Welcome To The ASPI Blog

In the past ten years or so there has been an explosion of sports specific training for youngsters. In Europe this has been developed for a much longer period of time in the football/soccer academies of professional clubs, who are all about the business of identifying potential talent early and optimizing age-specific training. Of course, in most instances there isn't really a systematic approach and it is up to the individual to seek out training on their own. Often what is offered in public schools is dated and, sometimes, even detrimental to the young athlete. Most coaches include this or that element of speed and strength training, but what a coach does to train these competencies in any sport is bound to be incomplete in terms of their knowledge and what they are doing with their players. It's not their primary job, so that should come as no suprise!!! Whereas it is a soccer coach's job to train players in the tactical and technical aspect of the sport, it's the job of the strength trainer to develop the athlete's physical capacity to most effectively execute the physical elements that underlie the technical and tactical aspects of the game. Having a deep background in things like assessment of movement, development of core stability and strength, and proper care of muscle and other tissue through proper stretching and other activities, can give athletes a tremendous advantage. It's the job of the strength trainer--my job--to be as up-to-date as possible on the latest knowledge on optimum human performance. The purpose of this blog is to provide as make as much information accessible to parents and coaches I work with, so that we can work together to make informed decisions where their children/athletes are concerned. I encourage anyone reading this site to post comments or questions and I will attempt to answer them as I receive them.