How to get stronger in pre-season

leg strengthening

Why do I need to start strength training in pre-season?

pre-season fitnessWell, ideally you won’t be starting from scratch. Hopefully you have been doing your foundation work throughout the off-season.

This means that you are moving efficiently and can control your body through a full range of motion.

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Creating Frankenstein’s Monster in the Gym

Frankenstein's monster in the gym

“Man,” I cried, “how ignorant art thou in thy pride of wisdom!” ― Mary Shelley, Frankenstein I was asked last week my thoughts on using the barbell hip thrust in the gym. I had no thoughts on the matter, I don’t use it as an exercise tool. Rather than, ‘What do you use to develop hip extension?’…

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Principles of Training: Overload variations

Overload training

“If your only tool is a hammer, then everything becomes a nail”

If your only way of overloading an athlete to cause adaptation is adding weight, then you are limiting what they can achieve.

Not every sport, or every athlete needs to be loaded in the same way. One way of defining overload (as I learnt from Jim Radcliffe on GAIN 2011) is shown here:

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Exclusive Jack Lalanne Interview on his 93rd Birthday.

jack lalanne“Hello Students”

Jack Lalanne was famous for his TV show in the USA which ran weekly for 34 years. In it he also did some simple exercises (trimnastics) and gave a 2-3 minute monologue on how to stay healthy and enjoy life.

His advice was years ahead of its time and if you think that the healthy food and moderate, regular exercise messages are new- think again! Jack said it all 50 years ago!

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Weight training for women

weight training for women

Being a woman in the gym!

(By Fran Low) So I’ve spent the last 4 to 5 months telling you about the challenges that face training female athletes, however I have not once related it to my own experiences.

When I used to go to the gym I would perform:

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Front Squat vs Back Squat: which is better?

front squat vs back squat

Squatting is essential for female athletes

Assistant coach Fran Low was an experienced hockey player when she started working with Excelsior.

However, she had never done squats. Part of her role was to research the difference between front and back squats. Here are the results:

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How to take charge of your fitness training

injury prevention

herschel walker“If you train hard, you’ll not only be hard, you’ll be hard to beat.”

Herschel Walker 

Training hard is one part of fitness training, but any idiot can get tired (or indeed make you tired)!

I want to give you ideas that will help you get fit for your purpose. 

That may be to run faster, get stronger or jump higher in your sports arena.

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