The Adaptable Athlete Podcast

Send us a textFor today’s episode, I’m joined ny Tommy Flanagan! (tommy_flanagan_s2s)Tommy is the owner of Strength to Strength fitness in Broomfield, Colorado.Tommy’s mission at strength to strength:  Transform athletes bodies and minds to they can reach their full potential.In addition to being a performance coach and gym owner Tommy had a standout athletic career including being an all state football player in HS and a college All American in football Tommy does a great job with his athletes…Not only does he want them to be big, strong, and fast….He also wants them to be great decision makers and this is where much of our conversation center on today.We discuss how to make football players better decision makers,Some of the pluses and minuses of 7 on 7 and how it could make it more representative Some of the pitfalls of High School football in the social media eraOf course we discuss so much more!I think it’s important to understand that although many of the situations and examples Tommy and I use are from the sport of American Football…the concepts that we discuss can be applied to anyone who works w/ athletes at the end of the day, great athletes have to be great decision makers  and that’s what this episode is all about!If you like today's episode, leave a review here....If you want to reach me directly, contact me on social media or shoot me @javier@igniteperformance.netEpisode Resources:Tommy's Twitter Tommy's  Instagram Tommy's email: tommy@s2strength.comStrength 2 Strength WebsiteCredits: Song- "Starstruck" by Freebeats.io Let's Chat!Twitter: @thecoachjavIG: @thecoachjav

Send us a textToday I dive into an important topic in Ecological Dynamics...Specifying information!On a couple episodes this term has been discussed, including the recent episode w/ coach Garrett Baker.Specifying information, is crucial element of representative practice design.   Information helps guide athlete movements and decision making, which is something that is relevant to anyone who works w/ athletes in skill acquisition....I hope you enjoy the show!If you like today's episode, leave a review here....If you want to reach me directly, contact me on social media or shoot me @javier@igniteperformance.netEpisode Resources:Research Paper Emergence Website Rob Grey WebsiteCredits: Song- "Starstruck" by Freebeats.io Let's Chat!Twitter: @thecoachjavIG: @thecoachjav

Send us a textFor today’s episode, I’m joined by Garrett Baker! (@coachgbaker) Garrett is the Director of Baseball Player development at Inspiration Academy in Bradenton Florida…Think IMG academy but with a focus on baseball on tennis. Prior to that Garrett spent 3 season as the recruiting coordinator, pitching coach and strength coach at American International College.He also spent 1 season as a pitching coach at  and baseball strength and conditioning coach at Westfield State University As a player Garrett was a pitcher and spent 2 years playing independent professional weds baseballAs I’m you sure you can tell so far far by his bio, Garret has a strong background in the player development side of things, especially when it comes to pitching…and thats where much of our conversation we centers today.Pitching is often thought of as this rote, repetitious, repeatable movement train in isolation but Garrett has a different point of view that combines different theories on sport movement and skill acquisition.We get in to all that in today’s episode…This one was an exciting one for me.  Garrett is doing some really exciting things in player development and I think this episode will be super useful for anyone who works w/ baseball players or who is interested in sport movement...Enjoy the show!If you like today's episode, leave a review here....If you want to reach me directly, contact me on social media or shoot me @javier@igniteperformance.netEpisode Resources:Garrett's Twitter Garret's  Instagram Garrett's email: coachgbaker@gmail.comInspiration Academy WebsiteCredits: Song- "Starstruck" by Freebeats.io Let's Chat!Twitter: @thecoachjavIG: @thecoachjav

Send us a textFor today’s episode, my guest is Ben Kelto!Ben is a physical therapist, and clinical director of Spooner Physical Therapy in Chandler, AZ Ben is originally from the Upper Peninsula of Michigan and has a strong background in athletics. As a former college wrestler, Ben has a unique understanding of what it takes to get an athlete from the table to back out on the field.One of the things I like about Ben  is that he employs a pragmatic approach towards therapy utilizing a wide variety of evidence inventions So he’s not married to one specific single technique.I’ve seen him first hand, utilize methods that are outside of the box but all w/ the aim of helping his patients achieve their goals.In today’s episode, Ben and center much of of our conversation around BFR or blood flow restriction training, which is a technique that becoming increasingly popular in the physical therapy space and even bleeding into the performance space as well.  Traditionally BFR has been used for post op patients but Ben utilizes it in some unique ways, which we discuss We also discuss topics such as:The gaps in return to play protocols Addressing patients from a holistic point of view Therapist to strength coach communication The origins of BFRHow BFR can be implemented Some BFR benefits And of course, so much more!If you like today's episode, leave a review here....If you want to reach me directly, contact me on social media or shoot me @javier@igniteperformance.netEpisode Resources:Spooner's  Website Ben's Email: b.kelto@spoonerpt.com BFR Research paper 1BFR Research paper 2BFR Research paper 3Credits: Song- "Starstruck" by Freebeats.io Let's Chat!Twitter: @thecoachjavIG: @thecoachjav

