PGC/Glazier Cleveland Conference

Hello Everyone!

I was honored to be a speaker at The 2015 Cleveland PGC/Glazier Basketball Coaches Conference. Those in the basketball world know that PGC/Glazier events are the cream of the crop so I was excited to speak, but also to meet and learn from some of today's greats.

Notice the blue "Speaker" title :-)

I spoke on 3 very important basketball-focused topics from the speed, strength, and conditioning world (see photo below).

There comes a time when winter asks what you did all spring and summer!

I had great audiences for all three presentations. The coaches asked great questions and were ready to learn so they could help their athletes. The athletes of these coaches don't know how lucky they are to have such great leaders!

Me speaking on the first day of the conference.

I got to meet some great coaches and people during the weekend, like:

Cindy and Rick Torbett of Better Basketball

Sam Allen of Blue Collar Basketball and PGC.

Kassidy Hardgrove of PGC.

Everyone was incredible! Professional, knowledgeable, and passionate.

Thank you PGC/Glazier for the amazing experience and opportunity to help this great community of basketball professionals!

To learn more about PGC/Glazier Clinics visit http://www.pgcglazierbasketballclinics.com/

Keep Training!
Coach Amanda Kephart and Akron General Sports Performance

Insider Baseball and Softball Skills Clinic

Former D1 Speed, Strength and Conditioning Coach 

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6-year MLB Player

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An Insider Experience of Professional and Collegiate Drills that will make you a faster, quicker, and better baseball/softball athlete! 

Coach Joe Inglett shares insider drills and skills from his MLB experience and his personal journey to the big leagues. Train like (and with) the pros at the clinic! 

Originally from California, Coach Joe came to Ohio thanks to the Cleveland Indians.

Coach Joe trained with speed, strength and conditioning coaches throughout his baseball career and knows that speed and strength training is a must for any player at any level.Teaming up with me (Coach Amanda Kephart) makes the Insider Clinic the first of its kind in Northeast Ohio! 

To be a pro like Coach Joe you have to be FAST!

"Coach Amanda sees the science and physics behind the movements and drills I mastered as a professional baseball player. We've worked together to make a one of a kind clinic that's sure to make the players better. She breaks down how to move, I show them how to move like that on the diamond." 

Coach Joe developed Strength and Power to excel over his 6 years in MLB.

Register soon as spots are limited!

Athlete Spotlight #76) Riley Feltner

Hello Everyone!

Our 76th athlete has embraced training at AGSP and seen great results in a short amount of time! A very humble athlete with tremendous potential, this athlete is committed to being the best he can be. He makes the most of every workout and is always trying to improve. He is driven and self-motivated to achieve his goals. It’s time to meet our newest athlete spotlight!

Athlete Name: Riley Feltner 
Sport(s): Baseball
Position(s): Catcher, Pitcher, 1st Base, 3rd Base
School:Seton Catholic School
Graduation Year: 2015
AGSP Athlete Since: 2014

Favorite Professional Sports Team: Cleveland Indians

Favorite Professional Athlete: Trevor Baur, Ken Griffey Jr. 

Favorite Lift:Back Squat

Favorite Movement Skill: Lateral Movements 

When I am not training at AGSP, I am: playing baseball at school or playing ping-pong.

What are your short-term goals? Play varsity baseball as a freshman, weight 170 lbs., 1.90 pop time freshman year, and throw 90 mph off mound. 
What are your long-term goals? Be 1st round 2019 MLB draft. 
How has AGSP impacted your performance as an athlete? AGSP has made me faster, stronger, and more powerful. My numbers in the weight room and on our speed/agility have been improving. I see a significant improvement in the batting cages, on the pitching mound, and behind the plate. 

Check out some video of Riley in action at AGSP!

Keep Training! 
Coach Amanda Kephart and Akron General Sports Performance

Why Baseball and Softball Players Slide into Bases

Hello Everyone!

Why do baseball and softball athletes slide? Often the first response is to avoid the tag out, which is true, but there's more to it than that.

AGSP athlete, Tyler Tofil, slides to avoid the home-plate tag. Read-on for the other reason why baseball players slide.

Why do baseball and softball players almost never slide into first base? First base is unique because it's the only base (besides home) that you are allowed to run through. You don't have to stop on first. 

This rule is why baseball and softball athletes have learned to slide into second and third base. Because sliding is the fastest way to stop!

When players are flying around the bases, especially when trying for extra bases, there is no better way to stop all that forward energy than to slide. Trying to use your legs and hips to stop creates a ton of unneeded force on the joints and ligaments. It is also a slower way to stop than sliding. Even when athletes do stop by using their feet and hips, they find it challenging to not sway off of the base.

Many athletes train to improve their starting speed and running, but very few ever focus on stopping (deceleration). You can have all the speed in the world, but if you can't stop fast and controlled than you won't be able to do much once you get to where you're going.

If you're a baseball or softball player you need to train to improve your sliding. If you're football, basketball, soccer, lacrosse, volleyball, etc you need to train to improve your stopping!

We teach athletes how to stop on a dime so they can make big plays and do what others can't.

Keep Training!
Coach Amanda Kephart and Akron General Sports Performance 

Athlete Spotlight #75) Madison Shinaberry

Hello Everyone!

Our 75th athlete has been training at AGSP with her brother and sisters for a few years. She's always willing to put in the extra work and she takes advantage of opportunities to better herself. She's always a team player and supportive of those around her. She likes to be challenged in her training and has seen a lot of great results from her consistent efforts. It’s time to meet our newest athlete spotlight!

Athlete Name: Madison Shinaberry
Sport(s): Soccer
Position(s): Defender
School: Walsh Jesuit High School
Graduation Year: 2019
AGSP Athlete Since: 2009

Favorite Professional Sports Team: US Women's National Soccer Team

Favorite Professional Athlete: Carli Lloyd

Favorite Lift: Back Squat

Favorite Movement Skill: Resistance Band Sprints

When I am not training at AGSP, I am:Practicing soccer on my own or with my team at practice. 

What are your short-term goals? My short-term goals are to make and start varsity soccer at Walsh Jesuit, all 4 years. 
What are your long-term goals? Play soccer in college and eventually work up to play on the National Team. 
How has AGSP impacted your performance as an athlete? AGSP has impacted my performance as an athlete because it has made me faster, stronger, and more explosive. It taught me that the pain you feel when you are doing something hard only lasts a short period of time, but if you quit, that hangs over you forever, so you need to fake it until you make and push through until the end.  

Check out some video of Madison in action at AGSP!

Keep Training! 
Coach Amanda Kephart and Akron General Sports Performance