HMMR Podcast

We're bringing back our annual tradition to start off the year with a combined episode of the HMMR Podcast and GAINcast to discuss the state of training for sports. A lot has changed over the past year, so we sit down to discuss some of the biggest issues facing sports, how things looks going forward, and what we're looking forward to in 2021.

For more information on this topic, read the complete show notes at: http://www.hmmrmedia.com/2021/01/hmmr-podcast-episode-239-the-state-of-sport/

» Support the show: join HMMR PLUS to get full access to our coaching resources.

More notes:

• This episode is brought to you by HMMR Plus. Become a member for full access to our videos, articles, and podcast archives.
• Our guest Vern Gambetta is the host of the GAINcast. Subscribe now if you haven't already.
• We recorded similar episodes to kick off 2019 (Episode 188), 2018 (Episode 135), and 2017 (Episode 83).
• Adapting to COVID and lockdowns has been covered from several angles this year including our Episode 219 roundtable and Episode 225 about post-lockdown training.
• Monitoring has been a recurring theme over the last few months, with some input on the topic from Lachlan Penfold and Dan di Pasqua on Episode 238, Eddie Jones on GAINcast 204 and GAINcast 192 with Aaron Coutts and Franco Impellizzeri.
• Nick shard more about his passion for BBQ and brisket on Episode 228 and Episode 13.
•  

Sports around the world have been thrown into disarray due to the pandemic. The chaos brought some teams together and tore others apart. The Melbourne Storm seemed to get stronger as the year went on and just ended their 2020 campaign last month as National Rugby League champions. Performance director Lachlan Penfold and strength coach Dan di Pasqua join us on this week's episode to look back at the difference makers for the team this year, as well as the evolving role of strength and sports science in the high performance model.

For more information on this topic, read the complete show notes at: http://www.hmmrmedia.com/2020/12/hmmr-podcast-episode-238-adapt-and-overcome-with-the-melbourne-storm/

» Support the show: join HMMR PLUS to get full access to our coaching resources.

More notes:

• This episode is brought to you by HMMR Plus. Become a member for full access to our videos, articles, and podcast archives. This month's site communication and coaching. Stay tuned for more on the topic.
• Penfold was a guest on Episode 62 where he discussed his experiences working with the Golden State Warriors. He went in more detail on training team sports on GAINcast 184 earlier this year and GAINcast 131.
• Before his success with the Melbourne Storm, Penfold also helped the Sydney Roosters to championships. He broke down his approach with Sydney in GAIN Video 4: Lessons from the Sydney Roosters available for HMMR Plus members to stream.
• You can find both Penfold and di Pasqua on Twitter (@lachlanpenfold and @dan_dipasqua).

A succesful coach doesn't just know the sport, they can communicate it. That often means helping athletes focus their attention in the right way on the right things. This is thought of as the art of coaching, but there is a science behind the art. Kevin Becker is a leading researcher in the area and our latest HMMR Classroom lesson explains the science of cueing, feedback, focus, and more. He joins this week's podcast to give an introduction to the topic.

For more information on this topic, read the complete show notes at: http://www.hmmrmedia.com/2020/12/hmmr-podcast-episode-237-attentional-focus-with-kevin-becker/

» Support the show: join HMMR PLUS to get full access to our coaching resources.

More notes:

• This episode is brought to you by HMMR Plus. Become a member for full access to our videos, articles, and podcast archives. This month's site communication and coaching. Stay tuned for more on the topic.
• You can find the full video lesson in the HMMR Classroom where Becker looks more at attentional focus, optimal feedback strategies, constraints in training, and more.
• You can read more research from Becker on his ResearchGate page. He is also currently accepting applications for masters and PhD students interested in motor learning. You can also learn more about him on his faculty bio and in his interview on the Perception Action Podcast.
• 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.
• We also referenced some resources on throwing that show how cues might look in actions, including Video Lesson 17: Rotational throwing progressions, our interview with Vesteinn Hafsteinsson, and our article on cue staleness.

Velocity-based training has been gaining traction over the last few years as the technology becomes more affordable. Many of the resources out there, however, keep discussing the same old approaches to VBT. Weightlifting coach Wil Fleming just published a new book on VBT based on his experience using it in a sport that is based around the barbell. On this week's podcast we discuss some of the methods he has tried out and how they can be adapted to other sports.

For more information on this topic, read the complete show notes at: http://www.hmmrmedia.com/2020/11/hmmr-podcast-episode-236-rethinking-vbt-with-wil-fleming/

» Support the show: join HMMR PLUS to get full access to our coaching resources.

