Hello Everyone!
Sometimes a little humor can remind us of an important lesson. If you haven't seen the classic Saturday Night Live skit, "How much you bench?" take a moment to check it out.
How much ya bench? by Shakey74
The parody on gym-meatheads should remind us that our training needs to help us reach our goals.
If your goal is to be a big chested, small-legged muscleman then many hours at the bench press is in your future training plans.
Yet, what if you're an athlete and your goal is to jump higher? Run faster? Play more aggressively? Get a collegiate scholarship? What type of exercises should you be doing? What type of training is going to get you to your goals?
Are you performing certain exercises just because everyone else is? Or are you training with the sound guidance of experts that understand your goals and how to train to get you there?
Don't waste your time with training just for the sake of training! Invest your time in quality training that will help you achieve your goals!
Keep Training!
Coach Amanda Kephart and Akron General Sports Performance
Wednesday, March 27, 2013
Tuesday, March 26, 2013
Simple but Not Easy: Improving Your Weaknesses
Hello Everyone!
We've all heard it before, "improve your weaknesses." As athletes this is very important because athletes are only as good as their weakest skill. Whether it is speed, quickness, shooting, dribbling, passing, catching, fielding, jumping, physical play, etc., whatever it is, athletes will be limited by those skills that they are not good at.
Yet, as humans we enjoy (and therefore work on) the skills we are good at.
If we are a speedy sprinter we like to practice sprinting.
If we are a great shooter, we like to practice shooting.
If we are great at the plate, we like to practice hitting.
And the list goes on...
This is why it is so beneficial for athletes to have a good coach in their lives. A good coach makes you practice those skills you know you should be practicing, but wouldn't practice on your own!
A good coach will identify an athlete's weaknesses and make sure that at every practice or training session that athlete is working on improving what they need most.
We like to think we will practice/train our weaknesses on our own, but reality is we won't and don't.
If every athlete trained the way they intended then every athlete would come to the next season with less weaknesses. Yet, most come back year after year after year with the same weaknesses and the same strengths.
Don't be like most athletes. Improve your weaknesses!
Not sure how to improve your weaknesses? Maybe a training session at AGSP is in order.
Keep training!
Coach Amanda Kephart and Akron General Sports Performance
We've all heard it before, "improve your weaknesses." As athletes this is very important because athletes are only as good as their weakest skill. Whether it is speed, quickness, shooting, dribbling, passing, catching, fielding, jumping, physical play, etc., whatever it is, athletes will be limited by those skills that they are not good at.
Yet, as humans we enjoy (and therefore work on) the skills we are good at.
If we are a speedy sprinter we like to practice sprinting.
If we are a great shooter, we like to practice shooting.
If we are great at the plate, we like to practice hitting.
And the list goes on...
A good coach will identify an athlete's weaknesses and make sure that at every practice or training session that athlete is working on improving what they need most.
We like to think we will practice/train our weaknesses on our own, but reality is we won't and don't.
If every athlete trained the way they intended then every athlete would come to the next season with less weaknesses. Yet, most come back year after year after year with the same weaknesses and the same strengths.
Don't be like most athletes. Improve your weaknesses!
Not sure how to improve your weaknesses? Maybe a training session at AGSP is in order.
Keep training!
Coach Amanda Kephart and Akron General Sports Performance
Thursday, March 21, 2013
Simple, but Not Easy: focusing on what you can control
Hello Everyone,
Simple, but easy: focusing only on what you can control.
What are things that athletes can NOT control?
- Height
- Skeletal Structure
- Whether your teammate plays at 100%
- Whether your teammate shows-up to train and prepare to be better
What are things that athletes can control?
- Strength
- Speed
- Power
- Conditioning Level
- Whether you, yourself, play at 100%
- Whether you, yourself, show-up to train and prepare to be the best you can be
Again it is simple to understand. No one has figured out a way to grow taller. No one can completely control another person's actions or lack there of.
But it isn't easy to let those uncontrollables go. "I wish I was taller", "I wish my teammates would play up to their potential", "I wish my teammates would just show-up and become better." All thoughts like that are wasted thoughts.
Instead, focus only on what you can control! "I'm going to show-up and train to the best of my ability today", "I'm going to work with experts that can make me faster, stronger, and more powerful" , "I'm going to be in great condition for tryouts. I'm going to focus on myself and what I can do to be the best I can be."
When you put your energy and focus onto yourself and the things you can control, you will be amazed at how much faster you obtain your goals...and how much happier you'll be!
Keep Training!
Coach Amanda Kephart and Akron General Sports Performance
Simple, but easy: focusing only on what you can control.
What are things that athletes can NOT control?
