Before I get to the list, I have to show you the greatest thing I stumbled across this past month, thanks to Ryan:
If Bane says you should understand good squatting mechanics, then you should probably understand sound squatting mechanics. Case closed.
Alright, moving on to the list:
10 Things I've Learned: Ramblings From a Mathematically Challenged Fitness Coach - Alwyn Cosgrove
This article holds a special place in my heart as it was the FIRST article I ever read that helped bring me away from the stupid with regards to training people.
At the time of stumbling across the article, I was working as a personal trainer down at Virginia Tech. While yes, I was at least preaching the importance of squatting, progressive overload, and good technique, I was still following a very "Muscle & Fitness" approach to training: You know, attacking all the angles of each muscle group, omitting warm-ups, performing at least 40 total work sets during a session, tons of machine and leg press work, along with other equally useful things such as placing screen doors on submarines.
And no, I had no clue what a foam roller was, and yes, #26 and #28 on the list gave me a particularly well-deserved kick to the pants.
Upon reading this article, I immediately thought to myself, "What the....!!! Where have I been for the past couple years; hiding under a rock? What have I been wasting my time with reading?"
For those of you who haven't read it, I highly encourage you to click the link above.
Coaching Women and Coaching Men: Two Different Planets - Kelsey Reed
If you work in the coaching or training sector, in the weightroom or out on the field, it (hopefully) undoubtedly didn't take long for you to realize that teaching a male a skill versus teaching a female a skill can require particularly different approaches.
I thought Kelsey did an excellent job elucidating a few of the not-so-obvious differences between coaching men vs. women, with a few tips to boot.
Progression and Periodization for Elite Sprinters and Jumpers - Sarah Walls
This is an old(er) post from Sarah that I thought provided some awesome insight into training jumpers and sprinters. Considering that she is the strength & conditioning coach for the George Mason team (a consistently top team in America), this is written from someone who actually "walks the walk" of working with high level track athletes.
For those of you who enjoy a bit more of the "geeky" side of training, this will be right up your alley, as well.