Send us a textWelcome to Athlete Blueprint Podcast!...For today's episode, I'm joined by coach Mike Gee (@coachmikegee).Mike  is a volleyball coach and currently serves as Director of Volleyball at North Pacific Juniors VBC, a premier volleyball club based in Oregon and Washington. Prior to that, he coached on the division 1 volleyball level for several yearsIn 2003 he told his mother that he wouldn’t be coaching volleyball for the rest of his life. Today, he’s still at it. These days, Mike Gee spends countless hours a week studying the research literature on skill acquisition in sport, and, unlike traditional coaches, he uses an ecological dynamics approach to coaching volleyball.In addition to being active on social media, under the name coachmikegee ,thats mike gee he also runs a youtube channel under the same name, which I will link to in the show notes.I really enjoyed this conversation w/ Mike.  . As mentioned earlier he takes a non traditional and non linear approach to volleyball coaching, which we get into during the episode. We get into everything from implicit vs explicit instruction in volleyball, to coaching in context, to scaling of information, to some practical applications for volleyball coaches out there.   Essentially We really take a deep dive in to coach during this episode!At Ignite, we work with a lot of volleyball players, so I really enjoyed talking w/ Mike...I hope you guys enjoy!If you like today's episode, leave a review here....If you want to reach me directly, contact me on social media or shoot me @javier@igniteperformance.netEpisode Resources:Mike's  Twitter Mike's  Instagram Mike's YoutubeMikes email: coachhmikegee@gmail.comNorth Pacific Juniors VBC WebsiteCredits: Song- "Starstruck" by Freebeats.io Let's Chat!Twitter: @thecoachjavIG: @thecoachjav

Send us a textWelcome to the athlete blueprint podcast!For todays episode, I’m joined by Korey Van Wyk (@KoreyVanWyk)Korey  is an educator and sports performance coach who has spent the last decade of his career bridging the gap between science and practice. As a former professor of kinesiology and collegiate strength coach, he spent every day connecting the classroom and the weight room. Now as an acquisitions editor for Human Kinetics, he helps create world-class educational products for trainers and coaches. One unique thing about Korey is the diversity of his career, which spans from  college strength coach at northwest college in Iowa, to working directly w/ Brett Bartholemew’s company The Art of Coaching, to his current position w/ Human KineticsKorey really has his pulse on the industry.  Through this he now provides educational content for coaches.  In essence Korey coaches coaches.Korey recently released a a mini course on creatine. Which is what much of our conversation centers on today…we also discuss:what concepts new coaches tend to struggle with  Creatine and it’s use for adolescent athletesCreatine and it’s effectiveness on sprint performance Creatine and it’s use for female athletesAnd of course we cover so much more!Creatine is a largely misunderstood supplement and I wanted to bring Korey on to set the record straight...Enjoy the show!If you like today's episode, leave a review here....If you want to reach me directly, contact me on social media or shoot me @javier@igniteperformance.netEpisode Resources:Korey's  Twitter Korey's Instagram Korey's Website Korey's LinkedInAccess to Creatine Mini Course (PLAE Academy Website) Credits: Song- "Starstruck" by Freebeats.io Let's Chat!Twitter: @thecoachjavIG: @thecoachjav

Send us a textWelcome to the Athlete Blueprint Podcast!For today’s episode, I’m joined my Zach Elder!Zach is currently the direction of strength and conditioning, and athletic skill acquisition at Mac strength a private baseball training facility in Edina Minnesota.As a Minnesota native, Zach played everything from basketball,  baseball, basketball, football, Tae Kwon Do, and anything else he could get involved in.  Zach went on to play Division 2 baseball at Saint Leo University in Tampa, Florida, where he graduated w/ a degree in sports business..He then went on to finish his career at Concordia University, Saint Paul,  where he would obtain his MS in Exercise Science and his CSCS.Before MacStrength, Zach was an assistant Strength and Conditioning Coach at Concordia, St. Paul, working with Football, Volleyball, Cross Country, and Baseball. In addition to being an expert in baseball performance training, Zach has also consulted with ECHL, USHL, and Euro league Hockey players since 2018.  Zach works with athletes of all ages, from 8 to 28, helping them optimize and develop their bodies for high performance. One of the reasons I wanted to have Zach on his because oh his unique approach to strength training and that we share a similar love for long term athletic development, not to mention he’s  just funny dude.In our conversation we discuss The effect of negative self talk for athletes How being a “washed up athlete” has changed Zach’s perspective for the better How coaches should prepare their athletes for life after sportsHow Zach Train’s the human movement system in his unique approach to strength Zach’s approach to join integrity for the hip and shoulderHow an athlete being “coachable” may not always be a great thingIf you like today's episode, leave a review here....If you want to reach me directly, contact me on social media or shoot me @javier@igniteperformance.netEpisode Resources:Zach's  Twitter Zach's Instagram Mac Strenth Website Mac Strength InstagramCredits: Song- "Starstruck" by Freebeats.io Let's Chat!Twitter: @thecoachjavIG: @thecoachjav

