The Importance Of In-Season Workouts:

Athletes have always made great strides in strength and speed during their off-season workouts.

When it’s time to start playing games, there has been a big misconception from the athlete’s and coach’s perspective about what to do during the season.

Should you workout?

Will it be too much on top of practice? Will it negatively impact my play?

What will happen to all the gains you have made in the off season?

Ask yourself these simple questions:

Do you want to get stronger & faster during the season?

Do you want to remain as resistant to injury as possible?

Do you want to continue to make consistent progress in your physical development?

The idea of just working out in-season to “maintain” you strength is miss-interpreted. If you were an elite level athlete with years of training behind you, it becomes hard enough to compete year after year. This is where a “maintenance” program comes into play so as not to lose any more strength then you have to during a long season.

Many of our middle and high school athletes have little or no training experience when they arrive at Attain. We know how important your sport is to you or you wouldn’t have made the commitment to us in the first place! We want to make sure that you make every week count in your physical development. If you want to keep an edge it’s critical to take advantage of your time in-season.

At Attain we recognize how important in-season strength work is to the development of any athlete.

We do NOT advocate 90 minute workouts 3 days / week when you are in-season.

What we DO advocate is a short 30-40 min high intensity low volume strength routine.

You will see your level of play steadily improve over the season, and you will be at your strongest and fastest when you need it the most!

If you are a multi-sport athlete and transitioning to your next sport, the increased strength and speed you develop will follow.

When you resume your next off-season training you will be assured to pick up ahead of where you left off.

If you’re not sure how & when to incorporate an in-season strength program send me an email and I will be glad to give you the details on how we can get you in and out in 30-40 minutes 2 days / week…and you will be amazed at what this will do for your game!

Steve@attainsportsperformance.com

International Reach

I've got to tell you how excited I was when I opened this email from Meredith Randall. She is competing for the U.S. Women's National Indoor Field Hockey Team. Meredith has been training for the last 6 months at Attain, making an incredible comeback after having a baby. Her efforts have been paying off big-time!

"Hi Steve -

Hopefully you're checking the scores. www.panamhockey.org www.usafieldhockey.com

We finished top in pool play and we advance to the semifinals tomorrow vs. Peru. I was also named as one of the captains to our team which is also exciting. I've had 2 diving goal line saves, and the strength training had paid off--I even put two girls over my shoulder on a tackle. We only beat Argentina 1-0 and it was a very physical game. Hopefully all is well with you. Make sure you're cheering even in the U.S. Say hi to all the guys at the gym and I'll be back soon - Meredith "

All the best to Meredith and the U.S. Indoor Field Hockey Team!

Do you really know...

I came across this in an old file last night....

For those of you who are almost midway through our Fall program, for those getting ready to enroll in the winter sessions...

For those of you gritting it out everyday in practice... You're time and effort will pay off!!!


WHAT IS A WORKOUT?

A workout is 25 percent perspiration and 75 percent determination. Stated another way, it is one part physical exertion and three parts self-discipline. Doing it is easy once you get started.

A workout makes you better today than you were yesterday. It strengthens the body, relaxes the mind and toughens the spirit. When you work out regularly, your problems diminish and your confidence grows.

A workout is a personal triumph over laziness and procrastination. It is the badge of a winner – the mark of an organized, goal-oriented person who has taken charge of his, or her, destiny.

A workout is a wise use of time and an investment in excellence. It is a way of preparing for life’s challenges and proving to yourself that you have what it takes to do what is necessary.

A workout is a key that helps unlock the door to opportunity and success. Hidden within each of us is an extraordinary force. Physical and mental fitness are the triggers that can release it.

A workout is a form of rebirth. When you finish a good workout, you don’t simply feel better.
YOU FEEL BETTER ABOUT YOURSELF.

By George Allen

Stay Strong

It's not your fault!

Have you ever been yelled at by a coach? Shown a drill one time and was expected to do it perfectly? You didn't perform to the coach's standards...guess what...it was probably not your fault!!

Movement has always been an innate skill that young athletes either possess or don't. You have heard the coaches yell 'FASTER' and 'GET THERE' as they try and motivate you "move" better or quicker.

The idea that an athlete's ability to learn or be taught movement that will progressively be molded and improve over time is still a hot debate topic among coaches. As I'm sure you have heard a coach or parent say...'well he/she is just slow and there is nothing you can do about it.'

It's not the athlete who is lacking anything in particular which is keeping them from acquiring the correct movement patterns, it's the coach or trainer who is lacking...lacking a well thought out progressive system that teaches fundamental movement strategies.

The system evolves with the athlete over time and follows them through their critical growth and developmental years, molding efficient movement patterns to which speed strength and power can be applied at appropriate times.

If you would like to learn more about how our system can help you as an athlete or make you a better coach visit www.attainsp.com

Stay strong!

Athletic Development: Work + Rest = Success

For the competitive young athlete, the rigorous demands of practice, academics, competition and maintaining a social life can be overwhelming. With the beginning of Fall the Flu season is just around the corner. The repetitive stress of a busy life can sap the energy out of anyone, especially a teenager, leaving the immune system vulnerable.

Through proper rest, nutrition and a balanced strength and conditioning program you can protect yourself from illness and improve your performance in the class room as well as on the field or court.