GAINcast with Vern Gambetta

The debate about the transfer of change of direction and agility training is a bit like the debate about general and specific training. Specificity is a critical factor, but not all general training is the same. And specific training can also be counterproductive if you don’t understand what you’re training for. On this weeks GAINcast, Bill Knowles joins us to discuss how he sees the spectrum of agility training and how a purposeful approach can improve performance all along the spectrum.

For more information on this topic, read the complete show notes at: https://www.hmmrmedia.com/2022/12/gaincast-episode-257-rethinking-agility-with-bill-knowles/

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

• The GAINcast is sponsored by GAIN. Prior GAIN attendees can renew their membership to get continued access to the GAIN library and this year's talks. If you haven't been to GAIN before, sign up for the GAIN Master Class series for access to 24 in-depth lectures on a variety of athletic development topics.
• We're also brought to you by HMMR Media. Join HMMR Media to get access to a vast library of online training resources, video, articles, podcasts, and more.
• You can also learn more about Knowles Athletic on their website, Twitter (@BillKnowles_KA) and on their Instagram (@knowlesathletic).
• Bill Knowles was a guest on Episode 124, as well as GAINcast 49. You can get a look at him coaching in action in GAIN Video 16: Philadelphia Union Warmup (with Bill Knowles).
• For more resources on agility and change of direction training, check out our theme overview here. This includes a great article about the importance of sport-specific stimulus in training agility by Warren Young, an interview with Frans Bosch, our agility fundamentals video lesson, and much more.
• We referenced the research of Damian Harper in regards to deceleration. You can find his articles and more on ResearchGate.

On Vern's recent visit to Switzerland we did a live Q&A, answering questions and exchanging ideas on a variety of topics including: measuring strength, building connections, enhancing training transfer, best practices for combining different training methods, rethinking overload, strength training for endurance athletes, and more.

For more information on this topic, read the complete show notes at: https://www.hmmrmedia.com/2022/11/gaincast-episode-256-live-qa/

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

• The GAINcast is sponsored by GAIN. Prior GAIN attendees can renew their membership to get continued access to the GAIN library and this year's talks. If you haven't been to GAIN before, sign up for the GAIN Master Class series for access to 24 in-depth lectures on a variety of athletic development topics.
• We're also brought to you by HMMR Media. Join HMMR Media to get access to a vast library of online training resources, video, articles, podcasts, and more.
• We reference Swiss coach Jean-Pierre Egger several times in the questions. Check out our interview with him, and you can learn more about his methods here.

Testing is a crucial part of the training and coaching process. On this episode of the GAINcast Vern walks through his approach to testing and shares his best practices, including a walk through of how he set up and implemented the testing program at the Chicago White Sox in the 1990s.

For more information on this topic, read the complete show notes at: https://www.hmmrmedia.com/2022/11/gaincast-episode-255-on-testing/

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

• • The GAINcast is sponsored by GAIN. Prior GAIN attendees can renew their membership to get continued access to the GAIN library and this year's talks. If you haven't been to GAIN before, sign up for the GAIN Master Class series for access to 24 in-depth lectures on a variety of athletic development topics.
  • We're also brought to you by HMMR Media. Join HMMR Media to get access to a vast library of online training resources, video, articles, podcasts, and more.
  • We discussed the 1990s White Sox testing protocol on this week's episode. You can watch Vern explain and demonstrate the tests in this vintage YouTube video.
  • Two past episodes also discussed different aspects of testing: GAINcast 167: Testing use and abuse and GAINcast 101: Test practices. Also check out the recent GAINcast 253 for more on athlete journaling.

We often talk about training methods and culture with coaches, but the athlete's perspective is just as important. World class swimmers Kira Toussaint and Drew Kibler join this week's GAINcast to share their point of view. Both athletes utilize the GAIN dryland program and share their input on what they need to reach the podium and what drives the training environment in their own training group.

