Physical Preparation Podcast Archives - Robertson Training Systems

I’m not sure there’s anything the Internet and social media like more than an argument. And while our parents taught us not to talk about religion or politics in public, for some reason, they forgot to tell strength coaches not to argue about the Nordic hamstring curl and whether it’s valuable or not in a strength and conditioning program. But luckily, today’s guest did his entire Ph.D. topic on the Nordic, so we can take a deep dive and nerd out as much as we want! Matthew Ibrahim is a strength and conditioning coach, college professor, public speaker, and author. He serves as Clinical Coordinator and Assistant Professor of Exercise Science at Endicott College, where he also volunteers in Athletics as a Strength & Conditioning Coach and Faculty Consultant. And this show was really fun because the 1st half is geared towards nerding out on science and application, and the second half takes a deep dive into staying curious and leveling up as a coach. Quite simply, there’s something in here for everyone – so let’s dive in!   I think the devil’s in the dose, right? People don’t appreciate (the Nordic)…”it’s like an RDL.” No, it’s A LOT different. – Matthew Ibrahim   This Week on the Physical Prep Podcast: Why continuous learning is essential in the strength and conditioning field. The role Nordic hamstring curls can play in an overall hamstring-health program. How research finding have to go beyond the lab to truly benefit athletes. A great question every coach should ask: What else are you great at BEYOND coaching? The role networking can play in opening doors for young coaches. Why it’s not just the exercise but the DOSE that really matters. How fatherhood has brought new perspective to Matthew’s life. What it’s REALLY LIKE to write a book these days. Why being present in the moment is vital for personal fulfillment.     Connect with Matthew: Matthew on IG   Related Links: Train Like a Pro Book Lee Taft Podcasts   Supercharge Your Decision-Making and Program Design with Hawkin Dynamics Force Plates! Hawkin Dynamics designs and builds performance hardware and software the right way. Their dual wireless force plates give you the most accurate, real-time data on athletic performance. You’ll have the ability to performance test your athletes in a matter of seconds, and give them immediate feedback on their strengths, weaknesses and readiness for that day’s training session. Their software is designed in house and continually updated to ensure the interface is clean, intuitive and easy to use, so both you and your athletes can visualize what’s going on and how to improve their performance. And Hawkin Dynamics is built around their customers and provide industry-leading support and training services to ensure you get the most out of their solutions. With options to lease or buy, coupled with a 5-year warranty, Hawkin Dynamics force plates can take your performance facility to the next level. To learn more, head over to HawkinDynamics.com or follow them on Instagram @HawinDynamics.   Subscribe, Rate & Share! Thanks for tuning into this week’s episode of The Physical Preparation Podcast! If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube Podcasts and leave your honest review. I’d also love to connect via Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram or visit our website. Thanks so much for your support – love and appreciate you! The post Matthew Ibrahim on Nordics for Hamstring Health and Staying Curious as a Coach appeared first on Robertson Training Systems.

