So, I read a little article in a 'newsletter email' from STT (smarter team training) about the new (ish) fad of the various 'shape up / toning' shoes... maining for... well CHICKS...
So the article was basically about the science behind the shoes... do the shoes REALLY activate the muscles in your lower limbs just by simply... well wearing them? Multiple studies with multiple groups of women in multiple parts of the world, fortunatly, or unfortunatly, (depending on you who are considering) have shown that no the shoes do not heighten the muscle activation in your legs by simply wearing them.
However, there is a heightened amount of muscle activation (esp of the feet/calf) when you initially wear such a shoe, and this is most likely due to the 'wobbly' 'uneasiness' or walking / moving in the shoe, so you are unstable and thus your feet / calf muscles go into overdrive, but once you get used to how the shoe wobbles/rocks... the mucle activation goes back to normal...
So, I don't want to completly knock all types of 'toning' 'shape up' shoes... bc I guess they do kinda work, a little... but lets me for real ladies... do you really think a pair of $50-80 shoes are going to get you 'toned' and 'in-shape?' Lo siento but I do not think it works that way.
Now, I think if you are an elder person, or a person with other 'injury' etc issues in which they cannot work out in any capacity, besides walking... then I would probably say, sure go ahead try them (as long as its not a 'fall liablity' i.e an older person with a history of falls, or whom might fall if wearing an 'unstable' shoe).
So ladies, I hope we can eventually learn from the gimicks that are constantly being thrown at us about 'losing weight' and 'getting in shape' and maybe we will all turn to a real gym and do some sort of real exercise as opposed to buying the 'next best thing in keeping fit/toned'.
GIRL POWER!
~KIK~
Saturday, July 16, 2011
Friday, June 24, 2011
“Cave Man / Meat Head Syndrome”
So, I'm sure this has been talked about or written about a ton of times. But, I personally have never thought about it ‘out loud’. Now I’m not sure the ‘p.c’ name for this, because I don’t know if it’s a good thing, a bad thing, just a thing, or what. So please no one take offense, it is just a name.
Now, I like to call this ‘cave man and/or meat head syndrome’ . And it tends to occur a decent amount in the fitness world. The ‘cave man syndrome’ to me is when a person feels and/or believes that being a strength coach (esp) or a personal trainer, does not take too much brain power or scientific knowledge. I have heard time and again: (from strength coaches and personal trainers alike) “what we do is not rocket science”. Well no, obviously it is not, but it is still science. Exercise physiology, exercise SCIENCE?! It is not called that for a reason?
Sure I know there are different levels of education and experience in the fitness industry, and some people know or understand more than others but please, can we not all become “cave men”? There has to be a happy medium between Dr. Knows It All, and Mr. Meat Head.
A lot of coaches seem to support/stand by the 'mead head syndrome’. They believe that strength and conditioning is not rocket science and that strength coaches really can be 'just dumb meat heads'. Part of this I understand. “The meat head though process”: If you want to get stronger pick up something heavy 5 times, two days later pick up the same thing 8 times, or pick up something heavier 5 times. If you do that, you'll get stronger etc.” In some regards it is that simple. But, it isn’t always that easy. Sometimes that doesn’t work. Sometimes there are athletes or clients with ‘issues’ that arise and can interfere with the ‘easy/basic’ theory (pick something heavy up, to get stronger pick something heavier up next time). These athletes require our nerdy scientific data because of their body or their life. And thankfully with knowledge and research we are able to provide our clients and athletes with programs that fit their needs.
So, I guess what I wish would occur is that strength coaches (and personal trainers) can find a way to stand in the middle of this spectrum. Don't forget the simple (meathead) aspect of our career, sometimes it really is that simple to make an athletes better/strong. But, when it is not dont be afraid to open up a book, or watch a dvd and break out that nerdy 'exercise physiology'. If only we could all be the 'ideal' strength coach, a 'neardy meathead'.
Coach KIK
Now, I like to call this ‘cave man and/or meat head syndrome’ . And it tends to occur a decent amount in the fitness world. The ‘cave man syndrome’ to me is when a person feels and/or believes that being a strength coach (esp) or a personal trainer, does not take too much brain power or scientific knowledge. I have heard time and again: (from strength coaches and personal trainers alike) “what we do is not rocket science”. Well no, obviously it is not, but it is still science. Exercise physiology, exercise SCIENCE?! It is not called that for a reason?
