un·ion /ˈyunyən/ (noun) 1. the act of uniting two or more things. 2. the state of being united. 3. something formed by uniting two or more things; combination. 4. a number of persons, states, etc., joined or associated together for some common purpose: Union Football. Iowa that is. Dysart Iowa population 1100. LaPorte City Iowa population 1500. Together they are the Union Knights and they have a new sheriff in town in the form of Head Football Coach Joe Hadachek. And up until yesterday, I don't think they had any clue what they are in for this season. Probably never heard of Union High School on a national level. Probably not even on a state level. You will in due time.
You know you are in small town Midwest when you show up 20 minutes prior to start time and there are already 5 parents standing there. By start time there are about 20 people with lawn chairs watching AND they stayed for the ENTIRE session. Are they here because they have nothing better to do on a Sunday afternoon in small town Iowa? Probably. Are they here because they have heard stories about Coach Hadachek and his 'different' philosophy and training methods? More likely.
You see Coach Hadachek was my strength and conditioning coach in college. He is the one responsible for my head swimming with ideas and constantly squeezing out any knowledge I can from the pages of discerning textbooks. Better yet, he taught me something right out of the gate about APPLICATION. Theory is theory, but do you know where the weight room is? That, my grasshoppers, is where 'it' gets done. There was something about that college weightroom: down in the basement of the fieldhouse, dark, dungy, so humid you could cut the thick air stench of bodies with a machete when you walked in. A smell and a feeling that I will never forget.
Joe is a mentor to me and is more like the big brother I never had. Yesterday was an opportunity to give back to him, his new team and the beginning of the foundation of the house that Haddy built. He won't take credit for it because it is all TEAM first. Me second.
Fresh meat. 55 of 'em. Sitting there soft and undisciplined. You know it's going to be a great afternoon when during the virgin set of swings a young man in the front row had his iPod plugs in. Coach Joe said "Are those headphones?" Kid "yes" Joe "Take them out before I rip them out!" "We will not tolerate that on this team." That commanded attention from 55 young men immediately! Brought a tear to my eye as those were the days...and I didn't even play football for him. We are talkin' Lombardi style "deep down every man worth his salt yearns for discipline." That's what all of these kids are ...unbridled fresh meat yearning for discipline; most of them have yet to discover that. These kids will come to know the depth of these 2 phrases in every sense of their existence: Personally Responsible. Individually Accountable.
We attacked them like a tiger attacking fresh kill...grab the jugular and hang on rippin' into 'em. 3 RKCs plus one that will be certified in 3 weeks. 92 degrees. 2 hours and change. 10 basic kettlebell drills. I will bet there was no other football team in the nation outside for 2 hours on this beautiful Sunday afternoon doing ANYTHING, let alone learning a new school of strength and conditioning unbeknownst to them their new weight training program starting today Monday 052107. We finished the day with a little injection of 'Nellie Love' ...relays of swings and farmers walks that turned into runs. Coach wanted to see who wants it since he has only known them for 3 weeks. We put that to the test. Seniors vs. Seniors, Juniors vs Juniors, and down the ranks. 10 swings then Farmers carry 2 bells about 40 yards then the next person goes. After 2 hours of sweat, moans and glimmer of fear in some eyes I heard a couple of Frosh say 'This is fun.' Fun. What a concept. You mean these kids have the ability to learn discipline and have fun at the same time? I say 'Welcome to the Beat Down.' Now that's what we are talking about. Instilling 'FUN' back into these kids. Then as my thoughts were going off into dreamland I was snapped to attention with 'Bring it in and take a knee.' Coach Joe said a few words and then passed it to me for some final thoughts. After a short 2 minute lecture on how Mountain Dew and Twinkies are not the best fuel for young football players dedicated to their craft we brought it home...there's something that warms my heart about 9 coaches and 55 athletes breaking a huddle on... "EASY doesn't pay!!"
I was very proud to be associated with this group of young men. They have no idea what they are in for this season. 3 words come to mind: Leadership. Perennial Powerhouse. I'll give Coach Hadachek 2 years. No pressure on him. I just know his fiber. He will completely gut that program with a filet knife and stitch it back together with every ounce of his being. Is he back coaching because he misses it? Probably. Is he back coaching because he is going to impact young men for generations? Definitely.
Union Football. There is a wind in the air and it's only May. This is one team that I guarantee will outwork its opponents. 11 weeks til 2-a-days. What a great country we live in.
Showing posts with label Kettlebells. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Kettlebells. Show all posts
20070521
20070513
Wisdom of the year...
My friend Mark emailed me the other day and had this at the bottom of his email...
"Your Body Doesn't Care What Your Excuse Is."
Wow. Amen to that. I hear excuses (which are 'reasons' in disguise) ALL of the time why someone can't do something. I have another friend in Connecticut that has a sign on the wall of his gym that says "Can't = 100 push ups" There are no excuses. Your body truly does not care what your excuse is. Get off your lazy bum and do something. Do something you've never done. Better yet bring a friend. The Kinetic Edge kettlebell classes are growing... The reason is accountability. And not accountability to me but accountability to the other class members. We have created a 'community' for like minded people to gather and get their ass beat into the ground (in a loving way ;) and they go thru it together. Now there is a sense of pride developing and a team atmosphere that is accentuating positive reinforcement of consistent attendance.
