Physical Preparation Podcast Archives - 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.

If you were a basketball strength coach, what do you think you could learn working for a coach with NBA experience like Aaron McKie? Or what about a guy like Matt Painter, with his 19 seasons at Purdue? Or what about the one and only John Calipari? A guy who has had tremendous amount of success at numerous schools? Well today’s guest can give us the inside scoop – because he’s worked for all of them! Brady Welsh is a professional strength coach who has worked in some of the biggest college basketball environments on the planet, and today, he’s going to share with you his keys to success!   I truly believe that ego can be the biggest enemy of the strength coach, and that’s where humility has to come in. – Brady Welsh   This Week on the Physical Prep Podcast: What the TRUE ROLE of a strength coach is in college basketball. Why you need to understand the unique culture and environment of every program you work in. One of Brady’s biggest mistakes as a strength coach – and what he learned from it. How to connect with each athlete as an individual, and how that helps you as a performance coach. The difference between confidence and ego – and why humility has to be a focus. Brady’s 4 key metrics he tracks when it comes to force plate testing. Why body weight is something that should be on every coaches radar. The balance between soft skills and technical coaching. How to present data to coaches in a way that’s meaningful to them. Hard truth: Young coaches should seek mentorship and be prepared to make sacrifices. Why networking is still a key piece of your coaching and career development.     Connect with Brady: Brady on Instagram   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 Brady Welsh on Ego, Humility, and Communication as a Strength Coach appeared first on Robertson Training Systems.

Do you want to help your athletes get faster? More explosive? And teach them how to move effectively in the process? If so, you’re going to love this week’s episode with Lee Taft! From PE teacher to world-renowned speed coach, Lee has always questioned the current dogma when it comes to speed training. And in this episode, we’re going to break down (get it) some of the hottest topics in speed training today. The importance of heel contact in speed training. Why repositioning steps are so important for accelerating effectively. And finally, how to speed training fits into an overarching S&C program. Quite simply if you want to help your athletes get faster, you need to listen to this episode RIGHT NOW!   Young athletes are exposed to these high thresholds and demands in sport, but not every kid has the ability to decelerate their body well. – Lee Taft   This Week on the Physical Prep Podcast: Lee’s journey from PE teacher to elite speed coach. Why Lee was always curious and questioning others when it came to speed training. The power of band resistance, and the numerous ways you can use it to improve speed and agility. Coaching efficiency first, then speed second. How to effectively coach and cue closeouts in basketball. The power of the heels, and why cuing athletes to be “on the toes” is a mistake. Repositioning steps, and the difference between a plyo step and a hip turn (this distinction was new to me!) Why pivots are slow and coaches should stop using them. The power of finding good angles in speed training. High-quality speed training shouldn’t take forever! Why the real juice is in teaching athletes to move more effectively.     Connect with Lee: LeeTaft.com Lee on Instagram   Related Links: Lee’s Previous Podcasts   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 Lee Taft on Braking, Directional Steps, and Building Elite Basketball Speed appeared first on Robertson Training Systems.

So you’re having some success training and coaching, and that’s got you thinking about opening your own gym. Congrats! But before you do…listen to this episode FIRST! Andy McCloy is not only one of the realest dudes I know, but someone that practices what he preaches. He’s running one of the most successful coaching gyms in the United States out of Hunstville, Alabama, and today we’re going to take a deep dive into what it REALLY TAKES to run a successful gym. Interested? You should be – because this episode is absolute fire. Let’s do this!   Sending multiple emails? Creating multiple posts? Referrals? Reach outs? That’s the juice man…but that’s also the REAL work. – Andy McCloy   This Week on the Physical Prep Podcast: Why great entrepreneurs understand their true motivations. The biggest mistake that many coaches make when opening their own business. You need confidence to be a great coach – but to be confident, you have to get the reps! Unconfident? Insecure? We were too – here are some thoughts on how to fix it. If you want to be truly successful, you need to grow your network. An overview of the “Entrepreneurship Lifecycle” – and how to avoid the trap most people make in it! Ready to become an “online coach?” Here’s what you better do first… The high-value skills that EVERY trainer and coach needs to master if they want to be successful and stay in business. The role social media should play in your education. Why focusing solely on top-line revenue isn’t the best metric to track – and what you should be looking at instead. What Andy means when he talks about “Playing Business.” The difference between leading and lagging indicators. Finding actions that DRIVE outcomes. Final thoughts on leadership and leaving a legacy.     Connect with Andy: BuiltToLastGym.com Andy on IG   Related Links: Listen to ALL of Andy’s previous podcast episodes   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 Andy McCloy on Entrepreneurship, Becoming an Elite Coach and “Playing Business” appeared first on Robertson Training Systems.