My friends, it has been A WEEK. Between new athletes starting, my kids finishing up school, and the short/condensed week, it’s been an absolute sprint every step of the way. And while I have some great guests lined up for you in the coming weeks, I thought it would be a great time to go back to recent episodes and pull out some of my favorite segments. Now if you’ve already listened to all of these shows before, GREAT! There are some awesome reminders in here that I think will hit home even on a second or third listen. And if you’re new to the show, welcome! This is going to be kind of like a “Sportscenter Top 10” highlight reel, and I think there will be a snippet or two in here that really resonates with you. So without any further ado, let’s jump into this week’s show!   This Week on the Physical Prep Podcast: Andy McCloy: A typical day in the life when you open your own fitness business Lee Taft: How much speed work do you REALLY need in a session? Brady Welsh: The human side of coaching. Ryan Patrick: How to fill in the gaps of high school strength and conditioning Jeff Aldham: Thoughts on load management and tissue injuries in basketball Justin Moore: The role of video and film breakdown in speed development Jon Goodman: Should you strive to be Internet famous? Or super popular with the family down the street? Brand Cullen: How should you market to different segments of the fitness industry? MR: Using the assessment to sell more effectively Ryan Horn: How and why your programming and coaching should evolve with time.   Stop the Frustration! Get the Complete Coach Certification Are you a young fitness trainer or coach? Are you frustrated by the results you’re getting or the lack of resources available to learn the skills you need to be successful? Are you struggling to get enough clients or wondering how long you’ll be able to follow your passion for helping others? It’s time to stop the frustration and stop worrying. It’s time to get certified! If you’re serious about improving your results, serious about becoming a better coach, and serious about increasing your bottom line, then you need the Complete Coach Certification. In this massive course, you’ll learn: How to use the R7 system to create seamless, integrated and efficient programs for clients and athletes of all shapes and sizes How to create the culture, environment and relationships with everyone you train so you can get the absolute best results The exact progressions, regressions, and coaching cues I use in the gym – from squatting and deadlifting to pressing and pulling and everything in between The assessment process I use to determine the best exercises for a client or athlete on Day 1, and how to set them up for maximal success down the line! This certification is jam-packed with everything I’ve learned over the last 20 years of my career. So if you’re ready to get serious about the results you’re getting for your clients and the impact your programs have on your income, head over to www.completecoachcertification.com to sign up for the Complete Coach Certification course today!   Subscribe, Rate & Share Thanks for tuning into this week’s episode of The Physical Preparation Podcast! If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube Podcasts and leave your honest review. I’d also love to connect via Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram or visit our website. Thanks so much for your support – love and appreciate you! The post The Super Duper Mash-Up Episode (Spring 2025) appeared first on Robertson Training Systems.

Whether you’re a die hard college sports fanatic or a more casual fan, chances are you’ve heard about NIL – or name, image and likeness deals – and how they’re impacting the sport. And beyond NIL, there’s also the simple fact that it’s now easier than ever before to enter the transfer portal and go to a different school, with some athletes doing this virtually every year! But here are a few things you might not have considered… If you’re a college strength coach, how does all this impact your ability to develop your athletes? What did your training programs look like 10 years ago, versus how they look today? And most importantly, how does the job not only impact you as a coach, but potentially your family as well? Well luckily for you I’ve got my guy Ryan Horn back on the podcast to discuss these very topics! Ryan is now the director for Men’s Basketball at Indiana University. Prior to this, he’s had stops across the country, most recently at Wake Forest, Wichita State, Drake and West Virginia. And in today’s episode, we’re going to talk about how NIL and the transfer portal have impacted him as a coach!   Quotable Quotes from Ryan: When you get to the middle 10 – and this is probably the most dangerous part of my career – when I started to get a little bit of skin in the game, you start to get that itch and feeling that, you know, I got some stuff figured out.   Make sure you’re doing enough so you’re not paralyzed and you can’t do the thing that really makes you special – and we all have something that makes us special as a coach.   When you get fired, your family gets fired. They get fired from their friends, from their school, from their activities, from their friend groups, and from their comfort and safety of their current life.   This Week on the Physical Prep Podcast: How to navigate and start in new roles, as well as building team cultures from the ground up. Ryan’s thoughts on major changes in college sports like NIL and the transfer portal. How his coaching philosophy has evolved – and why communication between coaches is so critical. Real-world examples of how his programs have changed today from what they might’ve looked like 5-10 years ago. The role of curiosity and adaptability in long-term coaching success. Balancing the personal side of coaching, including family, transitions, and career longevity. Advice for young coaches on growth, resilience, and building a long-lasting impact.     Connect with Ryan: Instagram – RyanHorn45 Twitter/X – RyanHorn45   Related Links: Ryan’s Podcast Episodes Eric Guthrie Podcast Team of Teams Book   Grow Your Fitness Business or Gym with Push Press! Gym owners and coaches, have you heard about PushPress? It’s the best gym management software company and it’s revolutionizing the fitness world. So check this out: PushPress is built BY gym owners. They understand the ins and outs of running a fitness business because they’re “in the trenches” in their own gyms every single day. Key products like Core, Grow, and Train are designed to help you with everything from billing and scheduling to lead generation and progress tracking. Built on the “help first” ethos, PushPress places an exceptional focus on prioritizing client needs, listening to feedback from their community, and using it as the impetus for its ever-evolving, innovative features. And here’s the strongest plug I can give them – I’ve actually switched to PushPress for all of my clients and athletes. Getting things set-up and running smoothly is not only easier, but also far more intuitive than many other solutions. So if you’re interested in learning more, just head over to pushpress.com/ppp.   Subscribe, Rate & Share Thanks for tuning into this week’s episode of The Physical Preparation Podcast! If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube Podcasts and leave your honest review. I’d also love to connect via Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram or visit our website. Thanks so much for your support – love and appreciate you! The post Ryan Horn on NIL, the Transfer Portal, and the Evolution of a Coach appeared first on Robertson Training Systems.