- Height
- Skeletal Structure
- Whether your teammate plays at 100%
- Whether your teammate shows-up to train and prepare to be better
What are things that athletes can control?
- Strength
- Speed
- Power
- Conditioning Level
- Whether you, yourself, play at 100%
- Whether you, yourself, show-up to train and prepare to be the best you can be
Again it is simple to understand. No one has figured out a way to grow taller. No one can completely control another person's actions or lack there of.
But it isn't easy to let those uncontrollables go. "I wish I was taller", "I wish my teammates would play up to their potential", "I wish my teammates would just show-up and become better." All thoughts like that are wasted thoughts.
Instead, focus only on what you can control! "I'm going to show-up and train to the best of my ability today", "I'm going to work with experts that can make me faster, stronger, and more powerful" , "I'm going to be in great condition for tryouts. I'm going to focus on myself and what I can do to be the best I can be."
When you put your energy and focus onto yourself and the things you can control, you will be amazed at how much faster you obtain your goals...and how much happier you'll be!
Keep Training!
Coach Amanda Kephart and Akron General Sports Performance
Tuesday, March 19, 2013
What Colleges Look For in Athletes
Hello Everyone!
Many athletes hope to play their chosen sport at the collegiate level, but few have ever thought about what skills they need to be offered the opportunity to play at that level.
Have you ever thought...
What would you want them to see? What do they need to see to make them want to offer you a college scholarship?
Colleges and universities need players that can play multiple positions. They know that college athletics are full of unforeseen circumstances: injuries, transfers, violations, etc. which force them to change game-plans and adapt.
It is time to train. It is time to prepare for that day when the college of your dreams comes to watch you play. It is time to make yourself into the well-rounded, fast, quick, strong, and powerful athlete that your college will want to invest in (offer a scholarship)!
At AGSP you'll be on the quick path to maximizing these much needed traits.
Keep Training!
Coach Amanda Kephart and Akron General Sports Performance
Many athletes hope to play their chosen sport at the collegiate level, but few have ever thought about what skills they need to be offered the opportunity to play at that level.
Have you ever thought...
What if your number one college choice was at your next game?
What would you want them to see? What do they need to see to make them want to offer you a college scholarship?
COLLEGE SCOUTS ARE LOOKING FOR:
- High Speed
- Breakaway Quickness
- Explosive Jumps
- Strong, Physical Play
- Well-Rounded Athletes!
Colleges and universities need players that can play multiple positions. They know that college athletics are full of unforeseen circumstances: injuries, transfers, violations, etc. which force them to change game-plans and adapt.
Colleges/Universities will invest in players that can adapt and play multiple positions!
Colleges/Universities will invest in players that are more than a one-trick-pony!
Colleges/Universities will invest in players that are more than a one-trick-pony!
Colleges/Universities will invest in players that are hard-working and have a desire to improve!
It is time to train. It is time to prepare for that day when the college of your dreams comes to watch you play. It is time to make yourself into the well-rounded, fast, quick, strong, and powerful athlete that your college will want to invest in (offer a scholarship)!
At AGSP you'll be on the quick path to maximizing these much needed traits.
Keep Training!
Coach Amanda Kephart and Akron General Sports Performance
Friday, March 15, 2013
Simple but Not Easy: Short-term Memory
Hello Everyone!
Recently I wrote about the simple, but not easy concept of showing up. Another example of this concept is having a short-term memory.
To be a good athlete you have to have the ability to stay in the present moment, aka, a short-term memory.
Whether it's forgetting about the missed easy lay-up, the missed block, the missed snatch in the weight room, or any other athletic skill that you didn't execute like you could/should have - you have to have a short-term memory.
Being a great athlete means remember that athletics (and the training that goes along with it) are a series of events that end. They are not things that define who you are as an athlete or person.
The ability to clear your mind and stay in the game (or workout session) is what will allow you to have a great athletic career that you can be proud or.
So the next time you miss something, forget about it!
Keep Training!
Coach Amanda Kephart and Akron General Sports Performance
Recently I wrote about the simple, but not easy concept of showing up. Another example of this concept is having a short-term memory.
To be a good athlete you have to have the ability to stay in the present moment, aka, a short-term memory.
Whether it's forgetting about the missed easy lay-up, the missed block, the missed snatch in the weight room, or any other athletic skill that you didn't execute like you could/should have - you have to have a short-term memory.
Being a great athlete means remember that athletics (and the training that goes along with it) are a series of events that end. They are not things that define who you are as an athlete or person.
So the next time you miss something, forget about it!
Keep Training!
Coach Amanda Kephart and Akron General Sports Performance
Wednesday, March 13, 2013
Real Results
Hello Everyone!