Sure I know there are different levels of education and experience in the fitness industry, and some people know or understand more than others but please, can we not all become “cave men”? There has to be a happy medium between Dr. Knows It All, and Mr. Meat Head.
A lot of coaches seem to support/stand by the 'mead head syndrome’. They believe that strength and conditioning is not rocket science and that strength coaches really can be 'just dumb meat heads'. Part of this I understand. “The meat head though process”: If you want to get stronger pick up something heavy 5 times, two days later pick up the same thing 8 times, or pick up something heavier 5 times. If you do that, you'll get stronger etc.” In some regards it is that simple. But, it isn’t always that easy. Sometimes that doesn’t work. Sometimes there are athletes or clients with ‘issues’ that arise and can interfere with the ‘easy/basic’ theory (pick something heavy up, to get stronger pick something heavier up next time). These athletes require our nerdy scientific data because of their body or their life. And thankfully with knowledge and research we are able to provide our clients and athletes with programs that fit their needs.
So, I guess what I wish would occur is that strength coaches (and personal trainers) can find a way to stand in the middle of this spectrum. Don't forget the simple (meathead) aspect of our career, sometimes it really is that simple to make an athletes better/strong. But, when it is not dont be afraid to open up a book, or watch a dvd and break out that nerdy 'exercise physiology'. If only we could all be the 'ideal' strength coach, a 'neardy meathead'.
Coach KIK
Wednesday, June 22, 2011
The Muscular System
oooo ahhh muscles! Body World! Movement, Exercise, Lifting heavy sh$$. So like I said I'd post something about the 'muscle system' since that is what we discussed in class this week. Lucky for me I have an awesome dad and awesome résumé and took AP Bio and independent study kinesiology in HS, so a lot of it is review. But, it’s always good to remember or review the muscles of the body etc.
I obviously do not think that we need to call the 'quads' the 'rectus femoris' or anything like that. But, we should still as coaches or trainers know the 'scientific' name for a muscle. Sometimes you do get those extra curious athletes or clients and they might ask more specifically what 'muscle' does this exercise/lift ‘work’. Usually an exercise works more than one muscle, or even better works every muscle. But, better be safe than sorry to know the answer to a curious minds question.
It's hard to say which is the coolest organ of the human body, but at times I like to think the muscles are. That is probably my bias opinion though, if I knew more about the heart / lunges I'd probably pick them. Anywho, it still amazes me how awesome one's muscles can be. And how we can train in certain ways to make our muscles look/feel/work in different ways. We have fast and slow twitch muscles and if we train in a certain way, over time, we can gain more of either type.
It is easy to say that "the quads extend the leg and the hamstrings flex the leg". But, that sounds pretty elementary to me. Unfortunatly I know there are a lot of people out there in the fitness world that are sticking to just that, 'the basics'. Which is understanding because we certainly do not want to go on a tangent in front of our clients dropping all of these scientific names / terms etc.
However, I do think at times that as 'fitness enthusiast' or 'experts' or 'professional' we do tend to neglect the beautiful and wonderful muscular sytem. I think that we should be sure to know and understand the muscular system down to the core, and not just keep simplifying it either because we are lazy, or simply do not know more than the 'basic' aspects.
Keep your muscular system working,
Coach KIK
I obviously do not think that we need to call the 'quads' the 'rectus femoris' or anything like that. But, we should still as coaches or trainers know the 'scientific' name for a muscle. Sometimes you do get those extra curious athletes or clients and they might ask more specifically what 'muscle' does this exercise/lift ‘work’. Usually an exercise works more than one muscle, or even better works every muscle. But, better be safe than sorry to know the answer to a curious minds question.
It's hard to say which is the coolest organ of the human body, but at times I like to think the muscles are. That is probably my bias opinion though, if I knew more about the heart / lunges I'd probably pick them. Anywho, it still amazes me how awesome one's muscles can be. And how we can train in certain ways to make our muscles look/feel/work in different ways. We have fast and slow twitch muscles and if we train in a certain way, over time, we can gain more of either type.