More notes:

• This episode is brought to you by HMMR Plus. Become a member for full access to our videos, articles, and podcast archives. This month's site theme is technology and sport. Stay tuned for more on the topic.
• Want to try out VBT training? The Vmaxpro velocity measurement device is available in our store providing expert data at an entry level price.
• Fleming is the owner of Force Fitness and Performance in Bloomington, Indiana. You can follow Fleming on Instagram (@wilfleming), Twitter (@wilfleming) and his website. You can also follow his weightlifting club 1Kilo on Instagram (@1kilo.wl) and pick up some gear in the 1Kilo Shop.
• Even more details on this topic are in Fleming's new book Velocity-Based Training for Weightlifting: Current Concepts & Applications. He's got some video on creating a velocity profile and other topics up on YouTube as well. You can also learn more generally about weightlifting in his book Complete Olympic Lifting Handbook.
• Fleming was also a guest on Episode 147, where he shared lessons from hammer throwing and weightlifting.
• Some past episodes that talked about velocity-based training: Episode 15, Episode 17 with Bryan Mann, and Episode 221 with Simon Overkamp. We also discussed a different approach to the topic in this article.
• The topic of how Olympic lifting fits into the training of non-lifters has been a topic we’ve addressed on numerous occasions on this site. In particular, check out the multi-part roundtable discussion we had with weightlifting coaches (including Fleming). We also covered weightlifting with Matt Foreman on Episode 82.

Lots of people write about common myths or the core principles of training. But it's easy to find what always works and always doesn't. What about the half truths of training? What about the statements that hold some water until you take them too far? On this week's podcast we share some of the half truths we encounter in training and how to navigate them.

For more information on this topic, read the complete show notes at: http://www.hmmrmedia.com/2020/11/hmmr-podcast-episode-235-half-truths-of-training/

» Support the show: join HMMR PLUS to get full access to our coaching resources.

More notes:

• This episode is brought to you by HMMR Plus. Become a member for full access to our videos, articles, and podcast archives. This month's site theme is rethinking periodization. Stay tuned for more on the topic.
• Two products mentioned on the show that are available in the HMMR Store: the Vmaxpro velocity measurement device and our hammer throw wires.
• In talking about transfer, we referenced our interview with PJ Vazel our last episode. Vazel was previously a guest on Episode 61 where we looked at the Russian doping case and the current anti-doping landscape.
• We also referenced the discussion of instability training we had on our last member hangout about training for mountain biking.

What happens when a top sprint coach takes a hammer thrower into his training group? PJ Vazel has coached some of world's best sprinters but more recently is known for his work in guiding Quentin Bigot to a silver medal in the hammer throw. On this week's podcast he discusses the parallels between the events and what he learned from transitioning between them.

For more information on this topic, read the complete show notes at: http://www.hmmrmedia.com/2020/10/hmmr-podcast-episode-234-the-outsider-with-pj-vazel/

» Support the show: join HMMR PLUS to get full access to our coaching resources.

More notes:

• This episode is brought to you by HMMR Plus. Become a member for full access to our videos, articles, and podcast archives. This month's site theme is rethinking periodization. Stay tuned for more on the topic.
• Vazel was previously a guest on Episode 61 where we looked at the Russian doping case and the current anti-doping landscape.
• You can learn more about Vazel on Instagram (@pjvazel) and Twitter (@pjvazel).
• We talked a bit about VBT and the Vmaxpro device towards the end of the episode. The Vmaxpro device is for sale in the HMMR Store.
• Vazel also help provide some of the archival information used for this year's memorial post to Harold Connolly.

Over the last eight months we've heard from high school coaches, professional coaches, and others about how they've adapted their training to pandemic. One voice we haven't heard from is NCAA coaches. The NCAA system puts some unique restrictions on coaches and athletes, and on this episode we invite on several NCAA coaches to discuss how they're planning in uncertainty and dealing with other uncertainties like program cuts.

For more information on this topic, read the complete show notes at: http://www.hmmrmedia.com/2020/10/hmmr-podcast-episode-233-ncaa-roundtable/

» Support the show: join HMMR PLUS to get full access to our coaching resources.

More notes:

• This episode is brought to you by HMMR Plus. Become a member for full access to our videos, articles, and podcast archives. This month's site theme is rethinking periodization. Stay tuned for more on the topic.
• Alex Heacock can be found on Twitter (@CoachHeacockWM) and Instagram (@heacockthrows). YoOu can support his efforts to save the William and Mary track team at Savetribetrack.com, as well as Twitter (@savetribetrack) and Instagram (@savetribetrack). You can learn more about his background from his William and Mary biography.
• Peter Miller can be found on Twitter (@MinnCoachMiller) and Instagram (@mn_gopher_throws). You can learn more about his efforts to save the Minnesota men's track team at www.savegophertf.org. You can learn more about his background from his University of Minnesota biography.
• Carrie Lane has been a guest on Episode 51, as well as author on the site, and contributor of Video Lesson 8: Lifting for runners (with Carrie Lane). You can follow her on Twitter (@CoachCarrieLane) and learn more about her background from her University of Wyoming biography.
• We shared our own experiences with COVID in our pandemic training roundtable on Episode 219, and post-lockdown planning strategies on Episode 225. NCAA strength coach Chris McCormick shared his thoughts on the social side of coaching in the pandemic, one of many resources we put together on quarantraining back in March.
•  

At some point in their life, nearly everyone will experience back pain. For such a widespread issue, you would think that treatment options would be pretty clear cut. But traditional approaches like improving strength, mobility, or endurance don't show much relation to back pain. Dr. Eyal Lederman has been one of the leaders in criticizing the traditional treatment model. Lederman and athletic trainer Joe Przytula join this week's episode for a roundtable discussion on back pain.

