Head, Shoulders…

Yep, the next body part to pay close attention to is the shoulders. Very important for posture during speed and for allowing proper range of motion to elicit maximum speed. When you think about it, the little things do matter on game day. What you do walking to class or while at practice will dictate the final product when everyone is watching. Coach Taylor takes his young athletes through these drills each workout. He can be reach at coachtaylor@smarterteamtraining.com or schedule a workout with him by calling 410-828-8218 today.

IL posts new drill from STT

With tons of drills to be shared, this one starts up a bunch of patterns, workouts, and footwork drills that can be integrated into warm-ups, conditioning, practice, and used to improve your feet when no one is watching. With a picture, write-up, and a video, I think you will get the concept and be using this drill in your next workout. Click here to find out what IL thought was worth posting as their featured workout of the week. If you have questions, email Coach Taylor at coachtaylor@smarterteamtraining.com or call the Gordon Institute to schedule your team’s training session, 410-828-8218. Lacrosse season will be here soon. Will you be ready?

STT continues the IL Tip of The Day

They even show the mistakes! Man Inside Lacrosse is a tough crew. This series of video clips and drills was even more fun to do than it looks in this clip. Ryan Rabidou from Inside Lacrosse was willing to get right in and try the drills. Looking forward to showcasing more intermediate and advanced drills as the relationship between STT’s founder, Robert Taylor, grows with Inside Lacrosse. Check out the tip of the day on IL by clicking here.

Coach Taylor featured on STACK!

And the tips keep on coming from Coach Taylor! This one features three videos and some good old fashion questions and answers from a recent interview with Coach Taylor and STACK. Check out the post by clicking the STACK logo above. Let STT know what you think of what Coach Taylor had to say by leaving a comment below.

STT on Inside Lacrosse – Tip #2

Another feature fitness tip for lacrosse from Coach Taylor has been posted on Inside Lacrosse. Click here to see the new drill with a detailed explanation. Check back with STT tomorrow for a new tip of the week feature. This one you won’t want to miss!

STT’s Tip Of The Week featured on LaxLessons.com

If you are a lacrosse fan, coach, or athlete this clip is for you. The feedback has been great from STT nation. This is week two of STT being featured on LaxLessons.com’s Tip of the Week! A low budget drill that can be done with an entire team or used as a “focus” challenge. Continue to think outside the box and remind yourself and your players that it boils down to effort and attitude. Good things happen when you work hard and stay positive.  Check out this clip and let me know what you think. I look forward to hearing how your patterns differ from those described.

STT’s workout of the month for September 2010

What happened to tumbling in gym class, teaching the forward roll, or even how to fall and get up quickly?  Incorporate drills that teach athletes how to jump, land, fall, and get up efficiently and safely.  This agility drill is also hard on the cardiovascular system.  Make sure you are ready for this challenge.  This one isn’t for the weak at heart.  How tough are you?  Begin this drill on your belly six yards from an eight foot high object.  Try a soccer crossbar and the six yard box for example.  Get up as quickly as possible, touch the cross bar, and get back on your belly with your entire body behind the six yard line.  This counts as one rep.  If you aspire to be a pro, your goal is 12 or more, college level is 10+, and high school athletes should be able to complete more than 8 good touches in less than one minute.  Begin by completing 4 sets.  To increase the fitness component, rest two minutes between sets.  If you can get more than the goal reps each set, back up to eight yards.

STT’s Olympic Sports DVD #1 – Conference Series

This DVD is a must for those willing to think outside the box as well as those that are interested in developing their program to ensure their athletes are ready to be their best when their best is expected. This three presentation DVD is the one to get if you want to see what STT DVD‘s are all about. Coach Johnson’s, Coach VanDyke’s, and Coach Pennewill’s passion for what they do is easy to see and it comes across very well on this STT production.

Allan Johnson, one of the biggest names in the collegiate strength and conditioning field, did a great job last year talking about some of the mental toughness and team bonding techniques he used to get the mindset right of his Ohio State University Buckeye Football Teams. I have had the opportunity to speak and become good friends with Coach Johnson over the years. He even sat down for a quick Q&A session with me when we ran into each other at an event in Philadelphia. Allan’s insight on team training, as well as his ability to keep you motivated, is top notch. I make it a point to sit down and watch the STT DVD‘s each month from a fans point of view. And this month’s DVD choice could not have been more fitting.

David VanDyke was asked to speak about his agility program because of his knowledge of sport appropriate preparation. He takes his demonstrators through a non-stop 40+ minute workout that you could do tomorrow with most of your teams. Coach VanDyke’s attention to detail is intense and his athletes are able to feed off his passion. It is great to see a coach that never takes a day off regardless if he is working with his teams and athletes, or at a conference. David knocked this live demonstration right out of the park.

With all that goes on at these STT events, I do not get to see each presentation from start to finish. It is impressive to see what these coaches are willing to share. Scott Pennewill’s presentation is a great resource for any one working with a volleyball program. I have had the opportunity to work with Coach Pennewill first hand and thought the exercises he demonstrates here fit well into the STT programs. These exercises can be used before, during, and after practice which allows coaches to build versatility into their practices. Having a on-court physical preparation program is important in volleyball. With the scheduling requirements that all volleyball teams work within, you have to be able to make your strength training and injury prevention approach a priority that is simple to implement and a consistent part of an athletes preparation.

Detailed information regarding each of STT DVD‘s, including the Football, Basketball, and Olympic Sports series, can be found on the website. Send me an email with your thoughts about each DVD that you purchase. I would be happy and excited to share the feedback with STT fans.

STT’s workout of the month for May 2010

Grab a friend or teammate and try this drill today.  When your legs are screaming and sweat is dropping on the floor, remember that your competition probably did one more rep.  Begin by facing each other four to six yards apart.  One partner takes a knee and other begins in an athletic position.  The individual in the athletic position (aka Reactor) centers themselves between two cones spaced 5 to 7 yards apart, the partner on a knee rolls a ball in random order to the outside of the cones.  The reactor uses their outside hand to retrieve the ball and toss it back with accuracy.  The reactor then returns to the start position as quickly as possible.  Each roll is one rep.  If the reactor can grab the ball and resume start position comfortably, increase distance between cones, decrease time between rolls, or increase pace of ball being rolled.

STT’s workout of the month for January 2010

I’ll bet you were sitting on the couch this weekend watching the game on TV and your friend said “Anyone can do that!”  Well the challenge has been made.  Get outside and try this agility workout today.  Set up four cones in a “T” pattern. The vertical aspect of the “T” is ten yards.  The horizontal aspect is also ten yards with an additional cone in the middle.  Start this drill at the bottom of the “T”.  Sprint to the middle cone at the top of the “T” and touch the base of the cone with your right hand.  They then turn left and defensive slides sideways to the next cone.  Touch the base with your left hand.  Defensive slides to the far right cone, and touch the base with your right hand.  Then defensive slides back to the middle cone at the top of the “T”, touching it with your left hand, and backpedal past the starting cone.  Compare your times to these…Male times: <9.5 seconds rare, <10.5 average, and >11.5 poor.  Female times: <10.5 rare, <11.5 average, and >12.5 poor.  Now really, can anyone do that?