Functional Path Training

Announcing 2010 GAIN Apprentorship

2010 GAIN Apprentorship

June 18 – 23

Coaching athletic development from design to implementation

 

The mission of the GAIN Apprentorship is to define the field of Athletic Development by educating professionals in foundational principles and methodology as applied to coaching, physical education and rehabilitation.

 

GAIN Apprentorship = Apprenticeship + Mentorship

We combine the features of both into an interactive blend of theory and practice in a five-day residential coaching school format. This is an opportunity to observe, question, and explore the application of the Gambetta Method - Systematic Sport Development Model of training, teaching and injury rehabilitation.

 

The coaching school represents just a beginning. To foster continued growth and interaction the graduates of the program can continue to participate via the secure web site, and the coaching school for the duration of their careers if they so choose for no additional cost.

 

The 2010 school will be June 18 - June 23 in Sunrise, Florida at the Holiday Inn KICS International Sport Complex - http://www.kicsint.com

 

The program is open to sport coaches, conditioning coaches, physical education teachers, athletic trainers, physical therapists, chiropractors and doctors. Enrollment is limited.

 

Tuition is $3,600 with a $250.00 non-refundable deposit required upon acceptance. This includes lunch and dinner each day, it does not include rooms, a special room rate has been arranged with the hotel. Full tuition payment is required prior to the start of the course. Please call 941-378-1778 for a special scholastic rate. To download application go to www.gambetta.com/apprentorship

 

Benefits

Athletic Development Handbook

Physical Competency Assessment Handbook

T-Shirts and Backpack

Continuing Education Units

Career long access to GAIN Forum and library

Career long attendance at Coaching School

“Meeting of the Minds” Follow-up Seminar – Every Fourth Year

The Faculty

Vern Gambetta – Athletic Development

Jim Radcliffe – Strength & Power Development

Kelvin Giles – LTAD & Physical Competency Assessment

Frans Bosch – Biomechanics of Running

Bill Knowles ATC, CSCS – Reconditioning

Jack Blatherwick PhD – Physiology of Exercise

Joe Przytula ATC – Functional Biomechanics of Upper Extremity & Core

John Perry P.T. – Functional Biomechanics of Lower Extremity

Ed Ryan ATC – Rehab and Reconditioning

             Greg Thompson – Physical Education

             Dave Joyner MD -

The Topics

Coaching Today – Contemporary Coaching Philosophy

Skill Acquisition

Movement Analysis

Physical Competency Assessment - Testing & Evaluation

Planned Performance Training

            Long Term Plan

            Block Construction

            Training Session Design and Construction

            Peaking/Tapering Strategies

            Monitoring Training

Long Term Athlete Development

            Talent ID & Selection

Reconditioning – Return to Play

Biomechanics of Functional Movement

Motivation and Goal Setting

Speed

            Linear

            Multidirectional Speed and Agility

Strength/Power

            Strength Diagnostics

Endurance

            Short Term & Long Term

Flexibility

Management and Organization

Recovery/Regeneration

Competition Analysis & Training Monitoring

Equipment Selection

Sport Specific Considerations

Special Topics

            The Female Athlete

            The Overhead Athlete

            The Masters Athlete

 

 

Schedule

 

Friday June 18 (Daily Theme – The journey begins)

 

Saturday June 19 (Daily Theme – Plan the work & work the plan)

 

Sunday June 20 (Daily Theme – Power Up)

 

Monday June 21 (Daily Theme – After the work the rest is easy)

 

Tuesday June 22 (Daily Theme – Fit and Fast)

 

Wednesday June 23 (Daily Theme – Good to go)

 

The schedule is set up so that is a plenary session with the entire group followed by small group interaction with the instructors. There will be a blend of small group session and “active learning” how to coach sessions.

Thanksgiving

I want to wish all of you a Happy Thanksgiving day. Each and everyone of us have much to be thankful for, hopefully we can all take a moment today to reflect on our blessings and think of ways that we can help people who are less fortunate.

Suggested Readings

This is a list of books that are in my library that I suggest everyone interested in Athletic Development should read.

Historical Works

Bunn, John. (1955) Scientific Principles of Coaching. New York, New York: Prentice Hall, Inc.

