8 Random Thoughts on Soccer Performance Training

The other day my good friend and fellow performance coach, Mike Robertson wrote an article about random thoughts he’s had over the past couple of weeks on strength, speed, and conditioning. This prompted me to add to my already on-going list of random thoughts I have in regards to Soccer Performance Training. So, here are a few of the thoughts I have while training athletes.... More

Female Soccer Players: Strengthen These 3 Key Areas

Soccer requires us to perform incredible amounts of running, jumping, change of direction, acceleration and deceleration - in other words it is one of the most demanding sports on the body. And, the anterior chain, or front of the body, bears the majority of the stress compared to the backside of the body. ... More

The Real Way To “Train Like A Soccer Pro”

Every time I here the slogan, “Train Like A Pro,” I cringe - as it usually involves an athlete trying to attempt some advanced jump when they can barely land correctly, or a soccer player attempting a very complex “trick,” or skills, when they have a hard time skipping with proper form. I think to myself –

“Am I missing something? This is is not at all how I trained as a pro.”

... More
kettlebells

Are You Prepared to Perform the KB Swing? Part 2

In today's society that's filled with excess sitting and "social media gone wild" approach to life, many athletes have poor posture and an incredibly weak posterior chain - which is leading to the increase in injuries and the lack of confidence in athletic performance. One exercise that can help combat these issues is the KB Swing. However, there are a lot of working parts that need to be mastered in order to perform and experience all the benefits the KB Swing has to offer. In Part 1 I go over three exercises that will help build a foundation and get you started down the path of mastery with this "biggest bang for your buck" exercise.... More

Are You Prepared to Perform the Kettlebell Swing? Part 1

Lets face it. The Kettlebell Swing is a killer exercise. And, when I say killer I mean the benefits of the swing are endless. I can't think of another "all in one" exercise that helps:
  • Builds overall athleticism and strength
  • Improves conditioning
  • Targets your posterior chain (backside of your body) - I mean who doesn't need/want a bigger, stronger booty?
  • Is a viable alternative for the Olympic lifts
All of this awesomeness in one exercise has athletes wanting to jump right in and get to swinging. The reality is though, that many aren't prepared to perform the swing right off the bat.... More

Building to the Ab Wheel Rollout: 2 Variations to Master the Ab Wheel

I have always been a fan of core training – during my playing days and now as a coach. And, no, I'm not talking about sit-ups and crunches. (Alright, I'm sure there was a time when I would get down with some crunches, but my knowledge/approach has evolved.) I think we can all agree there's a ton of core exercises that give you way more bang for your buck than the traditional sit-ups and crunches. Reason being, everything in sport comes from the core. In soccer specifically, striking the ball, holding off defenders, sprinting/running – every movement that generates power starts with the core.... More

How’s Your Athletic Position?

If you look at the word BASICSKILL what do you do see? BASIC-SKILL? or maybe.... BASICS-KILL? I stole this from Beyond Strength Performance owner and coach, Chris Merritt. Clearly he's a genius. And, this play on words is genius too. We often mistake the basics for "simple" and "easy" and this couldn't be further from the truth.... More

Cardiac Output: The Case of an Under Recovered Soccer Player

How do you deem your training sessions successful? Are you an athlete that needs to be bent over, dripping with sweat every session in order to feel like you accomplished something or are you following a program where there are waves in your training - intense sessions followed by lower intensity sessions that keep you healthy and resilient over the long haul? My hope is that your answer is the latter. However, far too often, most athletes fall into the trap of more and high intensity is better. Unfortunately this approach is not sustainable. And, while periods of high intensity work is absolutely needed, it can't be the only aspect of your conditioning.... More

Layering the Turkish Get-Up with 1/4 and 1/2 Repetitions

When I first attempted the Turkish Get-up (TGU) I was not a fan. It can be a complicated exercise and has a ton of working parts. And, when I heard a famed strength and conditioning coach say, "If I have to teach someone to get up off the ground....then we really have problems." I laughed and kind of agreed at the time. However, when I took the RKC Level 1 Certification last month, my opinion changed completely and I have since learned to love the TGU.... More

2 Drills To Learn and Improve Your Single-Leg RDL

I am a big of fan of single leg training and believe it should be a staple in all programs. One of my favorite single leg exercises is the single leg RDL. It offers a host of benefits such as single leg strength and stability and most importantly it targets the posterior chain or in other words the hamstrings and glutes. However, mastering this exercise can be difficult and takes time and practice. Here are two drills that will help you clean up you technique. ... More