Last week I had one of my athlete's parents stop by and share the following:
"Coach Amanda, my son's baseball coach posts all of the trying-out kids' performance numbers for the parents and athletes to see. Not only did my son's numbers significantly improve in each category, but all of his teammates that trained with you did as well! Those that didn't train at AGSP had numbers that barely budged in comparison."
It was wonderful to hear, but I certainty can not take the credit. Her son and his teammates that trained at AGSP are the ones that made those improvements happen. As their coach, I just showed them the best ways to maximize their efforts.
We have no secrets here at AGSP, just passionate coaches that are experts in getting athletes the results they want - like being the most improved athletes on their team!
Come get real results. We off a complimentary first session and can show you how you can be one of the best athletes on your team!
Keep Training!
Coach Amanda Kephart and Akron General Sports Performance
Last week I had one of my athlete's parents stop by and share the following:
"Coach Amanda, my son's baseball coach posts all of the trying-out kids' performance numbers for the parents and athletes to see. Not only did my son's numbers significantly improve in each category, but all of his teammates that trained with you did as well! Those that didn't train at AGSP had numbers that barely budged in comparison."
It was wonderful to hear, but I certainty can not take the credit. Her son and his teammates that trained at AGSP are the ones that made those improvements happen. As their coach, I just showed them the best ways to maximize their efforts.
Come get real results. We off a complimentary first session and can show you how you can be one of the best athletes on your team!
Keep Training!
Coach Amanda Kephart and Akron General Sports Performance
Sunday, March 10, 2013
Simple, but Not Easy - showing up
Hello Everyone!
The world of athletics is full of rules or guidelines that I like to call "simple, but not easy." Concepts that for the most part everyone can understand, but very few can actually do.
Take for example the simple, but not easy concept of showing up.
Whether it is to a 6am speed and agility session, an after school practice, a late afternoon weightlifting session, or arriving early like coach told you to do so you can take care of pre-game business. The only thing that is asked is of you is to show up.
I'm not even talking about effort or attitude, just the simple act of showing up.
But it isn't easy to show up on a dark cold morning before class.
It isn't easy to show up to practice when your significant other wants you to hang out together instead.
It isn't easy to show up to the weightlfting session when you are so sore.
It isn't easy to show up early before the game when everyone else is hanging out somewhere fun.
Yet, if you just showed up a lot of your dreams and goals would become a reality. You can't achieve your dreams of a college scholarship, or winning a championship, or making the team when you make excuses for yourself on why you don't need to show up.
The athletes that show up at AGSP are the same athletes that are achieving many of the personal goals and dreams. Maybe it is time you join them and show up?
Keep Training!
Coach Amanda Kephart and Akron General Sports Performance
The world of athletics is full of rules or guidelines that I like to call "simple, but not easy." Concepts that for the most part everyone can understand, but very few can actually do.
Take for example the simple, but not easy concept of showing up.
Whether it is to a 6am speed and agility session, an after school practice, a late afternoon weightlifting session, or arriving early like coach told you to do so you can take care of pre-game business. The only thing that is asked is of you is to show up.
I'm not even talking about effort or attitude, just the simple act of showing up.
But it isn't easy to show up on a dark cold morning before class.
It isn't easy to show up to practice when your significant other wants you to hang out together instead.
It isn't easy to show up to the weightlfting session when you are so sore.
It isn't easy to show up early before the game when everyone else is hanging out somewhere fun.
Yet, if you just showed up a lot of your dreams and goals would become a reality. You can't achieve your dreams of a college scholarship, or winning a championship, or making the team when you make excuses for yourself on why you don't need to show up.
Keep Training!
Coach Amanda Kephart and Akron General Sports Performance
Tuesday, March 5, 2013
THE Sports Doctor says - Stop Year Round Sports
Hello Everyone!
I had a lot of parents talk to me about the recent Cleveland Plain Dealer article about "going easier on young athletes."
It was an interview with world-renown sports doctor, Dr. James R. Andrews and his biggest point is a point we have been stressing for years at AGSP, don't train year-round in your sport! Especially before the age of 18!
A little known fact is that Akron General Medical Center started our Sports Performance Department for the same exact reason why Dr. Andrews wrote his new book Any Given Monday - Sports Injuries and How to Prevent Them. They were seeing way to many young athletes in physical therapy with overuse injuries!
Here at AGSP we take it a step further and make sure that as athletes are resting they are getting faster, stronger, and more powerful in our 100% supervised environment. So when they go back to the sport they love, they are quicker, more powerful, and better!
Keep Training!
Coach Amanda Kephart and Akron General Sports Performance
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