Functional Path Training

GAIN 2022 Announcement

GAIN 2022 will be held June 14 to 18 at Rice University in Houston Texas. This is the fifteenth year of GAIN; it started 2007 with twelve attendees and four instructors and has grown to ninety attendees from all over the world and eighteen faculty. GAIN is a community of professional’s eager to learn and willing to share ideas and information.

GAIN is not about more exercises, sets, reps and training methods it is about passionate people who pursue excellence with honesty, integrity and respect to make a difference in the lives of the people we coach and teach. To learn more about GAIN go to https://thegainnetwork.com/ or call 941-378-178. Applications will open on January 20, 2020. Don't miss out on this career changing experience.

GAIN is open to Strength & Conditioning/Athletic Development coaches, Sport Coaches, Physical Therapists, ATC’s, Chiropractors, Doctors and Physical Education teachers. Those who attend are professionals seeking career advancement & renewal through a networking experience and who are interested in getting out of their comfort zone.

GAIN IX June 14 - 18, 2016 - Join Us

GAIN 2016 will take place June 14 to 18 at Rice University in Houston, Texas. The program is open to sport coaches, conditioning coaches, physical education teachers, athletic trainers, physical therapists, chiropractors and doctors.

Apply now and join a select group of professionals at GAIN. Go to http://tinyurl.com/nb7rx2j to apply, submit your application now, enrollment is limited.

Tuition is $1,875 it includes breakfast, lunch and dinner each day. Please call me at 941-378-1778 or email mail me at [email protected] if you have any questions.

This program is intense and intellectually challenging combining theory and practice in a residential coaching school format. This is an opportunity to observe, participate, question, and explore the application of the Gambetta Method - Systematic Sport Development Model of training, teaching and injury rehabilitation.

This represents just a beginning of an incredible professional development opportunity. Attendees can continue to participate via the secure web site, and continue to attend the GAIN coaching school for the duration of their careers if they so choose. For those who have attended it has been a career changing experience.

For more information and to apply for GAIN 2016 go to www.thegainnetwork.com don’t miss this opportunity for professional advancement.

The GAIN Faculty

These are professionals who have a track record of excellence in their chosen fields. They know how a performance team works, how all aspects of athletic development complement each other and most importantly they understand the process of developing athletes because they are working in the trenches everyday.

At GAIN we have three main areas of focus:

1) Coaching & Athletic Development

2) Sports Medicine/Rehab

3) Physical Education

Our faculty is experts in each of these respective focus areas. The goal is foster connections and communication between all these areas to develop the best athlete possible.

Coaching

Wade Gilbert, professor in the Department of Kinesiology

at California State University, Fresno. Dr. Gilbert's areas of expertise include coaching effectiveness, talent development, and sport psychology. Editor - International Sport Coaching Journal | Consultant - USOC Coaching Education.

Vern Gambetta, Founder of GAIN Network, Currently Director of Gambetta Sports Training Systems

Sport Science

Ken Clark, PHD, East Stroudsburg State University PhD in Biomechanics, Researcher in Human Performance, Strength & Conditioning Coach (CSCS, USA-W), interested in all things speed

Brian McCormick, PhD is an author, basketball coach, and consultant. He has published 21 books for basketball coaches, including 21st Century Guide to Individual Skill Development, coached youth through professional basketball in the United States and Europe, and advised coaches at all levels. 

Athletic Development

Jim Radcliffe, Head S&C Coach University of Oregon

Mike Bahn, US Skiing & Snowboard Strength & Conditioning Coordinator. Formerly with Phoenix Coyotes & Arizona Diamondbacks.

Nick Garcia, Athletic Development Coach & Assistant Track Coach, Notre Dame High School, Sherman Oaks, California

Steve Magness, Head Cross Country and Assistant Track Coach University of Houston

Sports Medicine/Rehab

Bill Knowles, ATC Philadelphia Union Academy and HP Sports

Ed Ryan, ATC Head Trainer US Women’s Olympic Basketball Team, Formerly Head of Sports Medicine at USOC

Randy Ballard, ATC Assistant Trainer, University of Illinois Working With Track & Field and Volleyball

Joe Przytula, ATC Supervisor of Physical Education and Health, and athletic trainer with Elizabeth Public Schools, Elizabeth New Jersey USA.

Physical Education

Greg Thompson, Elementary Physical Education Teacher Farmington Michigan, Currently Athletic Development and Age Group Head Coach, Livonia City Soccer Club

For more information and to apply for GAIN 2016 go to www.thegainnetwork.com don’t miss this opportunity for professional advancement.