It is easy to say that "the quads extend the leg and the hamstrings flex the leg". But, that sounds pretty elementary to me. Unfortunatly I know there are a lot of people out there in the fitness world that are sticking to just that, 'the basics'. Which is understanding because we certainly do not want to go on a tangent in front of our clients dropping all of these scientific names / terms etc.
However, I do think at times that as 'fitness enthusiast' or 'experts' or 'professional' we do tend to neglect the beautiful and wonderful muscular sytem. I think that we should be sure to know and understand the muscular system down to the core, and not just keep simplifying it either because we are lazy, or simply do not know more than the 'basic' aspects.
Keep your muscular system working,
Coach KIK
Sunday, June 12, 2011
The Skeletal System
So I'm taking an Intro to Anatomy and Physiology class this summer, and currently we are learning the Skeletal System. And of course reading the chapter and lecture on this subject manner lead me to think about the connections to Exercise Science / Strength and Conditioning. I believe it is important for people in athletics or fitness should make sure they are constantly remembering and reminding themselves of the skeletal system and how it works. No obviously I am sure every strength coach or personal trainer knows the 'basics' of the bones in the body. But, I think it would be safe to say that a lot of people have forgot the ins / outs of the skeletal system because they either learned it so long ago, or simply just havent been 'brushing' up on the subject.
Here are some points / ideas I have taken away from the chapter on the Skeletal System:
Types of Fractures: There is a short section describing different types of bone fractures a person can endure. Knowing about different types of fractures will be important should you ever have an athlete or client who is recovering from a recent fracture. One type of fracture that really stuck out to me was a "spiral fracture" which occures from excessive twisting of the bone. Should you be training a client or athlete who is recovering from a 'spiral fracture' you may want to consider eliminating twisting / rotating movements around that joint/bone. Or at least do twisting / rotating actions with caution.
Bones are Levers: Something all coaches and personal trainers should know, but some might forget. Levers have 4 different components. 1. rigid bar 2. folcrum/pivot point 3. object being moved 4. force moving the object. Best / most common example, would probably be the arm bones (humerus, ulnar, radius) performing either a curl, or extension. When performing a curl: ulnar and radius are the rigid rod, elbow is the folcrum/pivot point, object being moved would be the weight (whatever it maybe), and the force moving the object would come from the bicep. So, there is something to think about, how when it comes to movement, bones act as levers and folcrums to provide a movement.
Joints: Knowing the different joints of the body, what bones they consist of, and how they move / function. Is another important aspect of the skeletal system that I believe carries over to strength and conditioning. ESP with certain sports that place a lot of stress on certain joints. Swimming (shoulder), Baseball/Softball (shoulder/elbow), Soccer/Basketball (knee). It is important to know how much movement a certain joint has, as to not ask a certain joint to do more then it is meant to or prepared to do (synarthrotic, amphiarthrotic, diarthrotic). Also, what type of joint it is which will tell you what it is made of, how strong it is, and its ROM (fibrous, cartilaginous, synovial). The shape of the joint is also important to know, this will help you understand how the joint moves (ball and socket, saddle, pivot, hinge). Lastly, the different types of joint movements should be memorized and which joint a certain movement belongs to is also important to know.
Now all of this knowledge may seem trivial, or elementry, but I feel the basics of anatomy, physiology and kinesiology are the things we forget and/or ignore the most. I also think it is important to know and understand the basics because this is how we should explain things to our clients/athletes or teach them. We most continually learn and increase our knowledge, but we must try not to forget about the basics and continue to come back to the basics refresh of memory and find new ways to connect the basics to the more advanced.
That is all I have for now on the skeletal system, I might add more later this week. Next subject manner will be on the muscular system.
The Hip Bones Connected to the Thigh Bone...
KIK
Types of Fractures: There is a short section describing different types of bone fractures a person can endure. Knowing about different types of fractures will be important should you ever have an athlete or client who is recovering from a recent fracture. One type of fracture that really stuck out to me was a "spiral fracture" which occures from excessive twisting of the bone. Should you be training a client or athlete who is recovering from a 'spiral fracture' you may want to consider eliminating twisting / rotating movements around that joint/bone. Or at least do twisting / rotating actions with caution.