I don’t know about you, but I’m ALWAYS thinking about programming and coaching Even in my time off, I’m thinking about making myself a better coach, or how to better help the other coaches that I work with and mentor. Now this could be an incredibly extensive list, but what I’m sharing today are 10 of the biggest mistakes I see coaches making TODAY. Some are age-old and I’ve seen them for the better part of two decades, while others I feel like are far more prevalent in this day and age. So sit back, relax, and let’s make sure you’re not making one of these 10 BIG mistakes!   The best program designers are great not because of all the stuff they cram into a workout, but because of all the stuff they willfully leave out. – MR   This Week on the Physical Prep Podcast: A huge mistake that not only impacts coaching and cuing, but energy levels as well. The biggest mistake I see young coaches make. Why isometrics (ISO’s) can play a key role in your programs. The tip Lee Taft gave me to better see and understand overall movement. One of my biggest pet peeves when it comes to coaches and trainers. How Shiny Object Syndrome is keeping you from writing better programs. Why the “one thing” principle is great for content and social media, but not so much for training real clients and athletes. The power of explaining “Why” to the people you train. What “serial batching” is, and why you should be using it to write better programs in less time. Why every coach should be looking to eliminate things from their programs, versus just adding “more stuff.”     Related Links: Complete Coach Certification Program Design Mentorship   Level Up Your Program Design with Train Heroic! Are you tired of using clunky, antiquated program design tools like Microsoft Word or Excel? Are you ready to level up your programming, and make it far more engaging to your clients and athletes? If so, you need to check out Train Heroic. I’ve been using TrainHeroic for years now both here at RTS and at IFAST, and I can tell you the user experience both as an athlete and coach is truly second to none. To learn more and start your free 14-day trial, just follow this link to learn more about Train Heroic. Not only will you get your first 14 days free, but it’s just $10/month to get started officially after that. So don’t wait any longer – head over trainheroic.co/rts and start crafting beautiful programs your clients and athletes will love TODAY!   Subscribe, Rate & Share! Thanks for tuning into this week’s episode of The Physical Preparation Podcast! If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube Podcasts and leave your honest review. I’d also love to connect via Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram or visit our website. Thanks so much for your support – love and appreciate you! The post 10 Programming and Coaching Mistakes YOU Might be Making appeared first on Robertson Training Systems.

