The Bottom Line:
Here is a summary in the requested format:
- I was always the small, fast athlete growing up and gravitated towards speed and agility training as a passion and career path.
- Early on, I had to learn the mechanics of sprinting and movement patterns by observing differences between fast and slow athletes, and using tools like video analysis to improve my coaching.
- Educating athletes, especially slower ones, on proper mechanics is crucial before progressing to high-speed execution, as rushing into top speed can lead to poor form.
- I’ve developed a systematic approach of teaching movement patterns slowly and incrementally, mastering them at lower intensities before increasing speed, to help athletes truly understand and ingrain the mechanics.
- My passion for speed and agility training, combined with 20+ years of coaching experience across various sports, has made me a renowned expert in this field.
The Skinny, Fast Kid: Michael’s Athletic Background
Honing His Athletic Prowess: Michael’s Early Years
From a young age, Michael’s athletic abilities were evident. As he recounts, he was always the “skinny, small, fast kid” growing up. Despite his smaller stature, he possessed a natural gift for speed and agility that would prove to be a significant advantage in his athletic pursuits.
The Makeshift Speed Sled: An Early Passion for Speed
Michael’s fascination with speed development began at an early age. He recalls constructing a homemade speed sled out of wood in his backyard, where he would practice sprints and hone his explosive abilities. This DIY project was a testament to his innate drive to improve his speed and athleticism, even before embarking on his formal coaching career.
The Collegiate Football Journey: Overcoming Size Limitations
Despite his smaller stature, Michael’s passion for football led him to pursue the sport at the collegiate level. He chose to attend Wheaton College, a Division III institution, where he could showcase his speed and agility on the field. Though he initially doubted his ability to compete at the collegiate level due to his size, Michael’s determination and natural talent ultimately proved to be the deciding factors in his successful football career.
During his time at Wheaton, Michael’s interest in coaching and speed development began to take shape. He recalls working as a graduate assistant, where he had the opportunity to explore his passion for training athletes and helping them unlock their full potential. It was during this period that Michael’s fascination with the mechanics of speed and the art of transforming “slow people into fast people” truly blossomed.
As Michael’s coaching career progressed, he continued to refine his approach, drawing insights from various sources, including books, DVDs, and even VHS tapes – the technological tools available at the time. He meticulously analyzed the movement patterns of both fast and slow athletes, seeking to understand the underlying principles that could be applied to help athletes of all skill levels improve their speed and agility.
The Aha Moment: Discovering a Passion for Speed Training
Mastering the Fundamentals: A Journey into Speed Training
Michael’s passion for speed training can be traced back to his early days as an athlete. Growing up in the middle of nowhere in Wisconsin, he was always the “skinny, small, fast kid” who had to rely on his speed to compete. This innate talent and love for speed led him to build a homemade speed sled in his backyard, even in his junior high days, as he recognized the immense advantage that speed could provide in sports.
From Football to Coaching: Finding the Aha Moment
After initially pursuing a career in chiropractic medicine, Michael’s path took an unexpected turn when he realized his true passion lay in coaching. During his time as a collegiate football player at Wheaton College, he had an opportunity to work as a graduate assistant coach. However, when that opportunity fell through, he found himself searching for a summer job. That’s when a teammate’s brother, who owned a speed training company, offered him a chance to help out. This experience proved to be a pivotal moment, as Michael quickly realized that speed training was his true calling.
Evolving Expertise: From Mechanics to Motion Analysis
Michael’s journey in speed training has been a continuous process of learning and refinement. In the early days, he relied on observing the differences between fast and slow athletes, trying to understand how he could help the “slow people” become faster. Without the abundance of resources available today, he turned to books, DVDs, and even VHS tapes to study the mechanics of running and movement patterns.
As technology advanced, Michael embraced new tools, such as the iPad, which revolutionized his ability to analyze and provide feedback to his athletes. He emphasizes the importance of understanding the mechanics of movement, starting slow and mastering the fundamentals before progressing to higher speeds. This methodical approach, combined with his deep understanding of eccentric forces and their role in speed development, has allowed Michael to become a renowned expert in the field of sports performance coaching.
Mastering the Mechanics: Evolving Approach to Speed Development
Mastering the Mechanics: Evolving Approach to Speed Development
As my understanding of speed development has evolved over the years, I’ve come to appreciate the importance of mastering the fundamental mechanics of movement. In the early days, it was all about trial and error, watching athletes and trying to discern the differences between the fast and the slow. Without the wealth of resources we have today, it was a process of piecing together information from books, DVDs, and even old VHS tapes.
