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.

Comments are welcome (please leave your name) and you can subscribe by clicking on the RSS feed.

Thanks for taking the time to read it.

James Marshall

1. Warm Ups for strength training- Istvan Javorek

   12th March 2010 4:36 pm

   On a daily basis I hear from students that they heard that some exercises are dangerous. So my first basic weight training class I start with this short introduction: There aren’t dangerous exercises, just dangerous techniques.

   I devote a great deal of time to warming-up exercises.  I consider a good warm-up to be the first step in preventing injuries, as well as providing very good mental and physical preparation.

   2 Comments | Read More | warm ups

2. Pull ups- How good are you?

   11th March 2010 2:59 pm

   Thanks to Simon Worsnop for this link to a page dedicated to feats of strength on pull ups. This followed our conversation on the need for finger, forearm, grip and pulling strength for rock climbing.  Young athletes from all sports are notoriously weak in their upper body (more tree climbing needed), but then spend time on bicep curls in the gym.

   2 Comments | Read More | equipment, volume, world record

3. Blog Festival Thanks

   8th March 2010 4:09 pm

   Thanks to everybody who contributed to the blog festival. The last 2 weeks have shown me that the busy coaches are often the ones who find the time to do a little bit extra. I hope all the readers have found at least one or two useful snippets of information.

   
   

   There is a mantra quoted to me previously “If you want something done, give it to a busy person.”

   
   

   Thanks for all the feedback  from clients and colleagues too.

   
   

   0 Comments | Read More | speed training, strength and conditioning qualifications

4. Jack Lalanne Guest Blog

   7th March 2010 10:40 am

   To finish off the blog festival, Jack Lalanne has kindly sent this quote:

   “Anything in Life is Possible, if YOU Make it Happen!”Jack is now 95 years old and still training regularly see the interview I did with him on his 93rd birthday here

    

   1 Comment | Read More | speed training, strength training

5. Injury Prevention in the gym: Roy Headey

   6th March 2010 12:01 pm

   

   Do any of the following rugby-related comments sound familiar?

   0 Comments | Read More | injury, rugby

6. Managing Parents: Dave Rotheram

   5th March 2010 12:08 pm

   

   I have recently completed a case study on the parental expectations of coaches of elite rugby league players.

   The parents of the England Youth (u16) squad completed a questionnaire about their child’s involvement in the sport and parental expectations of the coaches their children work with. 

   2 Comments | Read More | energy system, jack lalanne, speed training, tiger woods

7. Why you should eat local produce that is in season

   1st March 2010 9:38 am

   Boost your immune system with fresh local produce

   There is a desire for a better way of eating healthily and safely, eating plenty

   of fresh vegetables is an important dietary requirement to improve and maintain our health.

   Carol Farley, a local producer has given some tips here on what to look for.

   Aim for at least 5 different portions of fruit or vegetables a day. 

   1 Comment | Read More | goal setting

8. Training for young athletes: Andy Larmour

   26th February 2010 2:14 pm

   

   Working with young athletes can be some of the most rewarding work possible.

   It is impossible not to feed off the energy and enthusiasm of a genuinely talented individual irrespective of their chosen sport.
   

   2 Comments | Read More | education

9. Student Athlete Support: Nick Beasant.

   24th February 2010 3:39 pm

   

   Over the past decade, performance sport within the higher education sector has grown and developed at an ever increasing rate.  New government initiatives, National Governing Body partnerships, a focused strategic steer from BUCS and an institution’s own desire to develop both their sporting status and their own athletes have all moved the sector into a competitive and attractive marketplace for applicants.

    

   2 Comments | Read More | fitness, olympic lifting, speed training

10. 10 Commandments of Great Coaching: Wayne Goldsmith

    22nd February 2010 9:01 am

    The 10 Commandments of Great Coaching

    Wayne Goldsmith is a Coach Educator based in Australia known as the Sports Coaching Brain. Here are some key points on how to be a great coach.

    4 Comments | Read More | Coaching, reflective practice, Transformational Coaching