Bones are Levers: Something all coaches and personal trainers should know, but some might forget. Levers have 4 different components. 1. rigid bar 2. folcrum/pivot point 3. object being moved 4. force moving the object. Best / most common example, would probably be the arm bones (humerus, ulnar, radius) performing either a curl, or extension. When performing a curl: ulnar and radius are the rigid rod, elbow is the folcrum/pivot point, object being moved would be the weight (whatever it maybe), and the force moving the object would come from the bicep. So, there is something to think about, how when it comes to movement, bones act as levers and folcrums to provide a movement.
Joints: Knowing the different joints of the body, what bones they consist of, and how they move / function. Is another important aspect of the skeletal system that I believe carries over to strength and conditioning. ESP with certain sports that place a lot of stress on certain joints. Swimming (shoulder), Baseball/Softball (shoulder/elbow), Soccer/Basketball (knee). It is important to know how much movement a certain joint has, as to not ask a certain joint to do more then it is meant to or prepared to do (synarthrotic, amphiarthrotic, diarthrotic). Also, what type of joint it is which will tell you what it is made of, how strong it is, and its ROM (fibrous, cartilaginous, synovial). The shape of the joint is also important to know, this will help you understand how the joint moves (ball and socket, saddle, pivot, hinge). Lastly, the different types of joint movements should be memorized and which joint a certain movement belongs to is also important to know.
Now all of this knowledge may seem trivial, or elementry, but I feel the basics of anatomy, physiology and kinesiology are the things we forget and/or ignore the most. I also think it is important to know and understand the basics because this is how we should explain things to our clients/athletes or teach them. We most continually learn and increase our knowledge, but we must try not to forget about the basics and continue to come back to the basics refresh of memory and find new ways to connect the basics to the more advanced.
That is all I have for now on the skeletal system, I might add more later this week. Next subject manner will be on the muscular system.
The Hip Bones Connected to the Thigh Bone...
KIK
Monday, January 24, 2011
Poor Lifting Technique
Saw this video thanks to a facebook post by Jaime Rodriguez one of the full time coaches I worked with at MBSC this summer. He pointed out the bad clean form specifically, so I watched and had to agree and thus had to write about it.
The link is below, it is a video of the 'pre nfl combine training' by Brandon Graham a UMich fb player... watch the video and make your own thoughts/ideas
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f-Aky4TdRuI
I am not really sure where to begin, but I guess watching his form makes me thankful that I was able to intern at such a wonderful place like MBSC where they take the time to teach/show/coach the athletes exactly how to do a certain exercise, so videos like this dont occur and injuries dont occur. Unfortunatly not every school, facility or coach spends as much time and energy to do this I am beginning to learn, and that is upsetting to me.
Obviously with every lift or exercise you don't have to be as 'anal' or observant I am also beginning to learn. For instance so what if an athlete/client isn't getting to exactly parallel during a squat. It will not hurt the athlete/client and it is not the end of the world. However, with the olympic/power lifts injuries can occur more easily and form/technique should be taught, and coached properly as well as observed with a more keen eye.
Anywho just a short little entry that I thought would be good to write about thanks to that video Jaime posted.
Coach KIK
The link is below, it is a video of the 'pre nfl combine training' by Brandon Graham a UMich fb player... watch the video and make your own thoughts/ideas
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f-Aky4TdRuI
I am not really sure where to begin, but I guess watching his form makes me thankful that I was able to intern at such a wonderful place like MBSC where they take the time to teach/show/coach the athletes exactly how to do a certain exercise, so videos like this dont occur and injuries dont occur. Unfortunatly not every school, facility or coach spends as much time and energy to do this I am beginning to learn, and that is upsetting to me.
Obviously with every lift or exercise you don't have to be as 'anal' or observant I am also beginning to learn. For instance so what if an athlete/client isn't getting to exactly parallel during a squat. It will not hurt the athlete/client and it is not the end of the world. However, with the olympic/power lifts injuries can occur more easily and form/technique should be taught, and coached properly as well as observed with a more keen eye.
Anywho just a short little entry that I thought would be good to write about thanks to that video Jaime posted.