Dintiman, George B. What Research Tells The Coach About Sprinting. AAHPER, Washington, D.C. 1974

Doherty, Ken. Track & Field Omnibook (Fourth Edition). Los Altos, CA. Tafnews Press. 1985

Doherty, Ken. Modern Track & Field. Englewood Cliffs, N.J. Prentice-Hall, Inc. 1963

Gillman, Sid & Roy, Alvin. World Champion San Diego Chargers Strength Program – In and Out of Season. 1963

Counsilman, James E. The Science of Swimming. Englewood Cliffs, N.J. Prentice-Hall, Inc. 1968

Dyson,Geoffrey H.G. The Mechanics of Athletics. New York. Holmes & Meier Publishers. Seventh Edition, 1977

Hoffman, Bob. (1959) Better Athletes Through Weight Training. York, PA: Strength & Health Publishing Company

Jesse John:  Hidden causes of injury, prevention, and correction for running athletes.  The Athletic Press.  Pasadena, CA 1977

Knotts, Dorothy E. and Voss, Margaret. Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation: Patterns and Techniques

Miller, Carl. Olympic Lifting Training Manual

Nideffer, Robert M. The Inner Athlete – Mind Plus Muscle for Winning. New York, New York. Thomas Y. Crowell Company. 1976.

O’ Shea, Patrick. (1976) Second Edition. Scientific Principles and Methods of Strength Fitness. Reading, MA: Addison-Wesley Publishing Company

Dominguez, Richard H. M.D., and Gajda, Robert S. Total Body Training. New York, N.Y: Warner Books,1982.

Logan, Gene A. and McKinney, Wayne C. Kinesiology.  Wm. C. Brown Company Publishers. 1970

Todd, Mabel E. The Thinking Body. Princeton Book Company Publishers. Highston, NJ. 1937

Wilt ,Fred. Editor. Second Edition. How They Train Volume III: Sprinting And Hurdling. Tafnews Press. Los Altos, California. 1973

Youth & Development

Colvin, Geoff. Talent Is Overrated – What Really Separates World-Class Performers from Everybody Else. New York. New York. Bantam Publishing. 2009

 

Coyle, Daniel. The Talent Code – Greatness Isn’t Born. It’s Grown. Here’s How. New York. New York. Penguin Group. 2009

Drabik, Jo'zef Ph.D., Children & Sports Training, Island Pond, Vermont: Stadion Publishing Company, Inc. 1996

Farrey, Tom. Game On – The All-American Race to Make Champions of Our Children. New York, New York. ESPN Books. 2008

Gabbard, Carl., Leblanc, Elizabeth., and Lowy, Susan. Physical Education for Children-Building the Foundation, Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey. Prentice-Hall, Inc. 1987

Starkes, Janet L. and Ericsson, K. Anders. Editors. Expert Performance in Sports – Advances in Research on Sport Expertise. Champaign, Illinois: Human Kinetics Books, Inc. 2003

 Training

Bosch, Frans., and Klomp, Ronald. Running – Biomechanics and exercise Physiology Applied in Practice. London. Elsevier Churchill Livingstone. 2005

Bosco, Carmelo. Strength Assessment with Bosco’s Test, Italian Society of Sport Science, Rome, 1999

Bruggemann, G.P. Koszewski, D. & Muller, H. Biomechanical Research Project Athens 1997 – Final Report, International Athletics Foundation. Meyer & Meyer Sport, Oxford, UK 1999.

Cometti, Gilles. La Pliometrie. Universite De Bourgogne, 1988

Curwin, Sandra. & Stanish, William D. M.D. and Mandel, Scott. Tendinitis: it’s Etiology and Treatment, New New York, New York: Oxford University Press, 2000.

Gustavsen R, Streeck R: Training Therapy; Prophylaxix and Rehabilitation. New York: Thieme Medical Publishers 1993

Gambetta, Vernon A. The Gambetta Method – A Common Sense Guide To Functional Training for Athletic Performance. Sarasota, FL: Gambetta Sports Training.2002

Gambetta, Vernon A. Athletic Development – The Art & Science of Functional Sports Conditioning. Champaign, IL: Human Kinetics Publishing Company. 2007

Kraemer, William J. and Hakkinen, Keijo. Editors. (2002) Strength Training for Sport. London, England: Blackwell Science, Ltd

Komi, P. V., Editor(Second Edition) Strength and Power In Sport, London: Blackwell Scientific Publications. 2003

Training In Sport – Applying Sport Science. Edited by Elliot, Bruce and Mester, J. John Wiley & Sons Ltd, West Sussex. England. 1998

Mach, Gerard. Sprints & Hurdles. Canadian Track & Field Association, Ontario. 1980

Noakes, Tim, MD. The Lore of Running. Fourth Edition. Champaign, Illinois: Human Kinetics Books, Inc.2003.

