Athletic Strength And Power

Category: Strength Training & Conditioning

  • ASAP on the Road: Michigan State Spartan Coach Mark Dantonio

    SPARTANS

    Coach Mannie explains the Conditioning Test Protocol

    We made a trip up to East Lansing, Michigan to check in on the defending Big Ten Champs…the Michigan State Spartans. Strength Coach Ken Mannie and also Head Football Coach Mark Dantonio.
    The Spartans were prepping for the opening of 2014 fall camp. ASAP's Ed Cicale shot some video, gathered some interviews and photos while Ted Lambrinides gave a 10:00a.m. talk to the MSU Spartans in the team meeting room, titled  "Drugs, Supplements & Personal Conduct." 
    Fall Camp 2014 is opening for the team that is coming off a huge 13-1 season, a Big Ten Championship, a Rose Bowl victory and is presently riding a 10 game win streak. Coach Dantonio has done a phenomenal job in his seven seasons at MSU, where the Spartans have also won three straight bowl appearances.
    So, with all the big things going on by the Green and White, ASAP took a time out and headed up to find out how it's being done. Coach Dantonio shared a few thoughts on his basic tenets of operating a winning football program, talked about the challenges of trying to defend a championship, and also revealed his thoughts on what veteran Head Strength Coach Ken Mannie means to his Michigan State Spartan Football program.
    Here's the video interview with Coach Dantonio:

    ASAP Video and Blogpost by Ed Cicale
    All Rights Reserved ASAP~ Athletic Strength And Power 

    Gasser Test

  • University of South Carolina Basketball Training Program with Coach Scott Greenawalt

    GamecockWe made a return trip to Columbia, South Carolina. We definitely wanted to see what paces that University of South Carolina Basketball Strength Coach Scott Greenawalt had the Gamecocks going through.
    However, before that all went down, we had to get the proper protein the night before. And that's why we had to go to Pawley's Front Porch for one of their reknowned hamburgers. Let's face it, if The Food Network's Guy Fieri of "Diners, Drive Ins and Dives appreciates the place…. then it's definitely on our list! I went with the     Wadmalaw Burger – chipotle barbeque sauce, fried pickle chips, applewood smoked bacon, cheddar cheese. This was a real winner! And add the sweet potato fries, too.  Just what I needed after a long haul from Cincinnati in a rental car.  Serious good food.

    We got to see the Monday morning sessions conducted at the Colonial Life Arena strength training facility. One thing that was very clear, Coach Greenawalt and his assistant are pushing the players through a strenous and regimented strength training program at this SEC program. Here's what we saw!

    ASAP Video and Blogpost by Ed Cicale
    All Rights Reserved ASAP~ Athletic Strength And Power 

  • Clemson Tigers

    …just got back from a huge trip of checking in on a few of the top programs in college football. Plenty of photos and video to come in the coming weeks! We got into Clemson, South Carolina in time to catch a look at some pretty good sized Tigers! Head Strength Coach Joey Batson and Assistant Coach Adam Smotherman had the guys cranking out some serious reps in their stadium centered strength training complex. Yep…right there in Death Valley.
    Here'a a few pics from Clemson to get you started: Click on the plate. 20140714_171613

    Click the photo to link to more pics

    ASAP Video and Blogpost by Ed Cicale
    All Rights Reserved ASAP~ Athletic Strength And Power 

  • Arizona Wildcats TRX Coaching Segment with Coach Rob Harris

    Az logogHere's a video that I recently recorded while in Tucson, Arizona.  Coach Rob Harris, an Assistant Strength Coach at The University of Arizona, explains a TRX technique and exercise done while in a stride stance. Coach Harris will implement this training method with athletes as a spinal mobility type movement and also as a warm-up and movement prep exercise. 

    ASAP Video and Blogpost by Ed Cicale
    All Rights Reserved ASAP~ Athletic Strength And Power 

  • University of Kentucky Basketball Strength Training…Underwater!

    IMG_7853ASAP continued its Summer 2014 Road Show and we set our sites on Lexington, Kentucky…..home to the winningest basketball program anywhere: The Kentucky Wildcats. And with this premier program comes huge expectations. They have an incredible fan base that expects one basic thing: victories…. and championships…as in National Championships.

    So, as I left my very comfy confines and suite at The Campbell House Lexington, I made the quick drive to the University of Kentucky Basketball's Joe Craft Center. basically the headquarters of this basketball juggernaut. You know it when you walk through the doors. The basketball office is on the left and then it requires coded entry for access to the rest of the facility. Once downstairs, I'm just a few yards from Head Strength Coach Ray "ROCK" Oliver's office within the basketball strength training center. Key code access required here, too. Finally inside, there's some of the top players of the college game going through some intense training using some med balls. Assistant Strength Coach Robert Harris also led a specialized core workout routine as Rock kept watch with a look of "unsatisfied" on his face.

    Rock OLiver & Co

    Rock Oliver flanked by Andrew & Aaron Harrison

    Rock Oliver knows no complacency. He's not giddy over last season's NCAA National Runner-up "Final Four" appearance. In fact, quite the opposite. Like the Head Coach, John Calipari, and the #BBN…. Big Blue Nation- Oliver expects championships, too. And he's is on a mission to have his trainees prepared to make another run for a national championship. That would, no doubt, return the gleaming smile.