Coach KIK
Sunday, August 8, 2010
Phase 3 Begins
Jeez. Haven't posted in like a month! My bad. I guess I have more or less been on the same routine with MBSC for the past few weeks, so nothing really new/exciting has occured there. We are onto the final stretch of the summer session at Boyle's. Last week was the first of Phase 3, so there were a few adjustments made for that.
Phase 3 we get into 'true plyometrics' more or less. So for some of the plyo exercises we removed the mini bounce and they're just continuously jumping/bounding ir what have you. For lunge circuit in warm up we added med balls with either overhead reach, or reach to 'instep'. For our mini-band activation series we added a second band around ankles or foot to make it more difficult. Med ball tosses have more or less become fully 'dynamic' with a step for overhead, side toss and chest pass. Some pretty good force is being used :).
Phase 3 lift we have added some eccentric exercises. Eccentric chin ups which are tough as one might guess. I can do 1 of my 3 sets of 5 with body weight no assistance! GO ME! haah. RFE's are also eccentric, 5 count on the way down.
1A1L Row became full on dynamic split squat row. Stability lift now has inside foot on a plyo box, squat, pull, push, full on dynamic. Alt push pull is hard and fast as you can go. The kids are having a blast with this, trying to beat each others 'power outputs' (the keiser machine gives a number for this). Plank circuit is now plank row. This is a little tricky to coach because we are looking for now hip turn, everything nice and level and still. Some groups are doing eccentric Bench press, some are not, depending on the coaches preference and athletes situations.
So, those are the changes that have been made for Phase 3. So far things are going well. 1 week down.
Phase 3 we get into 'true plyometrics' more or less. So for some of the plyo exercises we removed the mini bounce and they're just continuously jumping/bounding ir what have you. For lunge circuit in warm up we added med balls with either overhead reach, or reach to 'instep'. For our mini-band activation series we added a second band around ankles or foot to make it more difficult. Med ball tosses have more or less become fully 'dynamic' with a step for overhead, side toss and chest pass. Some pretty good force is being used :).
Phase 3 lift we have added some eccentric exercises. Eccentric chin ups which are tough as one might guess. I can do 1 of my 3 sets of 5 with body weight no assistance! GO ME! haah. RFE's are also eccentric, 5 count on the way down.
1A1L Row became full on dynamic split squat row. Stability lift now has inside foot on a plyo box, squat, pull, push, full on dynamic. Alt push pull is hard and fast as you can go. The kids are having a blast with this, trying to beat each others 'power outputs' (the keiser machine gives a number for this). Plank circuit is now plank row. This is a little tricky to coach because we are looking for now hip turn, everything nice and level and still. Some groups are doing eccentric Bench press, some are not, depending on the coaches preference and athletes situations.
So, those are the changes that have been made for Phase 3. So far things are going well. 1 week down.
Sunday, July 18, 2010
Game Face
Qoute from the book "Game Face - What Does a Female Athlete Look Like" that I am reading. It is in the entry the Jamila Wildman wrote a basketball player from Stanford in the mid 90s and a WNBA player after that.
"When you talk about an injury and the kind of depresion you go through, its not just because you're out of shape and you can't go out and play. You're missing a part of you. That's what's painful. That's what hurts. You live for that high and you live for that low because it just feels good to feel something that deeply."
Can totally relate to this for the past 2 years.
"When you talk about an injury and the kind of depresion you go through, its not just because you're out of shape and you can't go out and play. You're missing a part of you. That's what's painful. That's what hurts. You live for that high and you live for that low because it just feels good to feel something that deeply."
Can totally relate to this for the past 2 years.
Week 4 MBSC
So we finished week 4 of the summer session at MBSC. That means for the most part we started phase 2 with the athletes. My complaint is that unlike Phase 1 in which we had a week of prep to learn how to do and coach the exercise, we did not have this in Phase 2. This was upsetting and frustrating bc I felt as though we (the interns) were more or less thrown in on Monday expecting to know what to do and how to do it. And per usual each coach demos/cues the exercises differently. So it is hard to correct an athlete bc u dont wnat to send them mixed messages or step on the 'head coaches' toes. Thats my over all feel for last week.