The Power of Slow Motion
One of the key breakthroughs for me was recognizing the value of slowing things down. By having athletes perform drills at a slower pace, I could really hone in on the proper body positioning and movement patterns. It’s easy for mechanics to break down when moving at full speed, but by starting slow and gradually building up the tempo, athletes could ingrain the correct technique before attempting to apply it at game-like velocities.
Bridging the Gap: Eccentric Forces and Isometrics
Another important aspect of my approach has been the incorporation of eccentric forces and isometric exercises. These types of movements allow athletes to develop a deeper understanding of how to generate and transfer force through the body. By having them perform drills like the wall drill, where they can really feel the engagement of the hip flexors and the loading of the posterior chain, they gain a kinesthetic awareness that translates directly to their sprinting mechanics.
The key is to strike a balance between the slow, deliberate work and the high-speed application. It’s not enough to simply master the mechanics at a walking pace; the athlete must be able to seamlessly apply those principles when moving at top speed. By building a strong foundation through methodical, progressive training, we can then unlock the athlete’s true potential for explosive speed and agility.
Slow to Fast: The Importance of Foundational Movement Patterns
Mastering the Fundamentals: The Building Blocks of Speed
Developing speed and agility is not just about pushing athletes to their limits. It’s about understanding the foundational movement patterns that underlie true athletic prowess. As a renowned sports performance coach, Michael has dedicated his career to unlocking the secrets of speed, and he firmly believes that the key lies in mastering the basics.
The Slow-to-Fast Approach: Laying the Groundwork
Michael’s training philosophy is rooted in the principle of progressing from slow to fast. He recognizes that many athletes, especially those who are not naturally gifted with speed, struggle to grasp the proper mechanics and movement patterns required for explosive acceleration and change of direction. By starting with slow, controlled drills and gradually increasing the intensity, Michael helps his athletes develop a deep understanding of their body’s movements, enabling them to translate that knowledge into lightning-fast execution on the field or court.
The Power of Eccentric Forces: Unlocking Athletic Potential
Integral to Michael’s approach is the understanding of eccentric forces and their role in developing speed and power. He emphasizes the importance of educating his athletes on the biomechanics of movement, helping them to feel and internalize the correct muscle activation and joint positioning required for optimal performance. Through a combination of slow, deliberate drills and progressive overload, Michael guides his athletes to master the fundamentals, laying the groundwork for explosive, high-speed movements.
By focusing on the foundational movement patterns and the underlying mechanics of speed, Michael’s training methodology sets his athletes up for long-term success. Rather than simply pushing them to their limits, he empowers them to truly understand and own the skills they need to become the fastest, most agile versions of themselves.
Eccentric Forces and Athlete Education: Bridging the Gap
Mastering Eccentric Forces: The Key to Unlocking Athlete Potential
Eccentric training has emerged as a crucial component in the development of athletic speed and power. As a renowned sports performance coach, Michael has dedicated significant time to understanding the role of eccentric forces and how to effectively incorporate them into his athletes’ training regimens.
Bridging the Gap: Educating Athletes on Eccentric Mechanics
One of the primary challenges faced by coaches is bridging the gap between the theoretical understanding of eccentric forces and the practical application of this knowledge. Michael has developed a systematic approach to educating his athletes on the importance of eccentric mechanics and how to harness them for optimal performance.
Unlocking the Power of Slow and Controlled Movements
Michael emphasizes the value of starting with slow and controlled movements to help athletes develop a deep understanding of proper form and body positioning. By mastering the mechanics at a slower pace, athletes can then seamlessly transition to higher-intensity exercises, ensuring that the correct movement patterns are ingrained and carried over to their sport-specific activities.
This gradual progression from slow to fast movements allows athletes to truly feel the eccentric forces at play and develop a heightened awareness of their body’s biomechanics. Michael’s approach of breaking down complex movements into their fundamental components and then gradually building up speed and intensity has proven to be a highly effective strategy in unlocking the full potential of his athletes.
Through this systematic and methodical approach, Michael has been able to help athletes of all skill levels, from the slow and struggling to the elite and experienced, to harness the power of eccentric forces and translate it into tangible improvements in speed, agility, and overall athletic performance.