For more information on this topic, read the complete show notes at: https://www.hmmrmedia.com/2022/10/gaincast-episode-254-in-the-water-with-kira-toussaint-and-drew-kibler/

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

• The GAINcast is sponsored by GAIN. Prior GAIN attendees can renew their membership to get continued access to the GAIN library and this year's talks. If you haven't been to GAIN before, sign up for the GAIN Master Class series for access to 24 in-depth lectures on a variety of athletic development topics.
• We're also brought to you 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 Kibler (@drew_kibler) and Toussaint (@kiratoussaint) on Instagram.
• Both Kibler and Toussaint's coaches have been guests on the GAINcast. On GAINcast 52 we sat down with the Carmel Swim Club stagg. on GAINcast 29 we talked with University of Tennessee coach Matt Kredich.
• Swimming has also been a central topic on GAINcast 251 and GAINcast 66 with Chris Webb, GAINcast 153 with swim physiotherapist Tom barton, and GAINcast 75 with former Michigan Jim Richardson.
• You can learn more from Webb and GAIN Swimming on Instagram (@gain_swim), Twitter (@GAINSwimming), or the GAIN Swimming website.11222

The lost art of journaling is a great practice for any sportsperson, of any age. Coach and consultant Paul Kilgannon draws on his teaching background to help athletes develop good journaling habits to improve their performance. On this week's podcast he shares some tips to journal better, as well as his CARVER coaching framework.

For more information on this topic, read the complete show notes at: https://www.hmmrmedia.com/2022/10/gaincast-episode-253-journaling-with-paul-kilgannon/

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

• The GAINcast is sponsored by GAIN. Prior GAIN attendees can renew their membership to get continued access to the GAIN library and this year's talks. If you haven't been to GAIN before, sign up for the GAIN Master Class series for access to 24 in-depth lectures on a variety of athletic development topics.
• We're also brought to you 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 Kilgannon on Instagram (@carver_coaching) and Twitter (@carver_coaching).
• You can purchase his books, including Coaching Children in Sport: The CARVER Framework, as well as learn more about his consulting and other services on his webpage.

On this week's episode we jump into the trenches and look at some recent training trends, misconceptions, and ideas on planning. We also share some examples of good training we've seen first hand this summer.

For more information on this topic, read the complete show notes at: https://www.hmmrmedia.com/2022/09/gaincast-episode-252-on-training/

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

• The GAINcast is sponsored by GAIN. Prior GAIN attendees can renew their membership to get continued access to the GAIN library and this year's talks. If you haven't been to GAIN before, sign up for the GAIN Master Class series for access to 24 in-depth lectures on a variety of athletic development topics.
• We're also brought to you by HMMR Media. Join HMMR Media to get access to a vast library of online training resources, video, articles, podcasts, and more.
• We mentioned Vern's new morning walks project. You can see them all on Instagram (@gainnetwork). We've also compiled the first 10 thoughts here and here.
• Our recent discussion on motor learning in session design with Kevin Becker on HMMR Podcast 282 was discussed on this podcast. That was one of many articles and interviews from August and September on the topic of session design.
• On the topic of the pole vault, we recommend listening to this interview with former American pole vault record holder Brad Walker and learning more also from coach Herbert Czingon.

Earlier this month the annual GAIN Swimming event took place. Over the past decade, GAIN has become the leading name when it comes to dry land training. On this week's podcast Chris Webb and Vern discuss what GAIN Swimming is all about and how they are trying to reinvent dry land training for swimmers of all levels.

For more information on this topic, read the complete show notes at: https://www.hmmrmedia.com/2022/09/gaincast-episode-251-swim-time-with-chris-webb/

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

• The GAINcast is sponsored by GAIN. Prior GAIN attendees can renew their membership to get continued access to the GAIN library and this year's talks. If you haven't been to GAIN before, sign up for the GAIN Master Class series for access to 24 in-depth lectures on a variety of athletic development topics.
• We're also brought to you 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 from Webb and GAIN Swimming on Instagram (@gain_swim), Twitter (@GAINSwimming), or the GAIN Swimming website.
• Webb was also a guest on GAINcast 66 where he talked with Vern about the champion's choice.

LTAD has almost become a cliché. Everyone has an LTAD program and they all look the same. How can that be? Because the models assume a linear march to the top of the athletic achievement pyramid. In reality it is a very chaotic process at best, full of detours, false starts and redirection. On this week's episode we look at rethinking long-term athlete development with some practical examples from yesteryear and the present.

