The Strength Coach Podcast Revolutionizing Warmups the "No Zombies" Way with Rett Larson
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Jun 6, 2025 Join Rett Larson, strength coach for the German women's volleyball team and creator of the No Zombies training philosophy, as he redefines warm-ups! Dive into his energetic and engaging approach that promises to elevate athlete performance. Rett discusses why traditional warm-ups need a makeover, showcasing his unique techniques that blend creativity and sport-specific drills. He shares how using playful tools like tennis balls and Nerf footballs can enhance training, making it not just safer, but also fun and performance-enhancing!
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Redefining Warm-Up Purpose
- Traditional warm-ups focus only on warming tissues and injury prevention, which sets a low bar for athlete preparation.
- Warm-ups should be reimagined to also stimulate, engage, and improve athletic performance.
Knockout Basketball Sparks Change
- Introducing fun games like knockout basketball once a week made warm-ups everyone's favorite day.
- This inspired creating sport-specific drills that combine fun and challenge to keep warm-ups engaging.
Warm-Ups Healing Beyond Athletics
- Training a woman with degenerative brain disease using ball games and functional drills brought her joy and engagement.
- These playful warm-ups helped her reconnect physically and emotionally despite severe illness.