The Strength TC Blog
Field notes on training sport teams, programming and building better systems — from the weight room to the staff room.
How to Run a High-Level Strength Program: Six Steps Coaches Can Use
Every variable in a high-level strength program traces back to a defined outcome. Six steps to choose sets, reps, rest and frequency with purpose.
Training Method and Protocol Selection: From Profile to Program
Select strength and conditioning methods from the athlete’s needs, training context and response. Explore individualized protocol design in Strength TC Level IV.
Athlete-Specific Programming: Interpreting Fatigue and Recovery
Athlete-specific strength and conditioning: interpret fatigue, recovery and energy availability before changing training. Strength TC Level IV seminar.
Advanced Athlete Testing: Start With the Coaching Question
Advanced athlete testing for strength coaches: choosing assessments that inform training decisions, recovery and referral. Explore Strength TC Level IV.
In the Lab – Progressive Rep Scheme
The Progressive Rep Scheme: How to Get Stronger In-Season Without Burning Your Athletes Out Every off-season program I write eventually hits the same wall: the season starts, and the training calendar doesn't get shorter—it gets harder to manage. Off-season blocks are...
In the Lab – Training Tonnage Based on Throwing Velocity
Tom House's 1991 classic, Nolan Ryan's Pitcher's Bible, introduced a deceptively simple idea: throwing a baseball hard, repeatedly, creates a measurable physical stress load — and the weight room's job is to build the capacity to absorb that load without breaking...
Strength Coach Chronicles – Systems of Hiring & Firing
8 People Quit In July I have a lot of hours to cover each week between my staff and me. Between the 3 gyms and our digital programming, supporting well over 500 clients, all training 3-4 times per week. When one person quits, it is hard; when 8 people quit, it is a...
In the Lab – When and Why a low EUR is Beneficial
What prompted this discussion Recently, I worked with an athlete who presented an interesting combination of characteristics: Relatively low concentric impulse at 100 ms Better concentric impulse at 200 ms Relatively low eccentric utilization ratio (EUR) This created...
In the Lab – Prime’s Smart Loading
If you coach on Prime equipment, you've seen the dial: 1 Middle | 2 End (Shortened) | 3 Beginning (Lengthened) | 4 Middle + End | 5 Beginning + Middle. Most coaches treat it like a range-of-motion limiter — pick a number, get a shorter range. That's not what it's...
In the Lab – What is Contrast Training?
What is contrast? Contrast training relies on the concept of “post-tetanic potentiation” (PTP), which states that a stronger muscular response can be achieved if it is preceded by a strong muscular contraction. Contrast training is a strategy to get more out of...
Strength Coach Chronicles – Ill Just Wait Till…….
It has been a brutal couple of months I have been and am in the crucible of S&C and life the past couple of months. Opened a new gym which I was working 5AM-8PM Monday-Friday, and then working through the weekend (kind of better now). Add to that: having a newborn...
Strength Coach Chronicles – What is it like working for me?
So, how do you like working for Tim? I am in a good spot work-wise right now. For those that do not know, I opened my 4th location of Allegiate last November. It was a pretty rough start for me from a workload perspective. I'm not going to complain, nor should you...