For more information on this topic, read the complete show notes at: http://www.hmmrmedia.com/2020/09/hmmr-podcast-episode-232-back-pain-roundtable/

» Support the show: join HMMR PLUS to get full access to our coaching resources.

More notes:

• This episode is brought to you by HMMR Plus. Become a member for full access to our videos, articles, and podcast archives. This month's site theme is rehabilitation and return to performance. Stay tuned for more on the topic.
• For more from Fox, you can follow him on Instagram (@doniefox) or Twitter (@doniefox). He also contributes to HMMR Media. You can find his articles here, and keep an eye out for a series of articles coming up on rehabilitation this month.
• Additional courses and resources from Dr. Lederman are available on the CPDO webpage, including his books Therapeutic stretching, The Science & Practice of Manual Therapy, and more. Lederman also recommended the work of Tiffany Field on touch. You can find some of her research on ResearchGate.
• Two key articles from Lederman talk about rethinking traditional approaches to back pain: The fall of the postural–structural–biomechanical model and The myth of core stability. James de Lacey also did a feature piece breaking down the later article and providing some examples of how to integrate the ideas into training.
• Przytula was also a guest on GAINcast 149. You can reach out to Przytula on Twitter (@jpatc1). Also related in GAINcast 49 on reconditioning with Bill Knowles.

At some point in their life, nearly everyone will experience back pain. For such a widespread issue, you would think that treatment options would be pretty clear cut. But traditional approaches like improving strength, mobility, or endurance don't show much relation to back pain. Dr. Eyal Lederman has been one of the leaders in criticizing the traditional treatment model. Lederman and athletic trainer Joe Przytula join this week's episode for a roundtable discussion on back pain.

For more information on this topic, read the complete show notes at: http://www.hmmrmedia.com/2020/09/hmmr-podcast-episode-232-back-pain-roundtable/

» Support the show: join HMMR PLUS to get full access to our coaching resources.

More notes:

• This episode is brought to you by HMMR Plus. Become a member for full access to our videos, articles, and podcast archives. This month's site theme is rehabilitation and return to performance. Stay tuned for more on the topic.
• For more from Fox, you can follow him on Instagram (@doniefox) or Twitter (@doniefox). He also contributes to HMMR Media. You can find his articles here, and keep an eye out for a series of articles coming up on rehabilitation this month.
• Additional courses and resources from Dr. Lederman are available on the CPDO webpage, including his books Therapeutic stretching, The Science & Practice of Manual Therapy, and more. Lederman also recommended the work of Tiffany Field on touch. You can find some of her research on ResearchGate.
• Two key articles from Lederman talk about rethinking traditional approaches to back pain: The fall of the postural–structural–biomechanical model and The myth of core stability. James de Lacey also did a feature piece breaking down the later article and providing some examples of how to integrate the ideas into training.
• Przytula was also a guest on GAINcast 149. You can reach out to Przytula on Twitter (@jpatc1). Also related in GAINcast 49 on reconditioning with Bill Knowles.

It's easy to think about injury from a medical point of view and focus on what is broken. But you can also view it from a performance point of view: what type of plan will take the athlete is at point A to point B. Donie Fox is both a physiotherapist and athletic development coach. He joins this week's podcast to discuss his thoughts on rehabilitation, including assessment, variation, shapes, and more.

For more information on this topic, read the complete show notes at: http://www.hmmrmedia.com/2020/09/hmmr-podcast-episode-231-rethinking-rehab-with-donie-fox/

» Support the show: join HMMR PLUS to get full access to our coaching resources.

More notes:

• This month's site theme is rehabilitation and return to performance. Stay tuned for more on the topic and join HMMR Plus to gain full access.
• For more from Fox, you can follow him on Instagram (@doniefox) or Twitter (@doniefox). He also contributes to HMMR Media. You can find his articles here, and keep an eye out for a series of articles coming up on rehabilitation this month.
• Fox was also a contributor to our roundtable discussions on Episode 219: Pandemic training roundtable and Episode 212: Year-end extravaganza. Also check out Physio and the Art of Human Performance, the podcast he co-hosts with fellow HMMR contributor Tracy Fober. Their recent interview with John Kiely was referenced in this episode.
• We referenced the work of athletic trainer Grace Golden in the episode. She is a leader in rehabilitation and was a guest on the recent GAINcast 197, as well as our own Episode 172. We also have her recent GAIN Master Class presentation available for HMMR Members to stream. You can find it in the HMMR Classroom: Embracing shapes and manipulation.
• Two books recommended by Fox on this episode to learn more about anatomy: Anatomy Trains by Thomas Myers and Running: Biomechanics and Exercise Physiology in Practice by Frans Bosch and Ronald Klomp. Bosch's most recent book Anatomy of Agility is available in our store.
• For some insight into how some elite athletes have manage breakthroughs this year, read this recent New York Times article referenced in the episode.