Without fail, anytime a new athlete comes to their first session and finishes the dynamic warm-up, they go, "is that the workout?" My response: "we're just getting started." The warm-up, to that end, isn't supposed to tickle. It's supposed to get the athlete's heart rate up, and fire...
It wasn't until junior year of college soccer when I took my nutrition seriously. Up until that point, I didn't have access to nutritional resources, nor did I get good education on how to fuel and nourish my body to play at my best. So it became...
If a female athlete is new to strength training, they need to master the unloaded movement patterns first. Can they execute with control? Are they balanced? Are they mindful of the muscles being recruited? One cue that has never failed for all beginners is: SLOW DOWN. Here are the movement...
The best practices were when girls had fun, while working hard. I just got nostalgic of the times my high school coach had our team of 25 girls play a game called "Anything Goes." It was similar to a game of rugby - we had to...
Everyone wants speed. I challenge players who want it so much to put in just as much work that is needed to get there. To be a lightning speed player, you need to nourish the basics and let them blossom over time. HERE is a blog I guest...
The fondest memories of sports were always the fun ones filled with laughter and smiles. I can remember several: - Pasta dinners - Hotel parties at tournaments - Road trips and carpools - Practices with fun games and competitions Looking back, when training sessions were a blend of hard work and...
The message I have been preaching to young female athletes has been the same for all of these years. Not only is it about becoming strong to be able to handle a demanding environment on the pitch, it is also about becoming resilient to sickness, disease...
Here's what you need to know about conditioning: - Most female soccer players are already getting aerobic system work - Most female soccer players aren't put under a stimulus higher than the game - Most female soccer players aren't doing conditioning to be fast and tap into their...
"I want my girls to have better fitness." This is a common request I get from soccer coaches. Before I give them the magical answer, I ask them what they're currently doing for conditioning. I'll get a myriad of answers I don't want to hear: 1. Circuits with...
I'm a huge fan of "building the base." Meaning, a female athlete must nail down balance and proprioception first before being able to undergo load with various weighted exercises like Pistol Squats, Split Squats, Single Leg RDLs and Rear Foot Elevated Split Squats. It bodes well to...