Send us a textFor today's episode, I'm joined by Dr. Rob Gray (@ShakeyWaits)!!Rob is an associate professor of  human systems engineering at Arizona state University and is the host of the wild popular podcast The Perception and Action Podcast. His podcast which he has hosted  since 2015 and includes over 380 episodes focuses on taking the latest and greatest research in the field of movement sciences and distilling those high level topics down into digestible concepts so that coaches and practitioners can apply in their setting .Rob is also an accomplished researcher in the field of movement sciences and Recently released a book called How We Learned to Move:  A Revolution in the Way We coach & Practice Sports Skills, which I can attest to Is an excellent read and is actually sitting in my book shelf right now!We discuss some of the concepts of the book but we also discuss:How human’s inherently crave variability How practice should not always be perfect and repeatable and that learning is messy How variability can help w/ injury prevention And some practical advice for coaches in setting up these principles in their own practice For me this was an episode I was looking forward to a ton!…A wise mentor once told me to “Stand on the shoulders of Giants” and for me Rob is one of those giants.If you like today's episode, leave a review here....If you want to reach me directly, contact me on social media or shoot me @javier@igniteperformance.netEpisode Resources:Rob's Podcast website Rob's  Twitter Rob's Book Credits: Song- "Starstruck" by Freebeats.io Let's Chat!Twitter: @thecoachjavIG: @thecoachjav

Send us a textFor this episode, I am joined by Preston Hale! (p_hale3)Preston is a performance coach and DB coach, who also happens to be my business partner over at Ignite Performance!  Preston works w/ high level defensive backs from high school and to the elite pro level. He is one of the absolute best DB coaches in the country...I get to be w/ Preston everyday, so I'm excited to bring his vast knowledge to you guys!  Preston does an amazing job of taking game concepts and distilling them into a practice setting that way his athletes are the. most prepared on the field. In our conversation we discuss:Preston's background What makes up a truly elite DBHow you can make typical DB drills like the "W" drill and make them more game like Preston's unique way of watching film and how he incorporates his athlete's perspective while doing itOf course, we cover so much more!If you like today's episode, leave a review here....If you want to reach me directly, contact me on social media or shoot me @javier@igniteperformance.netEpisode Resources:Preston's Instagram Preston's Facebook Ignite Performance (our facility) Website Credits: Song- "Starstruck" by Freebeats.io Let's Chat!Twitter: @thecoachjavIG: @thecoachjav

Send us a textFor today’s episode, I’m joined by Adam Omiecinski!Adam is a Basketball Coach from Upstate NY who focuses on Player Development. He is currently coaching as an assistant at SUNY Adirondack and for Dags Basketball, where he gets to work with athletes from as young as the age of 7 to the occasional Professional. Prior to these positions, Adam assisted at his High School alma mater of Hudson Falls  for 10 years.Adam also has a blog centered on player development called Hardwood Dexterity , where breaks down basketball movements, in an extremely unique way   In today’s episode we discuss: Using a constraints led approach and differential learning to skill development in basketball Who some of the elite movers in the nba What qualities make up elite movers in basketball How you can effectively expand the toolbox, or the “bag” of basketball players w/out explicit instruction Some practical training advice for those working w/ youth basketball players And of course so much more!One of the reasons I wanted to have Adam on the podcast is because he brings such a unique approach to skill acquisition in basketball. As a former basketball player, don’t let the hate for you, These topics really resonated with me and Selfishly Adam and I get to geek out on some of these things… Please take a moment to check out Adams blog Hardwood dexterity which I will link in the show notes….I hope you enjoy the show!Get in touch w/ Adam here Adams TwitterAdam’s Blog As always, if you have any questions or ideas for future episodes, feel free to contact me:Email: javier@igniteperformance.net Instagram: @thecoachjavtwitter: @thecoachjavCredits: Song- "Starstruck" by Freebeats.io Let's Chat!Twitter: @thecoachjavIG: @thecoachjav