Lessons from GAIN 2015 – Randy Ballard on Trainability Assessment

Randy Ballard is an ATC who works with Volleyball and Track & Field at University of Illinois. Over the past three years Randy has taken elements of Kelvin Giles PCA (Physical Competency Assessment) and combined into a trainability assessment he calls I-FACTS – Illinois Foundational Athletic Competency System. It is a trainability assessment because it is designed to do just that, determine the athlete’s ability to train – where on a continuum of progression will you find kinks in the amour and adjust training accordingly. It is a reference to determine an entry point for programming training.

A statement that Randy made in his presentation really struck home with me: “Once overspecialized, always overspecialized.” The implications of that statement are wide ranging. The athlete will be at University of Illinois for four years, they are expected to compete and achieve at a high level, but so much time is spent in damage control that was done before college that is presents a real dilemma.

The whole I-FACTS is process oriented. Randy stressed that the “Data does not give you answers, rather it helps you ask better questions.” The process consists of the ATC, S&C, and sport coach all working to together to answer the questions and keep asking smarter more pointed questions. Because it is process orientated it is not a “one-off” testathon with the results filed away and forgotten. It is a living working part of the athletes training to constantly improve their athleticism. It is a vehicle to open and maintain lines of communication between the whole performance team working with the athlete. To get the athlete performing at their optimum requires cooperation and communication. It is important to emphasize that Randy has worked hard to involve the sport coach in this process; because of this the buy in has been significant.

GAIN 2015 Lessons – Greg Thompson on PE as a Foundation

Greg is a elementary school PE teacher in Farmington Hills Michigan. It is hard to find a word to express this mans depth of knowledge and passion. If there is something more genuine than genuine Greg is it. In addition to teaching PE Greg also coaches soccer achieving USA Soccer A Badge, the highest level of certification in the US. I asked Greg to kickoff GAIN with a presentation on PE as the Foundation. Needless to say he knocked our socks off. He set the tempo for the whole program with his ideas.

He started by surveying experts from around the world on what was important in a good foundation established by PE:

Moving Well

Static Balance – Ability to make a stable base

Dynamic Balance

Object control skill and ability to combine them with locomotor skills

Landing Mechanics

Flexibility – Only if you can express with balance, strength and speed

General Strength

Aerobic Fitness

Behavior

Some other thoughts from Greg:

“Figure it out” – Give them the tools to solve moment problems and let them figure it out. They are OK to express themselves through movement.

He treats the body like a paintbrush

Create desirable difficulties

It is one thing to value it; it is another thing to have a plan for teaching it.

Games become an express of skill so teach skill first

Behavior must be addressed – Growing people into responsible adults

Not sure my brief words can do justice to Greg’s ideas and methods. Greg is the teacher we wish we all had in school and the teacher we want our children to have. Greg came to the first GAIN eight years ago as an attendee. He truly represents what GAIN is about – Quality, excellence, passion, sharing and humanity. Thanks Greg for helping make GAIN what it is.

GAIN 2015 – Wrap-up

It has been over a week since we ended GAIN 2015 our eighth iteration of the annual program. Each one has gotten successively better and this one was the best. It has been hard to get back into the normal swing of things after spending five supercharged days around such great professionals and even more important great people. It is very intense and demanding. I know for the first time attendees it is often overwhelming but we strive to set the bar high to help people improve as professionals.

This is an annual event, a gathering of the network, but the network is an going process designed to facilitate communication, share experiences and ideas throughout the year via the online forum and to access high level information through the GAIN library.

In succeeding days I will post on some of the highlight of GAIN 2015, in the interim enjoy the gallery of pictures that give a small flavor of what GAIN is about. Next GAIN will be June 2016 – Open by application only to professionals who want to share and learn – Hope you can join us.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

GAIN 2015 - Getting Started

We kicked off GAIN 2015 yesterday despite a lack of cooperation from mother nature and numerous flight cancellations, delays and re-bookings everyone got it. Terrific group. Very diverse group from all over the world with tremendous expertise.I am very excited to keep meeting people and exchanging ideas.

Today our theme is "The Foundation" - the emphasis is on physical education as the foundation leading off with Greg Thompson an extraordinary PE teacher, followed by Randy Ballard from University of Illinois sharing his work on Trainability assessment - That takes care of the morning. Then I will present on the Basics of Training, followed by Nick Garcia from Notre Dame High School who will take us through the young athletes journey at the high school level. In the evening Mike Bahn from US Skiing and Patrick McHugh from Northshore Country Day school will present on solutions in youth sport. This morning we kick -off at 6:30 on the track with three active learning stations. All with the goal of "Coaching the Best to be Better."

