If I haven't already mentioned it, I've partnered with a two softball pitching instructors and formed a new company dedicated to softball performance, FaspitchPower. What makes FP unique is the collaborative language and cooperation between the skill instruction and strength training prescription. It's not only useful for softball families and coaches, but also for strength [...]

The momentum in strength and conditioning is progressing toward program minimalism. Mobility, "grooving" fundamental movement patterns and "simple strength" development are certainly directing the conversation. In some ways, drawing the attention away from "speed training" actually enhances training for speed. The body needs mobility to absorb force and create optimal joint angles for acceleration and [...]

What's your definition of core stability? I believe it is the ability of the upper body and lower body to act independently when necessary and to work co-dependently when necessary. There's a degree of autonomy per quarter of the body, and a (much larger) degree of harmony between them as well. This balance or communication, I believe, [...]

Here is a digestible review of the physical deficits adolescent females must overcome if they want to reach their athletic potential, while avoiding major or chronic injuries. These three points are extracted from ACL injury prevention research. There are many theoretical risk factors for an ACL injury; however, I feel these deficits extend beyond knee health [...]

Squats, deadlifts, and OIlympic lifts are round holes. Athletes today look and move like square pegs, especially as they get older. Fortunately for strength coaches who work with middle and high school athletes, we don't need to be too creative finding ways to get athletes back to the basics. Using a bottoms-up approach, you can [...]

Just a quick update,  Empower Athletic Development has finally expanded into our new facility! It's REALLY exciting and I appreciate the positive feedback and wishes. The 3200  square foot space is divided into 1920 square feet of agility turf and 1280 square feet of rubber flooring. We have a cinder/plywood/Durock wall for medicine ball throws. We [...]

Here is my response to a recent request for volleyball specific exercises for young girls who have little strength training experience. My first suggestion is to utilize fifteen minutes at the beginning and end of practice to implement basic mobility, stability, and strength exercises. Admittedly, getting a sport coach to adjust their practice to include [...]

Well, kind of. My good friend and colleague Anthony Renna stopped by our facility to ask me a few questions about Empower's business and training model for his broadcast, StrengthCoachTV. Anthony's show is relatively new, so it is certainly an honor to be one of his first stops, as he travels around the country unveiling [...]

After two years of being in business, I've learned that better results, both business and training-related, come more often from subtracting rather than adding. In no area of training is this more visible than exercise selection.  I used to think that part of being a great coach was creating an Excel catalog of progressions with every three dimensional [...]