GAINcast with Vern Gambetta

On this week's GAINcast Vern shares his top 6 books of 2023, key insights after recent travels to Europe and Australia, plus thoughts as we look ahead at preparing for the 2024 Olympics.

For more information on this topic, read the complete show notes at: https://www.hmmrmedia.com/2023/12/gaincast-episode-277-books-travels-and-olympic-preparations/

The following links were also referenced in the podcast or provide some additional reading material on the topic: 

• The GAINcast is sponsored by GAIN and by HMMR Media. Join HMMR Media to get access to a vast library of online training resources, video, articles, podcasts, and more.
• Book recommendations mentioned in this episode:
  • The Creative Act: A Way of Being by Rick Rubin
  • The Core. Better Life, Better Performance by Aki Hintsa and Oskari Saari
  • Hidden Potential: The Science of Achieving Greater Things by Adam Grant
  • Clear Thinking: Turning Ordinary Moments into Extraordinary Results by Shane Parrish
  • 7 Rules of Power: Surprising--but True--Advice on How to Get Things Done and Advance Your Career by Jeffrey Pfeffer
  • Awaken Your Genius: Escape Conformity, Ignite Creativity, and Become Extraordinary by Ozan Varol
• Vern discussed his top books of 2022 and 2021 on GAINcast 259 and on GAINcast 231. You can also read his book lists from 2022, 2021, 2020 and 2019.
• There's more from Adam Gran recently: a good interview with David Epstein and recent opinion piece in the New York Times on teaching.
• Other individuals discussed on this podcast have perviously been guests, including Ellyse Perry on GAINcast 213, Nick Lumley on GAINcast 166 (more from Nick here), and John Pryor on GAINcast 135 and 136.
• Also discussed was the talent identification research of Arne Gullich.

A recent interview on HMMR Media shared some of the weight room numbers of the hammer throw world champion. After hearing them, everyone asked: how can a champion be so weak? Strength is complex. Strength is contextual. On this week’s podcast we share some ideas about the role of strength in athletic performance, transfer of strength, training strength, and much more.

For more information on this topic, read the complete show notes at: https://www.hmmrmedia.com/2023/11/gaincast-episode-276-thoughts-on-strength/

The following links were also referenced in the podcast or provide some additional reading material on the topic: 

• The GAINcast is sponsored by GAIN and by HMMR Media. Join HMMR Media to get access to a vast library of online training resources, video, articles, podcasts, and more.
• We kicked off the episode by talking about Ethan Katzberg. We recently wrote about his strength levels and interviewed his coach on HMMR Podcast 308. Our world championships recap also summarized the magnitude of his success this summer.
• Vern has also written a lot about strength including a definition, some global considerations on strength, and a multi-part series on the evolution of his thoughts on the topic: Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5, Part 6 and Conclusions.

Championship results require championship behaviors from both athletes and coaches. Having guided multiple men's and women's teams at the highest levels, volleyball coach Hugh McCutcheon knows a thing or two about what championships behaviors are. On this week's GAINcast he joins us to share his input on finding intention, putting skill acquisition into practice, coaching, and more.

For more information on this topic, read the complete show notes at: https://www.hmmrmedia.com/2023/10/gaincast-episode-275-championship-behaviors-with-hugh-mccutcheon/

The following links were also referenced in the podcast or provide some additional reading material on the topic:

• The GAINcast is sponsored by GAIN and by HMMR Media. Join HMMR Media to get access to a vast library of online training resources, video, articles, podcasts, and more.
• You can learn more about McCutcheon's background in his University of Minnesota biography. If you like this podcast, we highly recommend his recent book Championship Behaviors: A Model for Competitive Excellence in Sports.
• Coach Clay Erro has talked more in detail about the role of rules in coaching. Our HMMR Classroom GAIN Video 3 has a detailed presentation from him on the topic. Erro was also a guest on GAINcast 90, where he discussed similar topics.
• Wade Gilbert was mentioned as another top expert on championship behaviors. He presented in HMMR Classroom GAIN Video 15 (highlights here), as well as discussions on GAINcast 7 and GAINcast 121.
• We mentioned a couple of New York Times essays over the years on flow and focus. Most recently climber and philosopher Francis Sanzaro wrote about "When I Stopped Trying to Self-Optimize, I Got Better" and philosopher and former dancer Barabara Montero's "The Myth of Just Do It." We also wrote some comments on Montero's work here

We take a look at some current events and current happenings in our own training to reflect on some lessons learned on this week's GAINcast. To start with we debrief the USWNT's disappointing performance at the World Cup, before sharing lessons on how to best draw parallels from past experiences to working with new sports, including some examples from new sports we've been introduced to in the last year.

