I'm going to try to get back on an early-in-the-week publication calendar for this weekly feature, so here's your list of recommended reading/listening.
Functional Stability Training - Just a friendly reminder that this popular series from Mike Reinold and me is on sale for 25% off through the end of the day on Wednesday. Just enter the coupon code allstar2019cresseyHERE.
Gym Owner Musings - Pete Dupuis never disappoints with these random (but excellent) insights on the business side of fitness.
Range - This book from David Epstein has been recommended to me by several people over the past month, so I'm just digging in now. I'm excited to check it out.
A friendly reminder that the clean-squat-bench program isn't the right fit for your baseball players from a performance and spine (or upper extremity) health standpoint.
I hope you had a great week. In case you're looking for some recommended reading while you're sipping coffee this weekend, here's a good collection:
Overcoming the "Best Coach on Staff" Problem - This might be my favorite blog post that my business partner, Pete Dupuis, has ever written. This is a problem that just about every gym faces as they experience growth.
Young athletes need to be given opportunities to fail in training without significant consequences. Beyond the obvious motor learning benefits, it keeps them humble and hungry.
The Dichotomy of Leadership - I'm currently about 2/3 of the way through this audiobook from Leif Babbin and Jocko Willink. If you liked "Extreme Ownership," you'll love this one, too.
Corey Kluber on the Elite Baseball Development Podcast - My first podcast was a great hit; be sure to listen to one of the best pitchers in the game share his thoughts on Pitch Design, Developing a Process, and Preparing for Long-Term Success.
Top Tweet of the Week
Posterior pelvic tilt increases lower trap activation. Just a friendly reminder to all the college baseball players doing ugly band routines this weekend; control your core! It should look like the one on the left. https://t.co/RM9ltuxYiHpic.twitter.com/0RqSxclAe2
I hope you're having a great week. Here's a little recommended reading and listening to get you through your Wednesday!
7 Tips for Training Around Lower Back Pain - Mike Robertson outlines some great suggestions for anyone (which is most people) who has struggled with lower back pain at some point or another.
Atomic Habits - I just finished up this audiobook by James Clear. If you've read "The Power of Habit," this is a good follow-up that builds on its concepts. I particularly like the "Habits + Deliberate Practice = Mastery" equation.
Top Tweet of the Week
This offseason video from @Max_Scherzer is a reminder that actively pulling into the front hip is a big part of driving elite rotational power. Back hip loading + good direction + hip/shoulder separation + solid core control + front leg bracing = 🔥 @FlatgroundApp@PitchingNinjapic.twitter.com/SOkqX8DbUu
Here's some recommended reading/listening from around the strength and conditioning world to keep your week going:
The Speed Podcast with John O'Neil - The crew at TC Boost interviewed CSP-MA Director of Performance, John O'Neil, who spoke to some of our training methodologies at CSP.
Becoming an Industry Leader with Pete Dupuis - Michael Keeler interviewed my business partner, Pete Dupuis, on the business of fitness, and there was some great material for all of the fitness business owners out there.
Some MLB organizations still do distance-running conditioning tests in spring training. Sure, any professional athlete should be able to run two miles in a reasonable amount of time. Still, it's a complete waste of a training day at a time of year when injuries are the highest. pic.twitter.com/epug7jnMCa
I didn't get around to publishing this weekly feature last week, so I've got a bit of content stockpiled. Here was the best of the bunch:
Ace in the Hole: Corey Kluber at Cressey - New England Baseball Journal just ran this cover feature and article about Corey Kluber's training at Cressey Sports Performance - Massachusetts in their February edition.
7 Ways to Maintain Strength During Baseball Season - With baseball season rapidly approaching, it seemed like a good idea to reincarnate this guest article from CSP-MA Director of Performance, John O'Neil.
Top Tweet of the Week
This yr, for complex training, we are doing more heavy axial loaded single-leg work before unilateral plyos. Here’s anterior-loaded split squats from pins for 3/side, rest 30s, then heidens for 3/side. Do 4-5 rounds of this pairing as 1st exercise on lower body day. @RyanFelt26pic.twitter.com/lh9ZEDl6ln
I hope you've had a great week. To kick off the weekend, here's a little recommended reading and listening from around the strength and conditioning world.
9 Ways to Survive Off Days - This audio blog from Mike Robertson shares some good strategies for making the most of non-training days.
Cleaning Up Thoracic Rotation - Dean Somerset offers some great insights on optimizing thoracic spine mobility training.
Top Tweet of the Week
A mistake you’ll see in stiff-leg deadlift technique is slamming the knees into hyperextension on the lowering portion. This limits hip hinging and instead put stress on passive restraints of the knee. The kneecap shouldn’t be behind the heel; it’s a stiff (not straight) leg DL. pic.twitter.com/rWnhVxt2tt
Never Lose a Customer Again - This is a great read for anyone who has clients/customers, but I found it particularly interesting because it spoke quite a bit to retention in the fitness industry, with shoutouts to the Starrets (San Francisco Crossfit) and Jon Goodman (the Personal Trainer Development Center).
Top Tweet of the Week
A @jaegersports quote on long toss that’s invaluable: "Impress me on the way in, not on the way out." Here's @max_scherzer at ~210 feet with @trevor_gott yesterday. Get your mind and body right in the warmup, then let it eat on the pulldown throws on the way back in. #cspfamilypic.twitter.com/3o5rWCwMew
Here's your first recommended reading/listening compilation of 2019!
Complete Youth Training - This resource was my top product review of 2018, so I reached out to Mike Boyle (the creator) to see if he'd be up for running a quick promo sale for my readers, and he kindly agreed. Through tonight at midnight, you can get $50 off on the resource. No coupon code is needed; just head HERE.
Mark Fisher on Unicorns, Ninjas, and Business Success - Mark Fisher is an awesome guy and very intelligent business resource in the fitness industry. This interview for Mike Robertson's podcast is an outstanding listen for anyone who works in our field.
Why You Should Be Planning for 2020, not 2019 - I really enjoyed this article from Benjamin Hardy. In particular, this line resonated with me: "Don’t just plant a tree, plant an orchard."
I hope you had a great weekend. We're getting back on an every Monday schedule with this recommended reading. Before I get to it, just a quick reminder that I just announced a new date for my one-day shoulder course. It'll be taking place near Dallas, TX on January 27. You can learn more HERE.
How Rib Cage Positioning Impacts the Pitching Delivery - CSP-MA pitching coordinator Christian Wonders wrote this up last year, and in light of a recent conversation on pitching mechanics, I wanted to bring it back to the forefront.
The 7 Keys to Longevity with Dr. Jonny Bowden - Jason Ferruggia interviewed Dr. Bowden on his up-to-date thoughts on a variety of topics: nutrition, sleep, stress, and several other factors.
Top Tweet of the Week
Ulnar deviation w/the steel club. If you’re looking for forearm drills for pitchers, here’s a good complement to the pronation/supination exercises I’ve posted in the past. Flexor carpi ulnaris protects the ulnar collateral ligament against valgus stress; this targets it. pic.twitter.com/7Ru1mfDA2C