A few weekends back, I was working full steam ahead at my “other” full time job in life. Now most of you know me as a guy who trains people in the gym and creates content like this, with the goal of making everyone I come into contact with better. But this was my OTHER job…the one where I’m an elite Uber driver and sports dad! And on this particular morning, with a 90 minute drive to beautiful Terre Haute ahead of me, I had A LOT of time to think about business, training and life. And this show is what came from all that! Basically I asked myself a few simple questions: What have I done WELL over the years in my business? In what areas could I improve? And perhaps most importantly… How I can put all of this into a podcast that will help YOU become a better trainer, coach and businessperson? Well this is what I came up with: 10 keys to help YOU run a better business and make more money in 2025. Because let’s be honest here – all of us come into this industry because we want to help people. But in that same breath, many of us don’t know how to take care of OURSELVES from a business or financial perspective. So I really hope this show helps you out – let’s dive in!   At certain times in life, long hours of coaching in the gym IS your continuing education. – MR   This Week on the Physical Prep Podcast: The REAL KEY to running a successful fitness business (that doesn’t necessarily have to DO with business!) Why your continuing education can and should change at different points in your career. The biggest side quest or “shiny” object in fitness business today. Serious question: Should you be considering using DIRECT MAIL to advertise?!?! The real goal of using social media (Hint: it’s not just about more likes!) What you can do right now, TODAY, to start building a stronger business for free. Why your goal shouldn’t be to train professional athletes right out of the gate. How to know what someone really wants from training  – and then get them to buy with ease. Rate Increases: How do you pull these off without pissing all your clients and athletes off? Why making it easy to get started with you is crucial to your success!     Related Links: Andy McCloy on Entrepreneurship, Becoming an Elite Coach, and “Playing Business” Ryan Patrick on Speed Training Mistakes and the Allure of Big Weights Mark Fisher on Unicorns, Ninjas and Business Success RTS Program Design Mentorship   Supercharge Your Decision-Making and Program Design with Hawkin Dynamics Force Plates! Hawkin Dynamics designs and builds performance hardware and software the right way. Their dual wireless force plates give you the most accurate, real-time data on athletic performance. You’ll have the ability to performance test your athletes in a matter of seconds, and give them immediate feedback on their strengths, weaknesses and readiness for that day’s training session. Their software is designed in house and continually updated to ensure the interface is clean, intuitive and easy to use, so both you and your athletes can visualize what’s going on and how to improve their performance. And Hawkin Dynamics is built around their customers and provide industry-leading support and training services to ensure you get the most out of their solutions. With options to lease or buy, coupled with a 5-year warranty, Hawkin Dynamics force plates can take your performance facility to the next level. To learn more, head over to HawkinDynamics.com or follow them on Instagram @HawinDynamics.   Subscribe, Rate & Share! Thanks for tuning into this week’s episode of The Physical Preparation Podcast! If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube Podcasts and leave your honest review. I’d also love to connect via Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram or visit our website. Thanks so much for your support – love and appreciate you! The post 10 Keys to Improving Your Fitness Business and Making More Money in 2025 appeared first on Robertson Training Systems.

Born into an entrepreneurial family in Ontario, Canada, Brandon Cullen was raised with a front-row seat to hard work and high expectations. Pushed by his father to excel both in life and on the ice, Brandon’s grit landed him a spot in the New York Rangers’ minor league system. But when a career-ending concussion shattered his hockey dreams, everything he’d worked for disappeared overnight. Instead of calling it quits, Brandon turned that adversity into fuel. Determined to create something new, he poured his competitive drive into the fitness world, building the type of gym he wished existed: one focused on aging athletically without the distractions of gimmicks or trends. Teaming up with fellow pro hockey player Kirk Dewaele, Brandon’s first venture was a CrossFit gym, but they quickly saw a gap in the market for a structured, strength-based system. This insight led to MADabolic: a strength-driven gym built on precision, consistency, and science-backed programming, delivering real results for those who crave more. And in this episode we’re going to take the lessons Brandon has learned from building his fitness franchise to help YOU build a better business or personal brand.   I got into this industry because I have bit of an ego and want to be known as the best fitness product in the franchising game. The byproduct is we help a lot of people with that. So you have to really isolate what drives you. – Brandon Cullen   This Week on the Physical Prep Podcast: How a perceived gap in the fitness industry lead to the inception of MADabolic. Some of the biggest struggles and hurdles Brandon’s had to face in the franchise game. The power of niching down, and what happens if you don’t. Why marketing strategies have to evolve with changing consumer trends. Finding the right blend between grassroots and paid marketing. The power of ego, and how you can use it in a positive way. Why you can’t market to millenials and Gen Z prospects the same way. The role that grit and resilience play in entrepreneurship.     