Today’s episode features myself in a question and answer episode where I discuss questions from listeners on a variety of athletic topics.  This podcast has had such incredible guests in the last several months that I hadn’t done one of these episodes in some time, but having been asked when I was going to do the next one, I decided it was time.

These episodes are a great chance for me to reflect on my own training processes, synthesized with the things I’m learning from the many guests on the show as well as my own mentors in training.  Today’s Q&A has a lot of questions on extreme isometrics, training arrangement, the foot, and more.  

Today’s episode is brought to you by SimpliFaster, supplier of high-end athletic development tools, such as the Freelap timing system, kBox, Sprint 1080, and more.  

View more podcast episodes at the podcast homepage.

Key Points

The correlation of sprint drills into full sprinting

My process when I start working with a new athlete

Integrating extreme isometrics into team sport training

Athletic performance training coming off powerlifting training

Training the arch of the foot 

“Shin splints” and tendon refractory 

Maintenance based strength training for dunk training

Thoughts on training intense sprinting and jumping in states where the nervous system is not 100%

Timing of strength and skill work in a training program

Improving lift technique with 1x20

My take on foam rolling and SMR in general

Getting off the ground quicker in high jump

About Joel Smith

Joel Smith is a NCAA Division I Strength Coach working in the PAC12 conference.  A track coach of 11 years, Joel is also a coach for the Diablo Valley Track and Field Club, and also has 6 years of experience coaching sprints, jumps, hurdles, pole vault and multi-events on the collegiate level.

Joel has coached 2 national champions, multiple All-Americans and school record holders in his time as a track coach. In the realm of strength and conditioning, his programs have assisted 5 athletes to Olympic berths that produced 9 medals and a world record performance at Rio in 2016.

In 2011, Joel began Just Fly Sports with Jake Clark as a central platform to promote information for athletes and coaches to reach their highest potential.  In 2016 the first episode of the “Just Fly Performance Podcast” was released, now a leading source of education in the sports performance field.

Prior to working in the PAC12 conference, Joel spent 6 years in the realms of coaching, college lecturing, personal training, and thesis research.  Joel’s certifications include Neurological and Physical Typing from BATI, CSCS, MAT Jumpstart, and NKT level 1, as well as USA Track and Field credentials.  Joel is also well-versed in the Be-Activated protocols as taught by Douglas Heel, and has been extensively mentored by sprint and sport movement coach Adarian Barr.