Letter to a Coach Beginning Their Career

Dear Coach:

Congratulations on beginning an exciting journey of discovery. You have checked all the boxes in terms of your preparation, you have interned, you are certified and you have your degree in sports science. Those are the keys that unlock the door. Now the fun starts, the real work begins, you get to apply what you have learned. Be prepared to pay your dues, 90% 0f coaching is grunt work. Not much science, just a whole lot of detail work that no one ever teaches you in school. Now you have to practice and learn the art of coaching, to become skilled at your craft. You will learn by doing, by making mistakes and correcting them and moving forward.

Find a mentor as soon as you can. Preferably it should be someone who has been there before, someone with gray hair or no hair who has had successes and failures and is willing to share. Honor and respect those who have blazed the path for you. Know your sports history and study the great coaches who have gone before you.

Practice self-refection. Keep learning! Don’t follow fads. Be an informed skeptic. Beware of Internet training porn and slick marketing. Define yourself by developing a clear philosophy. Your philosophy is your guiding light. Maintain your principles and ethics. Winning is not everything. There are no gray areas – there are very strict moral guideline in regard to PED’s and personal behavior.

Remember you coach people, not the sport. It is not the technique, training methods, the offense or defense that matters most, it is how you relate to and communicate with athletes you coach as people. Be sure to have a life. Take time for yourself and your family. Be an example to those you coach.

There will be tremendous highs full of elation and celebration where you think you have it all figured out. There will also be tremendous disappointment where you will wonder why you chose this path. Maintain an even keel, a level steady approach that doesn’t allow the highs to be too high and lows too low. If you are steady and consistent this will be reflected in your athletes.

Hone your communication skills. Remember it is not what you say it what they hear that matters. Talk less and say more. Listen carefully and observe. You can see a lot by watching. Be willing to say you were wrong. Be honest with yourself and your athletes. Lead by example. Empower your athletes – you don’t have be in control all the time. Be yourself. Develop your own coaching style that reflects who you are.

Stress fundamentals and you will grow adaptable athletes. Don’t stray far from fundamentals. Good fundamentals are robust and will serve your athletes well under the pressure of competition. Never lose sight of the ultimate goal – Competition. Develop adaptable athletes who are not dependent on coaching. Give the athlete control of the game. The competition is your final exam that is when you find out if you have done your job.

Recognize that change is constant. Learn to manage and lead change. Be proactive. Be a generalist, don’t become so specialized that you lose sight of the big picture of preparing the complete athlete.

Coaching is a special calling. Be thankful for that calling and treat it as a special opportunity everyday. I will close with an email I received from one of my former athletes after a visit with him after not seeing him for thirty years. Words like this are better than any championship!

I was thinking about what you said about the bunch of athletes from SBHS that you felt were a great part of your career. As I look back, I believe a coach can have a significant influence on a young persons life in terms of lessons to take forward. Although none of us at SBHS achieved Olympic or world-class athletic status, I think that many of us have been very successful in other aspects of our lives. I believe that your influence on us included such attributes as the understanding of perseverance, importance of character, the development of self-confidence, maintaining a life balance and the love of physical conditioning. I know that the life lessons you taught me led to my work in physical therapy, the perseverance to obtain a PhD, and the love of a life filled with running, cycling and swimming.  Thank you for enriching my life Vern. I would not be where I am today without your early guidance.

Yours in coaching

Vern Gambetta

GAIN 2014 – Wrap-up/Summary #2

The faculty sets the tone for the GAIN experience. Certainly they can be measured by their professional accomplishments, but most importantly they are characterized by their humility, willingness to share and desire to keep learning. What an inspiration to the group to see Jim Radcliffe, with all he has accomplished, taking copious notes on Nick Garcia’s presentation. They are all life long learners who are the best at what they do because they keep challenging to learn and be better. What an example for the attendees!

We have three areas of emphasis within GAIN: 1) Athletic Development – Coaching, 2) Sports Medicine, Rehab, and 3) Physical Education. The goal is to integrate all three into a comprehensive whole. There are no silos, no narrow specializations; instead there is a reinforcement of fundamental concepts across disciples. When you look at Bill Knowles ATC and his success rehabbing some the top athletes in the world and working with some of the most high profile teams in soccer and rugby you see consistent application of basic principles taken from athletic development and physical education. Randy Ballard’s work at University of Illinois with Volleyball and track is another example of the blending of all disciplines into a unified whole. His presentation on the place of monitoring was brilliant as well as thought provoking and timely. His quote on monitoring is priceless and pretty much sums it up: “Monitoring is like teenage sex, everyone is talking about it but not very many are doing it.”

