When buying a new power rack for your home or gym, you’ll need to consider the space you have, how much money you can spend, and how versatile it can be to accommodate more than a handful of exercises. This is the process I went through when shopping for a power rack.
A belt is a support mechanism. Your trunk still supports, contracts, and strengthens while wearing a belt and gaining strength. Again, when not used properly, a belt is useless and has downsides. Here’s what to know as a coach with a listing of the belts I recommend for high school athletes, college athletes, and lifters.
Without a doubt, there are some things you need to pay attention to when performing and coaching squats across the board. I will list them here.
Every day can be a battle when you are trying to change your habits. Here are some things to do when you really want to make a change.
In this phase, we’ll be introducing the back squat, hinging motion, and more plyometric work.
In this phase, we will focus on developing more stability. We’ll also introduce movement patterns that the athlete will need down the road.
If you’re not sure where to start training a 12-year-old who’s a complete novice in the weight room, this program might just be the place.
I never cease to be amazed at how messed up new collegiate athletes are when they start lifting in the weight room. Year in and year out, this keeps happening without any sign of improvement. Why does this keep happening?
Everything you’ve ever wanted to know about internships, all in one place.
If your lifts are stagnating, it’s time to think and look outside of the box.
Not everyone has been there — there being a facility on a tight budget — but I have. If you’re feeling the financial squeeze but desperately need new equipment, these should be more than enough to get your weight room by.
Enough with the “back in my day, kids did this…” crap. Today is today. Things haven’t changed that much, and if you can’t adapt to what has changed, maybe you shouldn’t be a strength coach.
I’ve covered the negatives about being a collegiate strength coach. If that didn’t scare you off, good — because there are some really awesome things about the job, too. For me, the pros outweigh the cons. If they didn’t, why would I still be doing this?
If you’re new to powerlifting, you don’t need gear. Seriously. Start training raw and see where it takes you. Oh, and if you’re an athlete, I’d better not see you putting on lifting gear.
The lifting world is small — if I’m being generous, there are a couple hundred thousand of us. There are over 7 billion people on this planet. You are no one. How’s that for some perspective? If you haven’t noticed, I’m going to rant about the crap that annoys me.
Do you seriously call that a squat? I’ve seen babies squat better than you! No, seriously, I have. Babies don’t know how to do the squat wrong! By the time your kids are toddling and in soccer camp, their squats start to fall apart. Here are the three things I do to correct athletes’ poor squats.
Why are we not focusing on the mechanics? Why is this not important to more coaches and personal trainers? Why are we not laying the groundwork for these athletes to be successful? Staying healthy is a huge part of being successful and in the world of college athletics, if you are injured, you’re not playing.
I especially like it when I see an individual doing wrist curls behind the back with a barbell. I love those moments. My reaction anymore is a smile and a little shake of the head while I move on.
You can prescribe the best programming out there, but if your group of student-athletes do not believe in it or you, then it’s never going to work.
I was just recently asked this again by one of my former athletes and colleague, who is now a collegiate strength coach as well as an aspiring raw powerlifter. Here’s my answer.
I had those days, especially early on in my career, that I didn’t understand why the athletes weren’t as enthusiastic as I was at 6 AM. I mean, what the hell is better than getting up early and training your ass off?
A lot of individuals take what’s arguably the most highly coordinated regimen you can perform in the weight room and start individuals doing it day 1. At the collegiate level, these are the movements I make sure that my athletes can do before they are allowed to perform a proper clean motion.
Here are some rarely discussed things to keep in mind when asking yourself if you really want to become a collegiate strength and conditioning coach.
To be used as a standalone exercise or as a way to build the weightlifting clean from the floor, the conventional deadlift is one of the most important training movements for your athletes to learn.
Range of motion should be limited by the hamstrings for this exercise, which means the bottom position may vary between athletes. That’s not a problem if they follow these rules.
There’s more to it than lying down and busting out reps. Focus on these points for stronger and more injury-resistant athletes.
Missouri State University Director of Strength and Conditioning Jeremy Frey has a few ways to make front squatting easier to learn and more effective for your athletes. Here are the things that are most important to focus on.
This is where you need to start if you want to get one of the strength coaching jobs you’re dreaming about. It’s simple but not easy, so swallow your pride and ego before you move forward.
It’s been my privilege to know Dave Tate and be a part of elitefts since 2007. I’ve been away for a few years now, but I’m back.
That time of the year is right around the corner. No, I’m not talking about giving and receiving gifts. What I’m talking about is…
Dave Tate interrogates Jeremy Frey about his road to the XPC Finals.
Jeremy Frey offers career advice, as well as a few first meet pointers.
Whether you are looking to gain weight, lose weight, or lean-out… a pure and simple diet is your best choice.
The final installment of Jeremy Frey’s Block Periodization for Powerlifting presentation.
Frey continues his block periodization for powerlifting tutorial.
Frey continues his discussion on how to apply block periodization to powerlifting.
Frey goes into detail on how to apply block periodization to get the most out of your training.
From powerlifting and programming to strength coaching advice, Jeremy Frey has the answers.
Check it out as Jeremy Frey gets prepared for the 2012 XPC Pro/Elite Coalition meet
I first started lifting when I was about 11-years-old. I started doing little things before this time, but I entered a weight room when I was about 11-years-old.