Platonov, Vladimir N. and Bulatova, Marina M. La Preparacion Fisica – Deporte & Entrenamiento. Fouth Edition. Barcelona, Spain. Editorial Paidotribo. 2006

Radcliffe, James C. and Faentinos, Robert C. (1999) High- Powered Plyometrics. Champaign, IL: Human Kinetics Publishing Company.

Scholich, Manfred. (1986) Circuit Training. Berlin: Sportverlag

Stone, M., and O' Bryant, H. (1987) Weight Training: A Scientific Approach, Minneapolis, Minnesota: Burgess Publishing Company.

Starzynski, Tadeusz. And Sozanski, Henryk. (1999) Explosive Power and Jumping Ability for all Sports. Island Pond, VT: Stadion Publishing Company.

Vittori, Carlo in collaboration with Plinio Castrucci, Ida Nicolini, Ennio Preatoni. Corse Di Velocita. Atleticastudi. Fidal – Centr Studi & Ricerche, Anno XIV, May/June 1983

Planed Performance Training (Periodization)

Berkun, Scott. The Art of Project Management, Sebastopol, CA: O’Reilly Media, Inc. 2005

Bondarchuk, Anatoliy. Transfer of Training in Sports. Michigan, USA. Ultimate Athlete Concepts. 2007

Harre, Dietrich. Principles of Sports Training – Introduction to the Theory and methods of Training. Berlin, GDR: Sportverlag. 1982

Issurin, Vladimir. Principles and Basics of Advanced Athletic Training. Michigan, USA. Ultimate Athlete Concepts. 2008

Issurin, Vladimir. Block Periodization – Breakthrough in Sport Training. Michigan, USA. Ultimate Athlete Concepts. 2008

Kurz, Thomas., Science of Sports Training, Second Edition. Island Pont, Vt: Stadion Publishing Company, 2001

Manso, Juan, Valdivielso, Manuel, and Caballero, Jose. Planificacion del Entrenamento Deportivo. Madrid, Spain. Gymnos, Editorial Deportiva. 1996.

Mujika, Inigo. Tapering and Peaking for Optimal Performance. Champaign, Illinois: Human Kinetics Books, Inc. 2009

Olbrecht, Jan. The Science of Winning – Planning, Periodizing and Optimizing Swim Training. Swim Shop, Luton, England. 2000

Rapaso, Vasconcelos A. Planificacion Y Organizacion del Entrenamento Deportivo. Barcelona, Spain. Editorial Paidotribo. 2000

Sports Science

Calais-Germain, Blanche. Anatomy of Movement. Seattle, Washigton. Eastland Press. 1993

Cometti, Giles. Los Metodos Modernos de Musculacion. Third Edition.  Barcelona, Spain. Editorial Paidotribo.  2001.

Enoka, Roger M. Neuromechanical Basis of Kinesiology Second Edition. Champaign, Illinois: Human Kinetics Books, Inc.

Kellman, Michael, Editor. Enhancing Recovery – Preventing Underperformance in Athletes. Champaign, Illinois: Human Kinetics Books, Inc. 2002

Kreighbaum, Ellen and Barthels, Katharine M. Biomechanics - A Qualitative Approach for Studying Human Movement. Fourth edition. Boston, Allyn and Bacon. 1996.

Lieber, Richard L. (2002) Skeletal Muscle Structure, Function & Plasticity – The Physiological Basis of Rehabilitation. Second Edition. Philadelphia: Lippincot Williams & Wilkins.

McArdle, William D. Katch, Frank I. And Katch, Victor L. (2007) Sixth Edition. Exercise Physiology – Energy, Nutrition and Human Performance. Baltimore, MD. Lippincott, Williams & Wilkins.

