In an effort to help improve your athletic performance, reach your goals, and achieve your full potential, Akron General Sports Performance has decided to start posting regular videos of training tips, motivation, and advice! This first video installment focuses on the topic of training hard and pushing yourself beyond your perceived physical limits.
When you train, how hard do you push yourself? Are you able to regularly venture into the realm of discomfort, or do you seize up and roll into a ball of self-doubt when it comes to putting more weight on the bar, running a little bit faster on the treadmill, or throwing on a 20lb weight vest? Whether you realize it or not, your mindset bears a direct relationship to your athletic performance and the results you get in training!
Listen up and take notes! It's time to get comfortable with the uncomfortable!
Keep Training! Coach Anthony Colarussoand Akron General Sports Performance
Continuing with our posts about why lifting for athletic performance should include exercises like the Olympic Lifts (Part 1 or Part 2). This post will give athletes and parents a better understanding of the most important (and beneficial) part of the Olympic Lift, the overloaded triple extension.
Overloaded Triple Extension in athletic terms simply means jumping with resistance. Now let me clarify that "jumping" in Olympic Lifts is not trying to get your feet off the ground as far as possible. In Olympic Lifting it is getting the barbell off the ground as far as possible.
Triple extension refers to the three joints of the hip, knees, and ankles extending in unison. This action is crucial for athletes (think rebounding, tackling, hitting, throwing, shooting, diving, kicking) since these athletic skills all require explosive unison of triple extension for an athlete to be successful.
As a side note, when your joints do not extend in unison you are at a greater risk of injury. In fact, many baseball players' elbows and shoulder problems stem from lack of unified extension of multiple joints (especially at the hip).
Olympic Lifting is all about triple extension, and when you get good enough, adding resistance (load) to the bar so you can get stronger triple extension. When you step off the weightlifting platform and into the realm of sports, you take this overloaded triple extension training and suddenly find yourself jumping higher, hitting further, throwing faster, tackling harder, kicking further, serving faster...and the list goes on.
Keep Training! Coach Amanda Kephart and Akron General Sports Performance
Local recruiting expert Coach Kelly Kennedy posted an amazing recruiting seminar titled, "DI, DII, and DIII: Learn the Difference and Find the Right Fit". I highly encourage you watch this almost one hour long seminar. It will be an hour well invested for all you want-to-be-college-athletes out there. Instead of wasting an hour on social media, invest in this hour that could truly impact your athletic career!
Keep Training! Coach Amanda Kephart and Akron General Sports Performance
"Keep your chin up"is a coaching cue we use to help our athletes achieve better speed biomechanics and posture. Yet, recently it has been a phrase of affirmation that I have been sharing with some of our hard working athletes.
Like, The freshman cross-country runner who kept up with the seniors during recent time trials. The collegiate freshman who is lifting more than most of his upper-classmen teammates. The freshman basketball player who has the potential to take away a lot of playing time from the older players.
These athletes have been busting their butts at Akron General Sports Performance all summer long and have completely earned their results. Yet, the athletes that they are going to take starting spots and playing time from do not know about their hard work. None of these other athletes have seen the consistent discipline that these freshman athletes have had to become better. So sadly, these older athletes may not be very nice to these high-achieving freshman athletes.
This is why I have been encouraging our athletes to "keep their chins up" and not allow older, but not as hard-working, athletes hold them back from achieving great things in their athletic careers.
Always remember, you are only 100% responsible for yourself. If other athletes chose not to work as hard as you that is not your fault. Do not let their lack of poor choices keep you from maximizing your choices (like to train hard at AGSP all summer long)! Keep Training! Coach Amanda Kephart and Akron General Sports Performance
As a new school year approaches, it's time to recognize an AGSP athlete who has been absolutely killing it in the weight room and on the hardwood this past summer. While most were spending time at the beach, watching TV, or sleeping in, this athlete was in the weight room and on the court getting his grind on, punching the time card and doing some serious work. Four to five days a week, this athlete would come in, put on his game face, and get after it. No hesitation and no complaints, just hard work and sweat. I am very proud to introduce our newest athlete spotlight!
Athlete Name: Mark Corroto Sport(s): Basketball Position(s): Small Forward, Power Forward, Shooting Guard School: Green High School Graduation Year: 2013 AGSP Athlete Since: June 1st, 2013
Favorite Professional Sports Team: Oklahoma City Thunder/Cleveland Cavaliers
Favorite Professional Athlete: LeBron James, Kevin Durant
Favorite Lift: Good Mornings
Favorite Movement Skill: Box Jumps
When I am not training at AGSP, I am: Working out with my shooting coach, playing pick up games at the YMCA with my friends, shooting in my driveway, or swimming in my pool.
What are your short-term goals? My shot term goals are to get bigger, stronger, and faster so that I can start on the JV team this year. What are your long-term goals?To continue working with Anthony to get myself in the best possible shape I can be. To work hard so that maybe one day I can play in college. How has AGSP impacted your performance as an athlete? Akron General is a great place. In the short time I have been working with Anthony, I have build better endurance on the court. I have noticeable better stamina in my games at basketball camp along with improved flexibility and strength. I will continue to work with Anthony the rest of the summer and beyond to reach my fitness goals.
CHECK OUT SOME VIDEO OF MARK TRAINING AT AGSP!
(we've put them all into one video!)
Coaches Note: Mark has been a pleasure to coach, and I am looking forward to catching his games this season and watching his progress over the next several years as a Green Bulldog. You've got the drive Mark! Keep up the hard work and good things will follow!
Keep Training! Coach Anthony Colarusso and Akron General Sports Performance
We look forward to seeing the results of Green's hard-working athletes this upcoming school year! A special thanks to Coach Anthony Colarusso (Head Speed, Strength, and Conditioning Coach at AGSP's Green Sports Performance Center), Coach Dennis Robart (Head Speed, Strength, and Conditioning Coach at Green High School), Coach Ed Cybak (Head Football Coach at Green High School), and Mr. Bruce Johnson (Athletic Director at Green High School) for making this great program happen!
Keep Training! (The athletes at Green are!) Coach Amanda Kephart and Akron General Sports Performance
Check out this video to learn more about Akron General Sports Performance and why it is the best program in the greater-Akron area for making athletes faster, stronger, and more powerful!
Keep Training! Akron General Sports Performance North Performance Center: 4300 Allen Road, Stow, OH 44224 (330)945-3150 Green Performance Center: 1940 Town Park, Uniontown, OH 44865 (330)896-9829