For more information on this topic, read the complete show notes at: https://www.hmmrmedia.com/2022/09/gaincast-episode-250-ltad/

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

• The GAINcast is sponsored by GAIN. Prior GAIN attendees can renew their membership to get continued access to the GAIN library and this year's talks. If you haven't been to GAIN before, sign up for the GAIN Master Class series for access to 24 in-depth lectures on a variety of athletic development topics.
• We're also brought to you by HMMR Media. Join HMMR Media to get access to a vast library of online training resources, video, articles, podcasts, and more.
• The interview that inspired this podcast was HMMR Podcast 280 with Mitch Crouser explaining the long-term approach that developed his son into a world record holder.
• For more on the topic of LTAD listen to practical examples of LTAD in practice on GAINcast 69 with Patrick McHugh, GAINcast 171 with Johnny Parkes, and GAINcast 114 with Finn Gundersen. We also shared some of our own perspectives on talent development on GAINcast 79 and pathways on GAINcast 160.
• Vern has written about long-term athlete development on several occasions. You can read more here and here. James Marshall also wrote about the problem with pathways.
• The HMMR Classroom also has some great resources on the topic including Video Lesson 18: Long term athlete development with Steve Myrland, as well as some great practical examples such as the GAIN Video 16: Philadelphia Union Warmup with Bill Knowles.

The individual session is the core element of training. It is how coaches deliver their programs, build athletes, and connect with people. On this week's GAINcast we look in detail about how we can rethink and improve upon training session and microcycle design.

For more information on this topic, read the complete show notes at: https://www.hmmrmedia.com/2022/08/gaincast-episode-249-the-training-session/

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

• The GAINcast is sponsored by GAIN. Prior GAIN attendees can renew their membership to get continued access to the GAIN library and this year's talks. If you haven't been to GAIN before, sign up for the GAIN Master Class series for access to 24 in-depth lectures on a variety of athletic development topics.
• We're also brought to you by HMMR Media. Join HMMR Media to get access to a vast library of online training resources, video, articles, podcasts, and more.
• For some example of how session design looks in practice, check out the various training programs available in the HMMR Classroom, including speed, middle distance, and strength programs from Vern. Vern has also written about thoughts on planning a training session.
• For more on this topic, listen to our recent GAINcast 247 on process. On GAINcast 113 we also looked at training session management, and GAINcast 137 explored the microcycle.
• Jumps coach Jeremy Fischer provided a great example of how he tailors the warmup to the goal of the session on GAINcast 242.
• Using microdosing or multiple training sessions in a day is a topic that we covered in GAINcast 146. Our February 2021 site theme was also microdosing, with many articles and videos prepared on the topic. Short simple sessions are also at the core of Anatiloy Bondarchuk's approach to training, which we outline in Video Lesson 1 in the HMMR Classroom.
• Thematic training is something Nick Garcia has shared a lot about on this site. For an introduction to the topic, look at this article on strength training templates.

The World Championships in track and field recently finished, with some amazing performances and storylines. On this week's GAINcast Vern and Martin break down some of the action, including the planning challenges of multiple championships in one season, hurdling technique, the role of speed in the jumping events, and much more.

For more information on this topic, read the complete show notes at: https://www.hmmrmedia.com/2022/08/gaincast-episode-248-the-championships/

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

• The GAINcast is sponsored by GAIN. Prior GAIN attendees can renew their membership to get continued access to the GAIN library and this year's talks. If you haven't been to GAIN before, sign up for the GAIN Master Class series for access to 24 in-depth lectures on a variety of athletic development topics.
• We're also brought to you 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 technique of triple jump champion Yulimar Rojas, check out this analysis from the Tokyo Olympics. We discussed the hurdle technique of Tobi Amusan. PJ Vazel posted some great slow motions video of it here. In our training talk with Gary Winckler we also looked at various aspects of hurdle takeoff and clearance technique.
• Vern also reference and article in Sports Illustrated about Sydney McLaughlin and her coach Bobby Kersee.
• Back on GAINcast 222 we broke down some of the top performances from last year's Olympics as well.