As any teacher knows, the biggest hurdle in education is getting students to buy into what they are learning in class. This can be especially difficult when it comes to physical education.
In our experience, the most overlooked part of training for high school athletes is the cool-down & recovery period. At PLT4M, we use a number of different static stretching routines (like the Band Stretch above), mobility work, and foam rolling as our final piece of each training session.
The Air Squat. Arguably the single most important movement for young students and athletes to learn. Proper squatting is vital to both athletic performance and overall physical health. Teaching such a foundational movement should be simple right? Unfortunately, this isn’t always the case.
When it comes to progress, effort matters most. Almost any training program will generate some positive results – so long as the kids using it are motivated and engaged.
Want to build more powerful athletes? Most coaches would agree that incorporating lifts like the clean is a good start. The clean is an explosive, athletic movement, utilizing the entire body that can drastically increase power output.
All too often we run into coaches and athletes hesitant about utilizing hang snatching in their programs. At PLT4M, we believe it is an excellent accessory piece that develops a number of important things.
Many athletes have issues with the front rack position – most notably, being unable to keep your elbows high during heavier reps of the front squat or clean. High elbows means a better shoulder shelf for the bar, as well as a taller, prouder chest.
Athletes have the very important and very unique need of being able to move laterally with quickness and power. Often neglected in many training programs, lateral movement is a foundational part of sport.