CC 2023

This infographic briefly explains the effects of horizontal jump training, vertical jump training, maximal strength training, and explosive strength training on change-of-direction ability in junior team sport athletes.

This infographic highlights the effects on performance measures from separate vertical or horizontal jump training programs in elite handball players.

This article highlights four non-traditional calf exercises that can immediately be used in strength programs for improving calf strength while also increasing ankle dorsiflexion mobility.

NATCON 2022

The second in a planned series to review essential considerations of each Functional Movement Screen (FMS) pattern, this article will examine the FMS hurdle step pattern in finer detail.

For many athletes, being agile is the end goal of physical performance training. It represents their capacity to change velocity and direction in response to the actions of their opponent and the opportunities and constraints of their environment. The aim of this article was to describe the pitch-based development of agility, focusing on 60–1808 turns. This ensures all turns have the demand of deceleration, turning, and reacceleration, requiring both outside leg turns (608) and inside leg turns (1808). To enable the effective coaching of these, coaches must understand movement mechanics and thus the fundamental principles that underpin good technique. Within agility training, a detailed appreciation of how the center of mass and base of support interact to affect the direction of force is fundamental to this. This understanding and the ensuing technical models ensure athletes have the best chance of executing the task optimally and ensure coaches can effectively instruct athletes and adapt drills accordingly.

NATCON 22

This infographic displays the meta-analysis details of 36 studies and the effects of postactivation potentiation with heavy loads on vertical jump performance.

Given the numerous approaches and variables which contribute to leadership effectiveness, it is unlikely any single approach is sufficient. This article briefly discusses the leadership approaches most commonly associated with team sports with the intent of providing a foundational understanding of leadership to strength and conditioning coaches.