Day 1 - went pretty smoothly the intern house opened up. I jumped in with Marco for a 645 college group Molly and Christy the two hockey girls that live in the house are in this group. It was a fun group to work with. I also worked with Nicole's 915 college women's group, and an 11:30 (i think) group.
Day 2 - pretty similar to yesterday however I was with Kevin Carr for the 715 college group this time. After 1 week of worknig with them I like this group its not the 6pm but it is still a good group of kids. Hockey/Flockey players mostly. I again worked with Nicole with her 915 things went well and I began to ease into this group. Again I jumped in with a 1130 or something group.
Day 3 - worked with Kevin and the 715 group started to get more comfortable with them. Worked with Nicole again, I lead them through the entire warmup (Tom helped too I believe). I did screw up once I forgot that knee hug from phase 1 becomes knee hug to lunge in phase 2. Nicole called me out on this, but she didnt seem too upset. Other then that I did well. This was a linear day FYI.
Day 4 - same as the rest of the week. Nicole pulled me aside during the end of the 915 group since Michelle and Tom were also helping out. We had a good convo she was just trying to get some fedback etc out of me. She more or less gives off the vibe that she is trying to mold me into a mini/big her (big bc I'm about 6 in taller lol). I would be okay being a mini her but I do want to work at a college eventually. Evan took us through the workout which was a good change. And we had a heart to heart after in which we gave him fedback about how things were going. We all seemed to feel the same way about being confused on phase 2 and how we're gettin mixed signals etc. It is hard to work with so many diff coaches and athletes but its also a good learning experience. You should be so confident that you can walk into any facility with any athletes and blow the roof off lol more or less something cheesy Even prolly said but he is right.
My confidence is starting to come out. I am still struggling with making sure anyone and everyone knows who I am. I also think I have problems with that bc I am either used to having a difficult name to say/remember or whatever. So introducing myself is like a task/chore or something. That is going to be my goal for the week since I'm working with 2 new groups this coming week.
I also told Nicole about my goal of being a college head sc. So, I requested to be placed with Anthony or Kyle and their fb groups. She honored my request admediatly and this week I am with Kyle for a 1045 fb group. I will have to remember to thank her kindly tomorrow for doing that and doing it the day after I said someithng! I know she is tough on me and sometimes I think she can be a you know what. But, I think she sees something in me so she is just hard on me bc she thinks I could be good at coaching. Or at least I hope so.
Anywho, got to rest up for tomorrow I have like 3 groups in a row basically! WOW! Also, looking forward to my dad and CBOK to be here on thursday. Gotta remember to tell Coach Boyle about that tomorrow. Can't wait! THis is gonig to be an AWESOME week! Im really gunna step it up and put myself out there.
With Strength, Coach KIK
Day 1 - went pretty smoothly the intern house opened up. I jumped in with Marco for a 645 college group Molly and Christy the two hockey girls that live in the house are in this group. It was a fun group to work with. I also worked with Nicole's 915 college women's group, and an 11:30 (i think) group.
Day 2 - pretty similar to yesterday however I was with Kevin Carr for the 715 college group this time. After 1 week of worknig with them I like this group its not the 6pm but it is still a good group of kids. Hockey/Flockey players mostly. I again worked with Nicole with her 915 things went well and I began to ease into this group. Again I jumped in with a 1130 or something group.
Day 3 - worked with Kevin and the 715 group started to get more comfortable with them. Worked with Nicole again, I lead them through the entire warmup (Tom helped too I believe). I did screw up once I forgot that knee hug from phase 1 becomes knee hug to lunge in phase 2. Nicole called me out on this, but she didnt seem too upset. Other then that I did well. This was a linear day FYI.
Day 4 - same as the rest of the week. Nicole pulled me aside during the end of the 915 group since Michelle and Tom were also helping out. We had a good convo she was just trying to get some fedback etc out of me. She more or less gives off the vibe that she is trying to mold me into a mini/big her (big bc I'm about 6 in taller lol). I would be okay being a mini her but I do want to work at a college eventually. Evan took us through the workout which was a good change. And we had a heart to heart after in which we gave him fedback about how things were going. We all seemed to feel the same way about being confused on phase 2 and how we're gettin mixed signals etc. It is hard to work with so many diff coaches and athletes but its also a good learning experience. You should be so confident that you can walk into any facility with any athletes and blow the roof off lol more or less something cheesy Even prolly said but he is right.