For more information on this topic, read the complete show notes at: https://www.hmmrmedia.com/2023/08/gaincast-episode-274-lessons-learned/

The following links were also referenced in the podcast or provide some additional reading material on the topic:

• The GAINcast is sponsored by GAIN and by HMMR Media. Join HMMR Media to get access to a vast library of online training resources, video, articles, podcasts, and more.
• GAIN Swimming will also take place from September 15 to 17. You can learn more here.
• On the last episode, we discussed another topic relating to the women's World Cup: ACL injuries.
• View our resource hub on field sports for more about preparing and coaching sports like soccer, rugby, and more.

The start of the recent women's World Cup in soccer has turned focus to the rash of ACL injuries in the sport, and the particular impact it has had on female players. On this week's GAINcast Vern looks at the structure of the knee, risk factors for injuries, and what coaches can do to help reverse trends for women and men.

For more information on this topic, read the complete show notes at: https://www.hmmrmedia.com/2023/07/gaincast-episode-273-the-acl/

The following links were also referenced in the podcast or provide some additional reading material on the topic:

• The GAINcast is sponsored by GAIN and by HMMR Media. Join HMMR Media to get access to a vast library of online training resources, video, articles, podcasts, and more.
• The New York Times recently published a nice article on the ACL topic in relation to the women's World Cup.
• Our friend Dean Benton also shared his thoughts recently on mitigating ACL injuries. Benton has also written detailed articles on hamstring injuries and calf injuries on HMMR Media as well.
• Injuries have been a topic several times on the show, including recent GAINcast 268, as well as GAINcast 6 on injury prevention and GAINcast 224 on injury explosion.

We live in the age of polarization. We get into long debates about whether things are black or white, but when it comes to topics like training and motor learning, the reality is often a shade of grey. Professor Kevin Becker is looking to create a conversation beyond dichotomies. On this week's GAINcast he shares some ideas around motor learning and attentional focus that attempt to color in the areas in between.

For more information on this topic, read the complete show notes at: https://www.hmmrmedia.com/2023/07/gaincast-episode-272-beyond-dichotomies-with-kevin-becker/

The following links were also referenced in the podcast or provide some additional reading material on the topic:

• The GAINcast is sponsored by GAIN and by HMMR Media. Join HMMR Media to get access to a vast library of online training resources, video, articles, podcasts, and more.
• You can read more research from Becker on his ResearchGate page and his faculty biography. You can also follow him on Instagram (@drbeckerthrows).
• You can learn more from Becker in his full video lesson in the HMMR Classroom where he shares ideas on attentional focus, optimal feedback strategies, constraints in training, and more. GAIN members can also watch his past GAIN presentations here.
• Becker has also previously been a guest on HMMR Podcast 282 and HMMR Podcast 237 where he discussed feedback and cues and planning sessions for learning.
• Visit our motor learning topic overview page for more on motor learning, including many articles and videos about Frans Bosch’s approach to motor learning.

This year's GAIN has come and gone and what an experience it was. On this week's GAINcast Vern and Martin share the biggest learnings at this year's GAIN. Plus they discuss in detail the key characteristics of a training system.

For more information on this topic, read the complete show notes at:

https://www.hmmrmedia.com/2023/06/gaincast-episode-271-lessons-from-gain/

The following links were also referenced in the podcast or provide some additional reading material on the topic: 

• The GAINcast is sponsored by GAIN. GAIN 2023 will take place from June 13 to 17 and registration is open.
• We are also sponsored by HMMR Media. Join HMMR Media to get access to a vast library of online training resources, video, articles, podcasts, and more.
• Nick Garcia's presentation from from GAIN 2023 can be listened to on last week's HMMR Podcast Episode 302, including some highlights from this year's GAIN.
• Many of the GAIN faculty mentioned have also been on past GAINcasts. For example you can listen to Paul Kilgannon on GAINcast 253, Grace Golden on GAINcast 197, and Travis Knight on HMMR Podcast 223.