Newton, Robert U. Expression and Development of Maximal Muscle Power. Doctoral Dissertation, Southern Cross University, 1997

Winters, Jack M, Woo, Savio L-Y, Editors. Multiple Muscle Systems – Biomechanics and Movement Organization. New York, New York. Springer-Verlag. 1990

Teaching & Skill Acquisition

Davids, Keith, Button, Chris, Bennett, Simon. Dynamics of Skill Acquisition – A Constraints-Led Approach. Champaign, Illinois: Human Kinetics Books, Inc.2008.

Hannaford, Carla. Smart Moves – Why Learning Is Not All in Your Head. Great Ocean Publishers. Arlington, Virginia 1995

Nater, swen and Gallimore, Ronald. You Haven’t taught Until They Have Learned: John Wooden’s Teaching Principles and Practices. Morgantown, WV. Fitness Information Technology. 2006.

Creativity & Innovation

Brown, Tim. Change By Design – How Design Thinking Transforms Organizations and Inspires Innovation. New York, New York. Harper Collins. 2009

Collins, Jim. How the Mighty Fall – and Why Some Companies Never Give In. New York, New York. Harper Collins. 2009

Dweck, Carol. Mindset: The New Psychology of Success. New York: Random House.2006

Gardner, Howard. Five Minds for the Future. Boston: Harvard Business School Press. 2006

Hargadon, Andrew. How Breakthroughs Happen: The Surprising Truth About How Companies Innovate. Boston: Harvard Business School Press. 2003

Johansson, Frans. The Medici Effect: Breakthrough Insights at the Intersection of Ideas, Concepts, and Cultures.  Boston: Harvard Business School Press. 2003

Kelly, Tom. The Art of Innovation. New York: Doubleday. 2001

Pink, Daniel H. A Whole New Mind – Moving from the Information Age to the Conceptual Age. New York: Riverhead Books. 2005

Industry or Profession?

I do not work in an industry; in my book coaching is a profession. I made a conscious choice many years ago to not get involved in the fitness industry. It is too much about style, hype, marketing and appearance. Coaching is about results, it is about substance. I resent it when people lump the two together. In my opinion this is why we have some of the injury problems and inconsistent performances we have today in sports. Too many people are following fads and trends, instead of following known best practice that is less sexy, more time consuming requiring a greater commitment.

Squats – From Sublime to Ridiculous

Someone send me this last week: “Mike Boyle's RFESS (rear foot elevated split squat) has made some serious waves in the strength and conditioning community. I think that is important that he dares say no to back squat or front squat any more.” I think this is a sad commentary on the strength and conditioning community. What will it be next, I am not interested in creating controversy or getting in a pissing contest, but at least be consistent? Ten years ago it was the front squat that was it nothing but the front squat, now it is this. For me it is not about selling the latest DVD (I don’t have any – nor will I anytime soon) it is about educating. Regardless of the exercise there is no one way. A comprehensive strength training program includes squatting movements, pulling movements, pushing movements and bracing movements. Squatting is a fundamental human movement. Gait is fundamental to human movement. Gait occurs of off one foot onto to another foot that is my simple rationale for including single leg (Single leg squats) and reciprocal leg exercises (lunges and step-ups) in a good sound strength training program. This has been my rationale for years; it dictates the selection of lower extremity and total body exercise on my exercise menu. Resistance should progress from bodyweight to appropriate external load based on the chronological and training age of the athlete and the sport. This is not Strength Coach Version 4.159, it is just sound training methodology that I learned at UCSB in Dr. Button’s Foundations of Conditioning class in 1969. By the way one of the textbooks in that class was Pat O’Shea’s book  Scientific Methods and Principles of Strength Fitness, a classic work everyone should read. Once again I implore all of you to get beyond the hype, marketing, bravado and THINK! Sound training methodology and best practice dictates that your exercise selection fit the demands of the sport and above all does no harm.

Venice Season Ends – One day Short

This was the post I was hoping not to have to write, we lost in three games to Leon High School of Tallahassee in the State Semi Final match last night. Obviously it was a huge disappointment. We just did not play our game, too many errors and when you get to that level the other team will capitalize, which they did. None the less I am very proud of this group of young ladies. It was been very gratifying to watch them grow up and mature as people and players. As I have said many times on this blog they are special group of people. I will always cherish the memories of working with this group. I also want to thank Brian Wheatley, the head coach, who runs a heck of a program and the assistant coaches that allowed me to be a part of this experience. We were all wishing for one more day, and one more match, but it wasn’t meant to be. I now close the door on this phase of my coaching career with many conflicting emotions. I wish I could still work with the Venice program but the travel demands of my consulting business do not allow me to put in the time commitment necessary. I cannot expect a commitment out the athlete if I am not able to give the same commitment. Ladies, thanks for the great memories, you are number one in my heart!

