. Here, take a sample sip of some of my juicier cues.
6-Step Method to Develop Pure Strength
Before you enter pure strength development, there are a few steps that must be considered. And I know this may sound like rocket science for some, but it doesn’t have to be that complicated. I’ve used this method to develop three world champions in powerlifting in only 18 months.
Your Strength and Conditioning Blueprint for Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
While training myself and others, I’ve started to notice areas where most BJJ guys and gals are lacking when it comes to their strength training: fundamental movement patterns, mobility, stability, core and upper back work, and recovery. Here's how to improve.
Always Have a Plan
It’s never been about making these “New Year, new me” resolutions; it’s about dedicating yourself to the daily process, having a vision, and having a plan in every aspect of your life. Want to be a head strength coach? Have a plan and dedicate yourself daily to the process.
12 Rules for Becoming a Better Strength Coach
These 12 rules are a culmination of experience and mistakes and were written for younger strength coaches, who I hope understand the long journey they have in front of them. While your principles are and should still be forming, it’s always a good thing to have some rules to keep you on track.
Buddy Morris on Stress and Recovery for the Athlete
"Play the game; don't let the game play you." Coach Buddy Morris (one of the speakers for the 2019 Strong(er) Sports Training and Success Seminar) talks about stress adaptation and recovery with Dave Tate, Tom Myslinski, and Jim Wendler in the sixth video of a nine-part conversation.
The Best Speed Drill for High School Athletes
Sprinting with a weighted sled has become my go-to exercise for improving an athlete’s ability to accelerate because it teaches and trains those mechanics. My athletes have consistently improved thanks to to sled sprints!
Goodbye 2018, Hello 2019
My life went through a lot of changes and adjustments during 2018, which meant I had to learn and re-learn things. Lesson 1: the grass isn’t always greener on the other side, but sometimes it is, so watch your lawn and don’t forget that some grass is better than yours.
How to Get In and Stay In
If you think you have what it takes to become a strength coach, you've got to start with an internship. This one's for the future interns who want to get on the field and on the strength and conditioning path. Just know there's little to no money or prestige in the gig.
WATCH: I am Ashley Jones
elitefts columnist Ashley Jones is Australian by birth, a New Zealander by choice and marriage, but first and foremost, he's a strength and conditioning coach with 40 years of experience under his belt with plenty of passion and advice to spare to future coaches.