My confidence is starting to come out. I am still struggling with making sure anyone and everyone knows who I am. I also think I have problems with that bc I am either used to having a difficult name to say/remember or whatever. So introducing myself is like a task/chore or something. That is going to be my goal for the week since I'm working with 2 new groups this coming week.
I also told Nicole about my goal of being a college head sc. So, I requested to be placed with Anthony or Kyle and their fb groups. She honored my request admediatly and this week I am with Kyle for a 1045 fb group. I will have to remember to thank her kindly tomorrow for doing that and doing it the day after I said someithng! I know she is tough on me and sometimes I think she can be a you know what. But, I think she sees something in me so she is just hard on me bc she thinks I could be good at coaching. Or at least I hope so.
Anywho, got to rest up for tomorrow I have like 3 groups in a row basically! WOW! Also, looking forward to my dad and CBOK to be here on thursday. Gotta remember to tell Coach Boyle about that tomorrow. Can't wait! THis is gonig to be an AWESOME week! Im really gunna step it up and put myself out there.
With Strength, Coach KIK
Monday, July 5, 2010
Week 2 MBSC
A little late on writting this review. I guess I thought I did when I didnt.
Week 2 when by fairly quickly. This week the 'intern house' had second shift, so we came in at 1 and stayed til close. The week was pretty successful. I worked steadly with a 3 and 6pm group. 3pm was fairly good hs athletes. 6pm is the awesome college athletes. Both are good groups. I will try not to use the term kids because I am not too much older then them. haha. I also worked with a few random groups here and there but really like the 6pm. Nicole was not there for the week so it was a little more lax for better or worse. Will be interesting to see how things change tmrw when she returns. Can't really think of anything that stood out. Starting to get to know the coworkers and other interns. We all get along fairly well, I dont think anyone has 'beef' with anyone. I'm trying hard to be-friend the head coaches but it is a little intimidating. I'd say I feel comfortable and accepted among 2/3 the crew. But it is still early and we have 7 (?) more weeks left.
Today MBSC was closed for the holiday, so this coming week we only have 3 days. Wish we had work today bc I was a bit bored, but hey I am watching the phils now and I normally would be at work.
Will update again after this short week or if anything special / exciting comes up.
Coach KIK
Week 2 when by fairly quickly. This week the 'intern house' had second shift, so we came in at 1 and stayed til close. The week was pretty successful. I worked steadly with a 3 and 6pm group. 3pm was fairly good hs athletes. 6pm is the awesome college athletes. Both are good groups. I will try not to use the term kids because I am not too much older then them. haha. I also worked with a few random groups here and there but really like the 6pm. Nicole was not there for the week so it was a little more lax for better or worse. Will be interesting to see how things change tmrw when she returns. Can't really think of anything that stood out. Starting to get to know the coworkers and other interns. We all get along fairly well, I dont think anyone has 'beef' with anyone. I'm trying hard to be-friend the head coaches but it is a little intimidating. I'd say I feel comfortable and accepted among 2/3 the crew. But it is still early and we have 7 (?) more weeks left.
Today MBSC was closed for the holiday, so this coming week we only have 3 days. Wish we had work today bc I was a bit bored, but hey I am watching the phils now and I normally would be at work.
Will update again after this short week or if anything special / exciting comes up.
Coach KIK
Tuesday, June 29, 2010
ESPN.com Article
Courtesy of my father! :)
Strength coaches doing heavy lifting - By Pat Forde
The article highlights of life/career of Notre Dame S&C coach Pat Longo. The article begins with a description of Coach Longo's office and strength room. 250+ piece of equitment, 50M track, 45yrd tuft. Rough life huh?
The article also described a 'big time' college fb coach similar to having the responisbilities of the head coach. They spend equal, if not more time with the players (thanks or no thanks to NCAA rules). I never really thought of it like that. But, now that someone has brought it up, it is very true. The FB coaches can only work with the players for a certain amount of time during the season/off season due to NCAA rules. However, the SC coach has a greater range of access to the players because they are in charge of the over all fitness/strength level of the players (which means the off season).
