AGSP trains The Akron Racers

Hello Everyone!

I have some exciting news, Akron General Sports Performance is now the Official Sports Performance Training of the Akron Racers!

AGSP will be training our local Women's Fastpitch Professional Softball team throughout the 2009 Season. AGSP will be helping to increase The Racers' strength, power, and speed while decreasing their risk for injury as they try to bring the National Pro Fastpitch (NFL) Championship back to Akron, Ohio!


Keep Training! (The Akron Racers will be!)
Coach Amanda Kephart

Athlete Spotlighting #2: Andrea Gordon

Hello Everyone!

Our next Athlete Spotlight is very different then the first. This athlete is newer to AGSP, but has hit the ground running. Motivated and focused, we will be tracking her progress as she prepares for her senior year of high school basketball. Let's get to know...

Athlete Name: Andrea Gordon
Sport(s): Basketball
Position(s): Point Guard, Shooting Guard
School: Woodridge High School
Graduation Year: 2010
AGSP Athlete Since: March 2009

Favorite Professional Sports Team: Cavaliers
Favorite Professional Athlete: LeBron James
Favorite Lift: None...yet
Favorite Movement Skill: Acceleration

When I am not at AGSP, I am:
"Playing Basketball and hanging out with friends at the movies, Chipotle, and/or Applebee's."

What are your short-term goals?
"To make 1st Team All-Conference and All-Star Team my senior year."

What are your long-term goals?
"Go to college and become an architect."

How has AGSP impacted your performance as an athlete?
"I feel stronger and more educated about how to do things correctly, so that when I'm not at AGSP I can think about and work on certain skills."

Check out some video of Andrea training hard at AGSP!

Keep Training!
Coach Amanda Kephart

Athlete Spotlighting #1: Danny Dunn

Hello Everyone!

Its time we start congratulating some of our hard-working athletes.

Its time we...
...share their accomplishments
...share their journeys
...share their commitment
...share their results

Introducing, Athlete Spotlighting, a time where we learn through others and acknowledge them for their hard-work, consistency, and passion.

Our first athlete was an easy choice. Since starting his training at AGSP over a year ago, he has been one of our most consistent, open-minded, eager, hard-working athletes to ever step under the barbell. Without further delay, its time to spotlight...

ATHLETE SPOTLIGHT #1: Danny Dunn

Sport(s) Played: Football
Position(s) Played: Defensive End & Tackle
School: Stow-Munroe Falls High School
Graduation Year: 2012

AGSP Athlete Since: January 2008
Favorite Lift: Back Squat
Favorite Movement Skill: Acceleration

Favorite Professional Sports Team: Denver Broncos
Favorite Professional Athlete: LeBron James

When Danny is not at ASGP, he is: "Training with the high school football team"

His short-term goals? "Start on the Varsity Football Team this fall"

His long-term goals? "Play college football at Ohio State University"

How has AGSP impacted his performance as an athlete? "I've gotten faster and stronger"

Check out some video of Danny training hard at AGSP!

Stay tuned for more Athlete Spotlights!

Until then...

Keep Training!
Coach Amanda Kephart

What is a Sports Performance Coach?

Hello Everyone!

Whether its from a friend, sport coach, athlete, parent, or curious passer-by, I'm often asked, "What is a Sports Performance Coach?"

So let me answer the question clearly...

A Sports Performance Coach (SPC) is:
An Expert in Exercise Physiology
- Understands how all the systems of the body; muscular, nervous, skeletal, endocrine, etc. effects the entire human body. This understanding allows the SPC to teach athletes how to maximize human performance.

An Expert in Human Movement Pattern
- Not only does the Sports Performance Coach know how the body works, but also how the body moves. Angles, force production, stability, balance, edges, etc. are the meat and potatoes of the SPC's coaching. A good SPC understands all these movement variables and how they change depending on application. Whether its acceleration, squat, maximum velocity, olympic lifts, change of direction, etc. the SPC can get an athlete to perform all of these skills at a higher, more optimal level.

Has the Ability to Uncover the Cause of Pain
- Athletes train hard and pain is common. A good SPC, because of his/her above knowledge has the ability to start uncovering the cause of some pains. Especially when they are caused by poor movement patterns. Many pains, whether knees, backs, shoulders, etc. can cease when the SPC teaches proper movement and removes poor, unhealthy movement. Of course, a good SPC does not hesitate to get further opinions from physical therapists and doctors.

A Sports Performance Coach (SPC) is NOT:
An Expert on Individual Sports
- A SPC does not understand the details behind a good jump shot, the perfect swing, the perfect spiral, etc. This knowledge belongs to the Sport Coach, not the Sports PERFORMANCE Coach. This is why its important for a SPC to compliment the Sport Coach by building stronger, healthier, faster athletes. That way the Sport Coach can teach the perfect swing and the Sports Performance Coach can teach power generation. Perfect Swing + Power = Powerful Perfect Swing

Should a Sports Performance Coach try to be a Sport Coach? NO!
Should a Sport Coach try to be a Sports Performance Coach? NO!
Should a Sport Coach and a Sports Performance Coach work together to develop the best athletes possible? YES!

Hopefully that answers things. :-)

Keep Training!
Coach Amanda Kephart

Tip #8: General Physical Skills

Hello Everyone!

Athletes need to be complete.

Athletes can't have weakness.

Athletes have to have skills.

A complete, strong athlete has to have the following skills:

10 General Physical Skills

1. Cardiovascular Endurance
2. Stamina
3. Strength
4. Flexibility
5. Power
6. Speed
7. Coordination
8. Accuracy
9. Agility
10. Balance

If an athlete lacks any of these skills, his/her opponents will surely exploit them.

Are you complete?

Is your training addressing all 10 GENERAL Physical Skills?

AGSP's training does. Guaranteed.

Become complete. Become weakness-free. Become skilled. Become a better athlete with AGSP.

Keep Training!

Coach Amanda Kephart

* General Physical Skills concept credited to Jim Cawley of Dynamax Medicine