    On this day, I witnessed the players finishing up strength workouts and recovery nutrition only to find them heading across the hall to the Kentucky Wildcats Sports Medicine Complex, where Head Athletic Trainer Chris Simmons is located, for some under-water treadmill training. Coach Oliver learned all about HydroWorx helping injured QB Carson Palmer rehab his blown out knee. While a coach with the Cincinnati Bengals, Oliver added this training method to his already bulging notebook. Check out this training in the video and photos!

    Click here for the photos

    ASAP Video and Blogpost by Ed Cicale
    All Rights Reserved ASAP~ Athletic Strength And Power 

  • Northwestern University Strength Training Football Strength Training

    We recently were in Evanston, Illinois at Northwestern University to attend Head Strength Coach Jay Hooten's strength and conditioning clinic. Coaches Al Johnson and Troy Sutton are up there, too! The clinic had some very good presenters and was well attended for the first year! Coach Hooten took a time out to get us up to speed and filled us in on Chicago's Big Ten School. Her's the podcast:

    The Podcast

    The Photos

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    Click here for more photos


    ASAP Video and Blogpost by Ed Cicale
    All Rights Reserved ASAP~ Athletic Strength And Power 

  • ASAP Podcast & Photos: West Virginia Mountaineers Basketball Strength Training with Coach Andy Kettler

    Andy Kettler WVUASAP Sports Science Director Ted Lambrinides and myself came away from our site visit at West Virginia University Basketball very impressed….to say the least! I know that it's the most impressive basketball specific training center that I have seen. Not only was it a most architecturally impressive facility, but Coach Andy Kettler has made sure that the Mountaineers have every type of modality and equipment that's necessary to strengthen and condition the basketball team to meet the demands of Head Basketball Coach Bob Huggins. 

    Of course, we saw Coach Kettler at The Final Four in Indianapolis a few years ago where we conducted our Indy ASAP Podcast. We intentionally waited long enough for our drive to Morgantown so that the new facility would be completed. It was worth the wait!

    In this ASAP Podcast, Andy Kettler discusses the new facility and their off season program that they are presently working on.

    The Podcast

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    Click here for the photos

    ASAP Video and Blogpost by Ed Cicale
    All Rights Reserved ASAP~ Athletic Strength And Power 

  • Strength Coach Kim Wood Podcast: Discusses his upcoming Clinic #4

    Coach Kim Wood discusses his upcoming:

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    Click here for more photos!
    FootballStrengthClinic #4


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    Kim Wood Podcast 

     The Kim Wood Collection …click the ASAP Podcast LogoPodcast

    ASAP Video and Blogpost by Ed Cicale
    All Rights Reserved ASAP~ Athletic Strength And Power 

  • ASAP Podcast + Pics with Arizona Wildcats’ Strength Coach Chris Rounds

     It's nestled into the foothills of the Santa Catalina mountain range, the Loews Ventana Canyon Resort…..  giant saguaro are everywhere you look and it's tough to leave those comforts….even just for a few hours! But, I did. And it was on into Tucson I went , down Speedway Boulevard, a left onto North Campbell and it was into the heart of Arizona Wildcat country….and there it was. The McHale Center. And Arizona Stadium. Arizona Wildcat fixtures.

    The Pics….Click Here

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    DownloadIt's about a twenty-five minute drive from there to The University of Arizona and that's where I caught up with the strength and conditioning coach for the Arizona Wildcats. Under Head Basketball Coach Sean Miller, Chris Rounds directs the training program for one of the premier programs in college basketball. Coach Rounds realizes that he's working with some of the elite athletes of the sport…and trains them accordingly. Injuries to players are at a minimum. And therefore, players like Aaron Gordon flourish in a program like the one at UA. Gordon was able to test out near the top of several categories at the NBA Combine. And his vertical jump was astounding! Interestingly, Rounds prefers to lessen extra conditioning work during the off season so as "to minimize the wear and tear on their bodies and hopefully they'll have long professional careers without breaking down."

    So in between the steaks at Lil' Abners or the fine dining at The Flying V , I was able to get this ASAP Podcast with Coach Chris Rounds.
    The Podcast

    The Video

    ASAP Video and Blogpost by Ed Cicale
    All Rights Reserved ASAP~ Athletic Strength And Power 

  • ASAP Podcast Episode #167 with Univ of Tennessee Vols Strength Coach Dave Lawson

    Just before spring ball started at the University of Tennessee Strength Clinic, we checked in with the Head Strength & Conditioning Coach Dave Lawson. As you'll hear, things are going good in year two. Lawson, who came in with Head Football Coach Butch Jones, is very optimistic with the football team's progress in Knoxville. A very talented incoming recruiting class coupled with Coach Lawson's organized approach to preparing for the game of football indicates nothing but bright side for the Vols.

    The Podcast

    USV-042-HammerStrength-Header-VF Vols 2

    ASAP Video and Blogpost by Ed Cicale
    All Rights Reserved ASAP~ Athletic Strength And Power