Blog

Welcome to the Excelsior blog. It is a mix of current research and thoughts on Athlete and Coach Development, Strength and Conditioning and personal reflections.

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Thanks for taking the time to read it.

James Marshall

1. Coaching disabled athletes: Global Coaches House

   12th October 2012 8:17 am

    Paralympics Wrap Up

   After watching the blind football team play at the Paralympics, I went to the final session of the Paralympics Global Coaches House, chaired by Professor Pat Duffy.

   0 Comments | Read More | beetroot supplements, equestrian, recovery

2. Roller Derby: Coaching and Playing

   8th October 2012 3:00 pm

   Are you a blocker or jammer?

   Roller derby is not a run-of-the-mill sport, and its members are not typical athletes or sports people.

   It is, however, a fantastic addictive world of camaraderie, intense physical effort, fast paced action, mind-blowing tactics and a touch of silliness.

   3 Comments | Read More | communication.

3. Stuck in a training rut? 3 ways to get out.

   3rd October 2012 11:17 am

   Practice Variability

   We all get stuck in rut sometimes: as coaches or athletes. All it takes is a tweak to get out.

   0 Comments | Read More | equestrian, nfl combine

4. What is your number 1 coaching concern?

   10:30 am

   “If in doubt, do no harm”

   On Tuesday I asked a group of coaches from different sports what their main concern was in regards to strength training.  It came down to these two:

   • Not hurting my players
   • I don’t know where to begin

   With so much information out there, a lot of it conflicting, these coaches were not sure how to begin, or what was appropriate for their players.

   I come across this a lot. Parents, teachers and coaches really do find this difficult.

   0 Comments | Read More | recovery, running

5. Physical Literacy/ Athletic Development: Vern Gambetta

   26th September 2012 3:18 pm

   “Paper is 1 dimensional; humans live and breathe in 3 dimensions”.

   Vern Gambetta delivered the first lecture of GAIN V on the importance of Physical Literacy and how it underpins everything else we do.

   (I know I have reviewed this backwards,but it also acts as a summary of everything I learnt this year).

   Gambetta’s lecture emphasised the fact that the Human body is a self organising sytem that is capapble of amazing things: our training should reflect that, not inhibit it.

   3 Comments | Read More | athletic development, GAIN, physical education

6. 10 Rebounder exercises for lower limb control

   18th September 2012 8:57 am

   Improve Strength, Proprioception, Control and Ultimate Stability of the Lower Limb using a rebounder.

   There are many physical benefits from using a trampette or rebounder e.g. improving cardiovascular fitness and core control.

   4 Comments | Read More | rehabilitation, sports injury

7. Are you a Dot Collector or a Dot Connector?

   17th September 2012 1:24 pm

   Anyone can go to a workshop, read a book or watch a YouTube video and get a drill or exercise.
   A good coach knows how to assess whether this fits into their System of training, and if so how and when to use it.
   This is the difference between just collecting dots and knowing how to connect them.

   2 Comments | Read More | cpd, strength and conditioning course

8. Paralympic review

   10th September 2012 10:54 am

   Well, it’s over.

   I had a great day at the Paralympics last Thursday watching 3 of our athletes competing in the Blind Football playoffs.

   Dan James, Robin Williams and Keryn Seal were part of the GB team that tied their match against China at full time 1-1.

   This led to a penalty shoot out which GB lost. The boys then played in the 7/8th playoff against Turkey on Saturday where they won 2-0.

   0 Comments | Read More | competition, uk school games

9. Agility with a Purpose: Jim Radcliffe

   6th September 2012 9:16 am

   Posture, Balance, Stability, Mobility

   These are the 4 key points that Jim Radcliffe keeps coming back to when he discusses his agility periodisation and planning. 

   His lecture and practical sessions at GAIN V expanded on the work he did last year (detail here). 

   0 Comments | Read More | plyometrics

10. What has happened to P.E in this country?

    4th September 2012 9:16 am

    Progression, Variety, Precision

    These were the 3 cornerstones of Physical education and a gym culture where “you went to learn, not to train” according to Ed Thomas at GAIN V this year.

    Dr Thomas is a mine of information on the history of P.E. (I don’t mean a GCSE syllabus) and its educators.

    5 Comments | Read More | athletic development, GAIN, physical education