Connect with Brandon: Brandon on LinkedIn MADabolic on IG MADabolic Website   Related Links: Alwyn Cosgrove on Fat Loss Training, Mentorship and Paying it Forward   Grow Your Fitness Business or Gym with Push Press! Gym owners and coaches, have you heard about PushPress? It’s the best gym management software company and it’s revolutionizing the fitness world. So check this out: PushPress is built BY gym owners. They understand the ins and outs of running a fitness business because they’re “in the trenches” in their own gyms every single day. Key products like Core, Grow, and Train are designed to help you with everything from billing and scheduling to lead generation and progress tracking. Built on the “help first” ethos, PushPress places an exceptional focus on prioritizing client needs, listening to feedback from their community, and using it as the impetus for its ever-evolving, innovative features. And here’s the strongest plug I can give them – I’ve actually switched to PushPress for all of my clients and athletes. Getting things set-up and running smoothly is not only easier, but also far more intuitive than many other solutions. So if you’re interested in learning more, just head over to pushpress.com/ppp.   Subscribe, Rate & Share Thanks for tuning into this week’s episode of The Physical Preparation Podcast! If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube Podcasts and leave your honest review. I’d also love to connect via Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram or visit our website. Thanks so much for your support – love and appreciate you! The post Brandon Cullen on Niches, Marketing, and Building a Fitness Franchise appeared first on Robertson Training Systems.

Jonathan Goodman, an accomplished author and entrepreneur behind the Personal Trainer Development Center, shares valuable insights on authenticity and overcoming perfectionism in the fitness industry. He emphasizes the importance of genuine local connections over fleeting online fame. Goodman discusses how the journey of mastery involves continuous iterations rather than striving for perfection. He also dives into the evolution of online fitness and the necessity for daily rituals to enhance creativity, ultimately guiding fitness professionals toward building resilient businesses.

Justin Moore, Director of Performance at BOLT Fitness, shares his expertise on building robust athletes through innovative training. He emphasizes the critical role of the weight room in developing speed and power without over-relying on corrective exercises. Moore discusses his 5 key training buckets that focus on individual athlete needs, the importance of integrating more movement days into programs, and the unique approach to biomechanics that minimizes injury. Plus, he shares insights from his journey and experiences training various athletes.

How do we keep our young hoopers healthy? What are they doing well in their training? And what can they improve upon? And what do THE BEST young players do that others can’t or won’t? If you train young athletes in any sport, you’re going to love this episode with Jeff Aldham! Jeff is a self-proclaimed “S&C Coach trying to develop hoopers”…and while he’s not wrong, I think that’s quite the understatement. He’s a guy that’s impacted players at every level of the game – from that fresh-faced middle school kid to the pro who is playing for Team Canada – and has had a tremendous amount of success along the way. And today, we’re going to take a deep dive into what it really takes to keep your hoopers healthy and on the court!   We NEED variability in our training program because your sport isn’t providing you with that. – Jeff Aldham   This Week on the Physical Prep Podcast: Jeff’s burning passion for hoops, and how it ultimately led him to becoming a coach. Why building good habits and a strong work ethic is so important for young athletes. The difference between passion and purpose. Jeff’s thoughts on injury prevention in basketball, and the challenges that young athletes are facing. Why you need a system of training, yet also need to be adaptable to the player standing in front of you. How to get the right “inputs” into your training, even if you don’t have a ton of equipment available to you. The role that variability plays in a well-rounded athletic development program. What young athletes MUST do if they want to maximize their performance and keep themselves on the court. Why mobility training is such a key component of Jeff’s system, and the primary areas he hones in on with basketball players. A thought experiment: What does the next generation of S&C/basketball coach look like? Jeff’s thoughts on what his most successful young athletes do well (and what they can improve on!)     Connect with Jeff: Jeff on Instagram   Related Links: Nick Littlehales Podcast Nick Littlehales Book Stop BS’ing Yourself Book   Level Up Your Program Design with Train Heroic! Are you tired of using clunky, antiquated program design tools like Microsoft Word or Excel? Are you ready to level up your programming, and make it far more engaging to your clients and athletes? If so, you need to check out Train Heroic. I’ve been using TrainHeroic for years now both here at RTS and at IFAST, and I can tell you the user experience both as an athlete and coach is truly second to none. To learn more and start your free 14-day trial, just follow this link to learn more about Train Heroic. Not only will you get your first 14 days free, but it’s just $10/month to get started officially after that. So don’t wait any longer – head over trainheroic.co/rts and start crafting beautiful programs your clients and athletes will love TODAY!   Subscribe, Rate & Share! Thanks for tuning into this week’s episode of The Physical Preparation Podcast! If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube Podcasts and leave your honest review. I’d also love to connect via Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram or visit our website. Thanks so much for your support – love and appreciate you! The post Jeff Aldham on Filling in the S&C Gaps in High School Basketball appeared first on Robertson Training Systems.