Vern at His Best

I was a little hesitant to put this on the blog due it’s personal nature, but my wife encouraged me to post it, (She never allows me to get to full of myself) so here goes: I decided to take a break from writing and go on an hour bike ride. It was a beautiful Florida chamber of commerce type day, 68 degrees, blue sky, no wind, you get the picture. So I get all my fancy bike riding gear on and climb on my Cannodale with all the trimmings. Started out on my ride going out east to ride in the farmland, cross under the interstate and was just cruising along. Kind of day dreaming, some would say spacing out. All of sudden I hear this ring, ring and this "old guy" (probably two or three years younger than me) riding a fat tire cruiser, high handlebars, New Balance shoes, no toe clips passes me like a freight train leaving a tramp. He quickly opens up about a fifty meter gap on me. Then I got pissed. I could not believe this old guy was beating me. So I kicked it into gear, pedaled furiously passed him and opened up a gap of about 100 meters, just started to relax because I figured I had dusted him when I got a flat tire. So I had to pullover, he passed me, smiled at me and pedaled away. Have a nice day. Had to call my wife to come and pick me up. Thought she was going to crash when I told he the stroy she was laughing so hard.

The Workout - A Means to an End

Last week I talked about it being more than an exercise, we also need to remember it is more than the workout. I can go online right now and download an infinitesimal number of workout, so what. I get at least one email a week from someone sending a link to a workout, usually with a comment like – What do you think? My answer is almost always is not sure what to think. The magic is not in the workout, the magic is in the plan. What is the context of the workout? Who are you doing the workout with? What are you doing? When are you doing it? Most importantly why are you doing it? Context is the key! What effect will this workout have on the subsequent workouts, what workout led up to this workout? I have learned the hard way that one workout cannot make athlete or a team but one workout can break an athlete or a team. We need to get away from the idea that because a workout is hard and you end up barfing that it is a good workout, this is the ethic being promoted in the commercial fitness”industry.” Believe me it is easy to bury someone, much harder to train someone. Each workout should have specific objectives that are measureable and observable; those objectives must be in support of the microcycle and the block themes. Anyone can work, but training is work with a specific propose. I read the other day that John Wooden used to spend up to two hours a day planning his practices. Roy Williams plans each of his practices to the minute. I know I spend up to twenty minutes a day planning training for that particular day for volleyball, when I was coaching track it was at least an hour. That does not count the time setting up the training session. In summary training is a long term proposition, it is about continual adaptation leading to optimal performance in the competitive arena. Train athletes who thrive on training, not survivors.

Venice Volleyball Pre-match Warm-up

Somehow I may have stumbled into the 21st century. This is my first attempt at posting video. (I was born twenty years to early to mater this on the first try) The following video clips show the stages of our pre-match warm-up. Warm-up begins with coordination, followed by lunge and reach series, lateral slide and block jumps at the net and then short burst sprints. Specific warm-up with the coaches follows, it focuses on volleyball skills. The elements of this warm-up are included in the daily pre-practice warm-up. the content of the warm-up varies with the goal of practice. This is a warm-up routine that I have been using for at least thirty five years at all levels of sport and with various sports.

What a Day! Venice Wins in Three – Regional Champions!

What a tremendous team effort, we defeated Clearwater in three games to advance to state championship Final Four Wednesday night in Lakeland. We will play Leon High School of Tallahassee, a team that we split with during the regular season. We came out of the blocks in the first game smoking, it was the best game I have seen the team play in my three years working with the team. Warm-up carried right into the game (more on that in a later post). I feel fortunate to be part of this program. Brain Wheatley the head coach gave me the opportunity three years ago to begin working with his program. Frankly this group of coaches and kids reignited my passion for coaching. I just hope that all of you sometime in your careers get the opportunity to work with a group of kids as focused and dedicated as this group. Now to refocus on the goal , the state championship, I compare it to a high hurdle race (each hurdle is a match), we have cleared the eighth hurdle, we can see the finish, but we have to execute a great three steps (win three games) to set up clearance of the ninth hurdle. We are almost there.