How do you expect to get better and make changes if you don’t know what it is you’re trying to improve on? How can you work on strength training, speed & agility training or any other skill for that matter if you don’t have baseline numbers or baseline video of that particular skill? How can you successfully track progress in an objective format? This is not something that athletes should shy away from. Here’s an opportunity to find out where you need to improve :).
What boggles my mind is that skill instructors or personal trainers fail to get baseline numbers and baseline video on a client and yet the client continues to work with the instructor. When the instructor says that he or she is “getting better”, this is a verbal reinforcement that every kid, parent and coach wants to hear. But the findings are very subjective. There’s no concrete evidence or objective material that shows that athlete is getting better. Indoor facility instructors with no video analysis or baseline comparisons in my opinion is a waste of your time and money.
Baseline Testing
We need to figure out what it is you need the most work on. If you’re super fast, then we will shift our focus to gaining strength and body control. If you’re strong as can be but can’t lift your knee past your hips, then we will shift gears and work on mobility and flexibility. Everyone is different and needs to work on different parts of their game. That is why everyone who comes to AB has different programs based off of their own personal needs. Baseline testing includes:
- Broad Jump
- Single Leg Jump
- Medicine Ball Chest Pass
- 10 and 20 Yard Dash
- 5-10-5 Pro Agility
- Video specific to your skill
Pre-Screening Evaluation
I guarantee there are hundreds of athletes in this area with some sort of nagging injury that probably could have been prevented if they were pre-screened. Limitation and asymmetries in the body can lead to specific injuries which means YOU won’t be playing until the injury is taken care of. You can’t help your team if you’re sitting on the bench and you can’t impress high school or college coaches if you’re always hurt! Pre-Screening Evaluation Includes:
- Posture Assessment
- Joint Range of Motion
- Strength Tests
- Gait Analysis
- Exercise Movement Screening
- Core Strength
- Shoulder Assessment
Then What?
Based on the findings from the Pre-Screening Evaluation, a corrective exercise protocol will be given to help fix the limitations and asymmetries of the body. This could include Dynamic Warm Ups, Specific Stretches and Specific Soft Tissue Exercises using the Foam Roller.
So what’s your excuse? Do you know what you need to work on? Do you know how you’re going to get better?
Please email me at austin@wassermanstrength.com if you are interested in setting up a Pre-Screening Evaluation
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