A look at first two steps in the Leaning Tower Series, building toward strong deceleration  Training Time | Tim Rudd for IYCA    Why is it important for your athletes to get stiffer early in the process of deceleration? I discussed why it’s an indicator of athletic success... Read more

   Regardless of the demands of your sport, pilates can probably help you  Health Watch : Suzanne Becker    Developing an athlete’s core, which consists of the deep abdominal muscles along with the muscles closest to the spine, makes an athlete more agile, helps prevent injury by stabilizing the... Read more

   Don’t let the grind smother your love of playing your sport.  Get Mental : Erika Carlson    In a recent article in the Walnut Street Journal, it was reported that from 2008-2012 for ages 6-14 years, football participation decreased by 4.9 percent, youth basketball participation decreased by 6.3... Read more

GET MENTAL : ERIKA CARLSON     Curious what the most common reason is that athletes seek mental training services?    Pre-game nerves.      That’s right, the same thing you have felt so many times. The jittery feeling in your body (part excitement, part fear), tense muscles, excessive thinking... Read more

   Employing drop sets into your lift routine can really benefit muscle growth  Powered by Trucks : Anthony Trucks    There are three main ways to train when it comes to weightlifting. You can lift for muscular strength, muscular power, or muscular size. Within those, a person could work... Read more

   Sports concussions have received significant attention over the last decade due to advances in research and education. Improved understanding of this neurologic phenomenon has led to more accurate identification of previously missed cases. An astounding 2 to 3.5 million sports concussions are estimated to occur every year. The... Read more

Football Safety : Dr. Selina Shah    Americans love football.     It’s no surprise that athletes from the high school level on up are drawn to the game. In 2012, a whopping 4.2 million played football, including more than 1 million high school students.    But popularity comes with... Read more

TRAINING TIME : Tim Rudd for IYCA     When you see athletes who are both agile and quick, you never forget it. They look as though they are effortlessly floating across the field or court of play. They can cut and change directions faster than anyone else in the... Read more

RUNNING : Hunter Greene, M.D.    We’ve all watched kids chasing squirrels in the backyard or sprinting to the playground. We know most kids are natural runners. If you’re thinking about getting your child into a more structured running program, here are some guidelines from the Road Runners Club... Read more

HEALTH WATCH : Dr. Nirav K. Pandya     As an orthopedic surgeon, former collegiate athlete and parent, sports are intricately woven into my life.     For the past several months, the media has focused extensively on the topic of misguided athletic participation, highlighting program’s like Major League Baseball’s “Pitch... Read more

Sub: A checklist for keeping safe during your winter mountain fun.  Snow Safety : Hunter Greene    As winter approaches, many families are eagerly anticipating the start of skiing and snowboarding season. And while hitting the slopes is a great way to stay active and have some family fun,... Read more

Every athlete is tested at some point “” do you have all the tools to pass that test?  Get Mental : Erika Carlson    While attending a recent sport psychology conference, I had the pleasure of hearing WNBA basketball great, Sheryl Swoopes, talk about what drives excellence.     She... Read more