When looking at the big 3 lifts (squat, bench, and deadlift), we need to look at how to perform them optimally to increase leverage and the poundage being used. At Showtime Strength & Performance, we run 2-3 powerlifting meets a year and usually are at another 6-10 meets a year. After watching many of the best lifters ever and watching first-time competitors, we have noticed some huge differences that lead to big pounds gained or lost in competition.
By Kyle Harris
Full disclosure, these morning musings were inspired by Patrick Jones (follow him @pjonesbaseball, find his podcast Patrick Jones Baseball and listen because his content is top notch). He posted a Tweet about differentiating intent to hitter needs. His exact quote was “Can’t preach Daddy Hacks to everyone. All hitters are different, which makes it fun and challenging to coach. Some hitters need to feel like they’re not swinging as hard as they can. Some do. Gotta figure out what’s best for you.”
For those that have trained with us or have watched some of our training sessions, they've noticed that our athletes utilize bands and chains a lot in our training. To many people, the benefits of bands and chains remain unknown and looks crazy.
By Kyle Harris
When it comes to strength and conditioning in the baseball and softball world, too many coaches are stuck in the dark ages. The good news is that truth is slowly working its way into more and more programs across the country, which will only lead to greater player development and a decrease in injuries. The next step in this process is not only continuing to debunk the myth that in season strength and conditioning training for baseball and softball players is bad or harmful, but to educate the masses and show them why this is crucial to enhance and maintain high performance levels.
When many people watch a volleyball game, they are impressed by the powerful athletes who get up above the net and spike the ball with fury toward their opponent. Most people fail to see there are many components to making an efficient volleyball jump and how to prepare for it. Many will use a vertimax or other elastic band devices to help build jumping power, but are there other factors we should be looking at?
By Kory Thompson
Today, we live in what can only be considered a “consumer-based environment." This is apparent in the supplement industry. Almost every single month there’s the next best protein with Super Cutting-Edge Technology to get you Jacked Fast.
By Showtime Strength Performance Coach John Holloway
Most people think that if you exercise, you'll lose weight just like that. And if that doesn't work, then they give up completely. Well seeing that I was already somewhat active, I was still adding fat and gaining weight. So we know exercise alone won't make it happen.
By Showtime Strength Performance Coach John Holloway
I'm a life long athlete. I started playing football at age 7, started running track at age 8 and started playing basketball at age 11. I also tried, soccer, baseball, and tennis in between.
The box squat has been made famous by Westside Barbell and Louie Simmons. There is still a fair amount of skepticism over the benefits of box squatting when compared to squatting without a box. At Showtime Strength & Performance, we will primarily use a box when squatting with our athletes. We have found this to be beneficial for both in-season and out-of-season athletes. It’s not a tool reserved only for competitive lifters and we actually think more people should primarily use the box. Lets take a further look at how to properly box squat, how not to box squat, the benefits and when to apply it to your setting.
Are you looking for a way for your team to get an edge on the competition? Has your team lost close games or lost momentum as the season goes on? The missing link could be a strength and conditioning plan. Strength has been proven to be the most beneficial asset to athletic performance. Strength can produce faster sprint times for athletes, running more will not make stronger athletes.
For many years, there has been a huge buzz over the terms “speed, agility, and quickness,” and athlete training was centered on this. Coaches embraced the idea that “more is better,” and athletes were prescribed high volume sprints and jumping drills. By 2018, we now know that running to the point of exhaustion doesn’t help develop true speed, but will also fatigue the central nervous system and can have a negative effect on your training for weeks at a time.
In any sport, if you look at successful people, you will often find similarities among them in that sport. Softball is no exception. Haylie McCleney is one of the most successful softball players, currently boasting 3-time All-American honors while playing at the University of Alabama, and she has also had great success as a professional player and as a member of Team USA. What I found most interesting about her was her passion for strength and conditioning.
For anyone who works in the private sector, despite how great you believe your training methods are or how great your sales pitch is, your clients don’t speak strength and conditioning. This is a good thing, because if they did then you would be out of a job.
Strength training can be one of the most amazing gifts you can give someone. While some might view strength as a negative thing, we view strength as an amazing thing that will always improve your life, whether physically or mentally.
For anyone who has watched college softball recently, they’ve seen a sport progressing at a rapid pace. Oklahoma just won the national title with its pitcher consistently hitting 75 mph on her pitches. This speed is amazing compared to what used to be seen, even just a short time ago. We are getting smarter and realizing that softball is primarily a power sport. When we say that we mean short burst of energy, and as much power as quickly as possible.
The statement I get most from people is: "I need to lose weight and get in shape, but I have no idea where to start." My first question to that statement is: "What do you eat?" And my second question is, "Are you doing any type of exercise?"
For the past year and a half, I’ve been fortunate enough to train at the strongest gym in the world, the famed Westside Barbell in Columbus, OH.
To many, Westside might just seem like a gym where lifters who are already at the top go to train.
Every year, there are more resources available to parents, coaches and athletes on what the most optimal style of training is for their athlete and their sport.