Just like other parts of sport, competing is a skill that can be trained. On this week's GAINcast we explore what makes up the skill of competing and how to best train it. In addition we discuss the winning difference, creativity, and more.

For more information on this topic, read the complete show notes at:

https://www.hmmrmedia.com/2023/05/gaincast-episode-269-force-and-sprinting-with-dan-cleather-and-jon-goodwin/

The following links were also referenced in the podcast or provide some additional reading material on the topic: 

• The GAINcast is sponsored by GAIN. GAIN 2023 will take place from June 13 to 17 and registration is open.
• We are also sponsored by HMMR Media. Join HMMR Media to get access to a vast library of online training resources, video, articles, podcasts, and more.
• Competing has also been covered from different angles on GAINcast 195 (role of competition in development), GAINcast 122 (competition management), and GAINcast 145 (from training to competition).

Why are some athletes faster than others? And how do we make athletes faster? In their new book Dan Cleather and Jon Goodwin argue that the answer begins and ends with a consideration of force production. Both of them join this week's podcast to discuss key drivers in sprint performance, what factors are modifiable, and how we often get distracted from what really matters.

For more information on this topic, read the complete show notes at:

https://www.hmmrmedia.com/2023/05/gaincast-episode-269-force-and-sprinting-with-dan-cleather-and-jon-goodwin/

The following links were also referenced in the podcast or provide some additional reading material on the topic: 

• The GAINcast is sponsored by GAIN. We are also sponsored by HMMR Media. Join HMMR Media to get access to a vast library of online training resources, video, articles, podcasts, and more.
• You can follow them both on Twitter: Cleather (@dr_jump_uk) and Goodwin (@Jonnie_Mechanic). Their latest book is The Biomechanics of Sprinting: Force 2. Cleather has also written Force: The biomechanics of training and The Little Black Book of Training Wisdom.
• Here's a full overview of all the sprinting resources on HMMR Media.
• On GAINcast 89 Professor Peter Weyand discussed the difference makers in speed and his lab's research. Former lab member Ken Clark was also a guest on GAINcast 21 talking about linear speed, and HMMR Podcast 94 talking about multi-directional speed. Recent graduate Emily McClelland was also on GAINcast 262.
• On the topic on evaluating science, Peter Weyand also contributed a lecture on the topic in the HMMR Classroom. Vern has also shared some tips you can use to define your filter. This was also a topic we discussed on GAINcast 74. And Craig Pickering provided a great introduction to sports science in a series of articles for the site on understanding science for coaches, what makes for good research, critical elements for effective sports science, and becoming an better consumer of sports science. For more from Pickering browse the Sports Science Monthly where he breaks down the latest research in terms coaches can use.

Another baseball season is underway and, once again, the injuries are piling up. On this week’s GAINcast we speculate about what might be causing the injuries, how training is related to injuries, and where using heavy and light implements can go right or wrong.

For more information on this topic, read the complete show notes at:

https://www.hmmrmedia.com/2023/05/gaincast-episode-268-implements-and-injuries/

The following links were also referenced in the podcast or provide some additional reading material on the topic:

• The GAINcast is sponsored by GAIN. GAIN 2023 will take place from June 13 to 17 and registration is open.
• We are also sponsored by HMMR Media. Join HMMR Media to get access to a vast library of online training resources, video, articles, podcasts, and more.
• For more on the topic of baseball, listen to GAINcast 35 with pitching coach Paul Davis. Over HMMR Podcast Episode 69 we also talked with Driveline Baseball’s founder Kyle Body.
• Injuries have been a topic several times on the show, including GAINcast 6 on injury prevention and GAINcast 224 on injury explosion.
• Throwing different implements was discussed a little on our last episode with Bogdan Poprawski. In addition, HMMR Podcast Episode 10 covered the topic. Nick Garcia’s master’s thesis covered training for the shot put and took a close look at the training methods of top coaches and their use of different implements. In a series of posts he talks about training with different implements, how elite coaches use different implements, finding the right implements for your throwers. While not as detailed, I also looked at the benefits of light and heavy hammers in a series of posts: part 1 and part 2.
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