Training young athletes is tough these days – especially if you’re in the private sector. With so many athletes getting training at their high school, playing sports year round, and struggling to stay consistent with their workouts, how can we help them be successful? Well luckily my guy Ryan Patrick and I are here to help you out! Two of the biggest issues we in this population are: Programs that overemphasize just “pushing weights,” and The lack of solid speed training – which is what most young athletes ultimately need. So if your goal is to create fast, strong and robust high school athletes, I know you’re going to love this show. Let’s do this!   I think (high school S&C) is a threat for a lot of coaches who don’t have good businesses, who don’t have really effective training because now these kids are doing stuff. And so you have to offer something different than just providing a service that they’re not getting. – Ryan Patrick   This Week on the Physical Prep Podcast: Why high school athletes today show up woefully undertrained. How a lack of training consistency is leading to poor athletic development overall. Ryan’s “side quest” analogy, and how it applies to young athletes getting in the weight room. Why high school S&C programs can be a blessing and a curse to young athletes. How large group S&C training will differ from smaller, more customized programming. The role of educating your athletes on all the aspects of physical development, and specifically, to them moving well! Why strength should NOT be the sole KPI in your high school athletes development. How to use better assessments that will drive your training programs. Why both Ryan and I moved from a more strength-centric to a more speed-centric training model. A gentle reminder: There’s more to being a good athlete than just having “fast feet.” How to find a blend between training movement and developing outputs. Why speed training should NOT be done at the end of practice. The power of creating a positive experience so athletes will want to come back for months (and years!) to come.     Connect with Ryan: Coach Ryan Patrick on IG The Athletic Performance Podcast   Related Links: ALL of Ryan’s Physical Prep Podcast Episodes   Supercharge Your Decision-Making and Program Design with Hawkin Dynamics Force Plates! Hawkin Dynamics designs and builds performance hardware and software the right way. Their dual wireless force plates give you the most accurate, real-time data on athletic performance. You’ll have the ability to performance test your athletes in a matter of seconds, and give them immediate feedback on their strengths, weaknesses and readiness for that day’s training session. Their software is designed in house and continually updated to ensure the interface is clean, intuitive and easy to use, so both you and your athletes can visualize what’s going on and how to improve their performance. And Hawkin Dynamics is built around their customers and provide industry-leading support and training services to ensure you get the most out of their solutions. With options to lease or buy, coupled with a 5-year warranty, Hawkin Dynamics force plates can take your performance facility to the next level. To learn more, head over to HawkinDynamics.com or follow them on Instagram @HawinDynamics.   Subscribe, Rate & Share! Thanks for tuning into this week’s episode of The Physical Preparation Podcast! If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube Podcasts and leave your honest review. I’d also love to connect via Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram or visit our website. Thanks so much for your support – love and appreciate you! The post Ryan Patrick on Speed Training Mistakes and the Allure of Big Weights appeared first on Robertson Training Systems.