I would be remiss if I did not recognize two people who make GAIN work. Ed Ryan, who wears two hats, one as an instructor lending his years of experience as an ATC & former head of Sports Medicine at USOC. He is now trainer for US Olympic Women’s basketball team. His second hat at GAIN is he is in charge of operations – he runs the show assisted by my wife Melissa. I would also like to thank Rice University Men’s track & Field (Especially assistant coach Casey Thom) for being our on campus host and facilitators.

Special mention to our sponsors who provide the support needed to put on an event of this magnitude. Our principle sponsors are Perform Better and ASICS. Our other sponsors are Bridge Athletic, Ferris Industries makers of Polymem, Spark Motion, Laingainer and Athletic Standard.

Last but not least what makes GAIN special is the attendees. We have several attendees who have been to every GAIN since it’s inceptions – Tove Shere, Track Coach and PE Teacher at Santa Fe Academy and Adam Moss, conditioning coach and PE teacher at Collegiate School in Richmond Virginia. In addition we have more who have attended all but one: Phil Bazzini, Patrick McHugh, and Mark Day. Thanks for your support and making GAIN what it is.

GAIN is open by application. We are looking for professionals interested in growing and sharing. If you are interested in joining us next year please contact me.

GAIN 2014 – Wrap-up/Summary #1

It has not quite been a week since we ended GAIN VII. Usually I write a wrap-up the day after but this year it took me longer because it was such an overwhelming experience I needed more time to assimilate what I saw & learned. We raised the bar again! The whole GAIN experience just underscores the nature of a network – When excellent people who are passionate and knowledgeable gather magic happens. The sharing across disciplines and areas of expertise was better than ever this year. We started the day with the morning madness teaching sessions at 6:30 am, the quality of teaching was amazing to watch. To see Greg Thompson, PE teacher extraordinaire teach a “gym class” to adults was exciting and uplifting (What lucky kids to have a teacher like Greg). Steve Myrland’s Stick and Strap routines will be a game changer, simple movements that challenge the body to solve increasingly complex movement problems. Tracy Fober teaching how to squat and the shoulder routines she has put together should be mandatory in any coach’s education. Gary Winckler did sessions on acceleration progression and reflex strength training. To see Jim Radcliffe teach the Plyometric progression barefoot on the grass was to watch a master in action. Master coach Clay Erro kicked off each morning session. He delivered a message to keep everyone on task and set the tempo for the day. That was just the first 90 minutes!

Then came breakfast (Meals are where the real learning & sharing occur) followed by the morning classroom sessions. Where do I start – Finn Gunderson, one of the founders of Burke Mountain Academy & former headmaster did a presentation on Burke Academy and beyond addressing LTAD, Finn also presented short sessions each evening on leadership, team building and coaching the parents. What a teacher, he has 45 years of experience and it shows. His willingness to share successes and failures was refreshing. Steve Magness did two presentations on aspects of endurance training. Each day of classroom sessions ended in the gym with practical sessions and demonstrations. Gary Winckler did his on reflex strength training; Bill Knowles on key movements in rehab progression and Nick Garcia actually did a training session illustrating the Bondarchuk concepts. There is so much more.

GAIN is defined by what it is NOT – It is not a clinic, it is not a boot camp and it is not a one off workshop. GAIN is a journey of learning and understanding that begins with the one week academy experience and continues through the website for the persons career. Each year it gets better because the faculty experts and the attendees, experts in their own right, are all very willing to share and professionally challenge each other to get better. Over the next few weeks I will write more on the lessons learned. If you are interested in joining the GAIN network please feel to contact me for more information.

Below are a few pictures showing the morning practical teaching sessions.

GAIN VII - 2014

It seems like just yesterday that 22 of us gathered at the Holiday Inn Sports Complex in Sunrise Florida for the first GAIN. Today at Rice University in Houston Texas we start the seventh iteration of GAIN with 42 attendees (20 new attendees and 22 returning) and 12 instructors. From day one it has been special but it keeps getting better each year. Why? Because of the people, the amazing instructors and attendees willing to share and question to learn to be better at their craft. It has grown into a wonderful learning community. It is certainly the highlight of my year. The energy, camaraderie, knowledge and passion sustain me. I want to thank all of you that have made GAIN special, the attendees, Rice University Track & Field staff, the sponsors and above all my wife Melissa who does all the behind things that make it work. Hopefully you will join us next year.

GAIN VII Theme

Focus on the process of developing athletes from their first step in the sport to the step onto the podium.

The GAIN goals are:

Provide a career defining educational experience for all involved

Define the field of Athletic Development

Reinforce the concepts that:

Training = Testing and Testing  = Training

Training = Rehab and Rehab = Training