The SC is also similar to the head coach bc he/she works will ALL of the players, not just the o or the x or the running backs, which the 'specialty' coaches do. Like the head coach the SC overlooks the whole roster. Even the 'redshirt' freshmans that might never play in 5-6 years (they still have to lift etc).
The article then talks about the relationship between the head coach and sc, and how Longo and Kelly are co-workers, friends, confidantes etc. They have a long term relationship on and off the gridiron/weightroom. This is something I find to be very important, nothing could be worse then a head coach and a sc being on two different pages. Been there, done that. It is not fun nor easy as an athlete.
The one part of the article that stood out to me and I am not sure how I feel about it yet is Coach Longo's 'art of coaching' "the sound of silence" the article qoutes. No music, no TV/ESPN, no distractions in the weight room. I agree with the TV why would you put TV in a weight room to begin with?! Sounds like a huge lawsuit I wouldnt want to deal with. But, no loud music? I am not sure I could have survived 4 years of college athletics without music in the weight room. It wakes you up, gets you excited etc. I don't view it as a distraction.
The article also mentions Coach Longo's 'lack of barking'. "raises his voice only to be heard, never to motivate or berate". This is a tough one I understand he doesn't want to yell and scream and I agree with that/ But, does he not cheer on / encourgage his athletes as well. And honestly if the players are screwing around there comes a time when you might have to 'berate'. I do like how his philosophy is that 'the pep talks are left to the players'. This is very important that the players build a bond. But, the way I see it the SC is a part of the team/family and should be leading or at least taking part in the cheering/pep talking.
Anywho, that is just what I took out of the article. I would love to go sit in on a session with Coach Longo and see what the atmosphere really is like. I am sure it would be an incredible experience.
Until next time,
in eineacht le neart (with strength)
KIK
Strength coaches doing heavy lifting - By Pat Forde
The article highlights of life/career of Notre Dame S&C coach Pat Longo. The article begins with a description of Coach Longo's office and strength room. 250+ piece of equitment, 50M track, 45yrd tuft. Rough life huh?
The article also described a 'big time' college fb coach similar to having the responisbilities of the head coach. They spend equal, if not more time with the players (thanks or no thanks to NCAA rules). I never really thought of it like that. But, now that someone has brought it up, it is very true. The FB coaches can only work with the players for a certain amount of time during the season/off season due to NCAA rules. However, the SC coach has a greater range of access to the players because they are in charge of the over all fitness/strength level of the players (which means the off season).
The SC is also similar to the head coach bc he/she works will ALL of the players, not just the o or the x or the running backs, which the 'specialty' coaches do. Like the head coach the SC overlooks the whole roster. Even the 'redshirt' freshmans that might never play in 5-6 years (they still have to lift etc).
The article then talks about the relationship between the head coach and sc, and how Longo and Kelly are co-workers, friends, confidantes etc. They have a long term relationship on and off the gridiron/weightroom. This is something I find to be very important, nothing could be worse then a head coach and a sc being on two different pages. Been there, done that. It is not fun nor easy as an athlete.
The one part of the article that stood out to me and I am not sure how I feel about it yet is Coach Longo's 'art of coaching' "the sound of silence" the article qoutes. No music, no TV/ESPN, no distractions in the weight room. I agree with the TV why would you put TV in a weight room to begin with?! Sounds like a huge lawsuit I wouldnt want to deal with. But, no loud music? I am not sure I could have survived 4 years of college athletics without music in the weight room. It wakes you up, gets you excited etc. I don't view it as a distraction.
The article also mentions Coach Longo's 'lack of barking'. "raises his voice only to be heard, never to motivate or berate". This is a tough one I understand he doesn't want to yell and scream and I agree with that/ But, does he not cheer on / encourgage his athletes as well. And honestly if the players are screwing around there comes a time when you might have to 'berate'. I do like how his philosophy is that 'the pep talks are left to the players'. This is very important that the players build a bond. But, the way I see it the SC is a part of the team/family and should be leading or at least taking part in the cheering/pep talking.
Anywho, that is just what I took out of the article. I would love to go sit in on a session with Coach Longo and see what the atmosphere really is like. I am sure it would be an incredible experience.
Until next time,
in eineacht le neart (with strength)
KIK
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