From his experience working with elite athletes, Nutrition Consultant Kyle Pfaffenbach knows all too well a pitfall athletes tend to have: While they are driven for success, they can be too strict with everything from training to nutrition. Kyle is an Associate Professor of Health and Human Performance at Eastern Oregon University, where he teaches […]
Continue ReadingWhat does it take to have a long, stable career in the world of sports and physical preparation? And how do you make yourself stand out in a competitive industry where everyone is welcome to enter? Veteran Strength & Conditioning Coach Joe Kenn, whose career spans more than 30 years, is a well of wisdom […]
Continue ReadingSports science is a common thing in elite and professional sports today – but it hasn’t always been that way. Over the past 25 years in his career at high-level sports, sports scientist and consultant Chris Barnes has seen how sports science has evolved and gained prominence. When he began his career as a sports […]
Continue ReadingThe other day I was walking our dog, Finn, and asked myself this fairly simple question… Why do I coach? It made me think back to when I was a little kid and how much I loved sports. Growing up in the country – with literally ZERO kids my age within miles of me – […]
Continue ReadingIt can be challenging to coach a high school athlete. Caught between training and studying, these young athletes have a lot of things going on in their lives and can be prone to fatigue and exhaustion. Especially during the COVID-era. Former IFAST intern Mike Coval knows this all too well. Mike is the owner of […]
Continue ReadingLet’s face it, most personal trainers, physical therapists, and strength and conditioning coaches have a burning desire to work with athletes. But, why? Maybe it is because working with athletes is associated with a higher career status; such as collegiate programs or professional sports. Maybe it is because you think you have more options with […]
Continue ReadingOver his 21-year-long career in professional baseball in different capacities, Donovan Santas has seen some of the most momentous changes and shifts in the sports industry – from how strength training is implemented to how the strength & conditioning coach’s role has gained prominence. But Donovan didn’t always have the fancy tools he has access […]
Continue ReadingJonathan Pope is an embodiment of what it means to be resilient. As a high school athlete, Jon was a six-foot, 150-pound, right-handed baseball pitcher who could throw a ball 90 miles an hour. But he needed to get bigger and throw harder if he wanted to play at the Division I level. Thinking that […]
Continue ReadingI’m not sure if you’re aware of it, but training clients and athletes is a weeeee bit different here in 2021 than it was this time last year. Gyms are constantly in flux – opening and closing on a regular basis. Clients are struggling to find their rhythm and get back into shape. And one […]
Continue ReadingEarly in his life, Ashley Jones had aspired to become a professional rugby player, but a shoulder injury derailed him from becoming an elite-level player. That didn’t stop him, though. Ashley continued to realize his love for rugby and sports by getting into a training role. He went on to earn a degree in Physical […]
Continue ReadingBasketball Skill Development Coach Joey Burton saw at a very young age what bad coaching looked like. As a high school player, Joey felt frustrated over his coaches’ blatant display of politicizing and favoritism. Though this experience discouraged him from playing in high school, Joey remained passionate about basketball and eventually played in college. Being […]
Continue ReadingA wise man once said: The goal is to keep the goal, the goal. – Dan John Now when it comes to this time of year, it’s easy to get excited about New Year’s Resolutions and goal-setting. And for good reason! Who doesn’t want to come in and crush the New Year? But when you […]
Continue ReadingDr. Sarah Martin completed her doctorate in Neurobiology from the University of Kentucky in 2008. While in graduate school, one of her peers introduced Sarah to T-Nation, kicking-off her interest and love for lifting and physical preparation. After completing her PhD in Neurobiology, Sarah further pursued her interest and returned to the University of Kentucky […]
Continue ReadingGrant Downie is a consultant in medical and performance solutions for elite sports. In his childhood days, Grant saw how physical therapists worked on the playing field, treating athletes and their injuries. The role appealed to him as it posed an opportunity for him to improve a person’s quality of life. He soon became a […]
Continue ReadingBeing raised with a growth mindset immensely helped the Exercise Specialist and founder of Barefoot Fitness, Craig Weller. A former US Navy SWCC, Craig volunteered for a Navy special operations unit, despite not knowing how to swim and knowing that most of the people who actually do know how to swim tend to fail the […]
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