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. Pumping up your tyres- How to improve performance.

   28th September 2010 11:22 am

   I had a great session screening a couple of young multi event athletes last week. The coaches were present which made exchange of information very clear and easy for all concerned.

   2 Comments | Read More | Transformational Coaching

2. Motor skills development- spatial awareness and catching.

   23rd September 2010 9:44 am

   I am using a block of Autumn training as a motor skill development with endurance training period.

   I am using tennis ball drills: catching, dribbling, turning, evasion and throwing for one set of development.

   The other set is using the 4 limbs to perform different tasks whilst standing and then moving in different directions.

   Most of the athletes can do 2 different things simultaneously, but not many 3.

   1 Comment | Read More | athletic development, LTAD

3. Work Capacity- Lunge walks

   21st September 2010 7:16 pm

   Whilst not being a strict training principle, there is a need to develop a work capacity in conjunction with the four pillars of balance, flexibility, strength and posture.

   The capacity to perform exercises that develop your physical attributes, or the capacity to sustain work rates within training sessions will help you become better at your sport.

    

   0 Comments | Read More |

4. Jumpers for Goal Posts

   16th September 2010 12:53 pm

   Play, not train.

   Working within school or university environments and on training camps, there seems to be a need to structure every session.  The time tabling of lessons and lectures, meal times, and transport means that very minute is accounted for. 

   On camps there is the additional problem of support staff having to prove their worth and being given sessions to do. So the timetable is dictated by fitting around the staff having something to do, rather than what works for the athlete. 

   2 Comments | Read More | equestrian

5. Martin Rees Quote- Reith lecture 2010.

   1st September 2010 9:05 am

   Martin Rees in the third of this year’s Reith lectures has a good quote about reductionism in Science.

   “You can not understand the concept of time by taking apart a timepiece.”

   Think about this when coaching athletes. You can not reduce everything to the cellular level or analyse things in a lab, without looking at the overall athletic movement.

   0 Comments | Read More | dan baker

6. What do I actually do? South West Talent.

   31st August 2010 8:57 am

   I am often asked “What do you actually do?” One of my contracts is with Bath University and the South West Talent programme. A case study of one of the guys I have been working with is uploaded here.

   The newsletter also highlights some of the Coaching programme I will be involved with.

   This programme is an excellent example of Administrators, Coaches, Parents, Physiotherapists and Athletes working well together. The ones that have been regulars are showing real progress.

   0 Comments | Read More | running

7. Blind Football World Cup – England finish fourth.

   25th August 2010 9:07 am

   Well done to Dan James (far left) and Robin Williams (kneeling far right)for their efforts in helping the England blind football team finish fourth in the World Cup.  I have trained both players through their TASS funding.

   Robin especially has made vast improvements this year, and will hopefully benefit from a productive off season.  Dan has consistently been the fittest player on the squad over the last 2 years.

   0 Comments | Read More | uk school games

8. Repeated jumps versus single jumps

   24th August 2010 4:14 pm

   Bondarchuk in his Transfer of Training in Sport highlights research from Eastern Europe that shows that performing repeated jumps is more effective in improving sporting performance than doing single jumps for distance.

   0 Comments | Read More | pliometrics

9. Top Training Tip

   20th August 2010 10:42 am

   The top training tip – is get started. Don’t delay, get started.

   Once you have got started, then you can worry about the specifics.

   It is like starting a new essay or project, sometimes just writing the title is enough to get going.

   0 Comments | Read More | planning

10. Fencing Camp

    17th August 2010 8:35 am

    Just came back from working on a 2 day fencing camp in Grantham with various fencers. Two of the girls I train were on the camp, so it was good to see them in action. (Jenny McGeever is pictured).

    The camp has been run in the past by Army personnel, and the two PTIs from Headley Court did an excellent job on the camp. Something you can rely on is professionalism and enthusiasm as well as being able to walk the walk.

    3 Comments | Read More | brain circulation, coaches