You do not have to be a part of the class to see results. It is however much easier to remain positive when you have others around you supporting you and being pushed to the next level regardless of what level that is for you.
"Your Body Doesn't Care What Your Excuse Is."
That also goes for food and nutrition. Imagine if your stomach and intestines could literally talk to you. What would they say by the way you have been treating them? Are you doing or are you coasting? It's easy to coast. Trying does not cut it. Trying means you won't. Can't means you won't. Do is do and doing is becoming.
"Your Body Doesn't Care What Your Excuse Is."
Your body will follow your mind. Your mind is what you have to guard relentlessly. Examine your mental patterns when it comes to exercise and food. Hold the image of what you are becoming (what you would like to become) in your mind with ONLY positive feelings and you will become that.
Great words to live by:
"Your Body Doesn't Care What Your Excuse Is."
"Your Body Doesn't Care What Your Excuse Is."
Wow. Amen to that. I hear excuses (which are 'reasons' in disguise) ALL of the time why someone can't do something. I have another friend in Connecticut that has a sign on the wall of his gym that says "Can't = 100 push ups" There are no excuses. Your body truly does not care what your excuse is. Get off your lazy bum and do something. Do something you've never done. Better yet bring a friend. The Kinetic Edge kettlebell classes are growing... The reason is accountability. And not accountability to me but accountability to the other class members. We have created a 'community' for like minded people to gather and get their ass beat into the ground (in a loving way ;) and they go thru it together. Now there is a sense of pride developing and a team atmosphere that is accentuating positive reinforcement of consistent attendance.
You do not have to be a part of the class to see results. It is however much easier to remain positive when you have others around you supporting you and being pushed to the next level regardless of what level that is for you.
"Your Body Doesn't Care What Your Excuse Is."
That also goes for food and nutrition. Imagine if your stomach and intestines could literally talk to you. What would they say by the way you have been treating them? Are you doing or are you coasting? It's easy to coast. Trying does not cut it. Trying means you won't. Can't means you won't. Do is do and doing is becoming.
"Your Body Doesn't Care What Your Excuse Is."
Your body will follow your mind. Your mind is what you have to guard relentlessly. Examine your mental patterns when it comes to exercise and food. Hold the image of what you are becoming (what you would like to become) in your mind with ONLY positive feelings and you will become that.
Great words to live by:
"Your Body Doesn't Care What Your Excuse Is."
20070422
Sport Specific Training
There has been a lot of posts here lately wanting info on sports specific programs or inquiries about specific sports (i.e. triathlon training, wrestling, kids, etc).
As a strength and condtioning professional in the field, I highly recommend against 'sport specific' training for a number of reasons...
1) 'sport specific' is a misused term in our industry and should be reserved to work on skills with in the individual sport ...NOT to describe what an athlete is doing in the weight room. Doing 'sport specific' weight training will increase the rate of injury 5 fold because of overuse injuries
2) athletes today specialize in their respective sports WAY too young 98% of the time. Kids need to develop and play multiple sports in order to be a well rounded athlete
3) I am in the business of creating better athletes. As they become better 'athletes' they will be better at wrestling, soccer, hockey, badminton, ping pong, darts (ok maybe not darts) or whatever their 'sport' is.
4) I focus on movement. Movement vs muscle. The body does not know muscles, it only knows movements. Also the strongest kid is not always the best athlete. The fastest kid is not always the best athlete. However the best athlete is among the strongest, fastest, quickest...and not necessarily the 'biggest' in terms of muscle mass either.
5) looking for specific training programs for sport. Start with the opposing muscle groups. Triathletes are the WORST! I have 3 IronMan competitors and they are destroyed when it comes to imbalances. Most of them have a posterior chain limitation and are constantly in a flexed position in the torso due to swimming 99.9% freestyle, biking (sitting in the handle bars leaned over) and running...just one example.
6) most don't understand the basics (I'm talking kettlebell training here) and they are already looking for the holy grail. The basics will do most athletes best because emphasis on the posterior chain (swings / snatches) weight in front where most sports are played (front squats) flexibility (windmills and TGUs) overhead pressing (military press) which they rarely get in traditional weight training.
OK, rant over. This should induce some good food for thought.
As a strength and condtioning professional in the field, I highly recommend against 'sport specific' training for a number of reasons...
1) 'sport specific' is a misused term in our industry and should be reserved to work on skills with in the individual sport ...NOT to describe what an athlete is doing in the weight room. Doing 'sport specific' weight training will increase the rate of injury 5 fold because of overuse injuries
2) athletes today specialize in their respective sports WAY too young 98% of the time. Kids need to develop and play multiple sports in order to be a well rounded athlete
3) I am in the business of creating better athletes. As they become better 'athletes' they will be better at wrestling, soccer, hockey, badminton, ping pong, darts (ok maybe not darts) or whatever their 'sport' is.
4) I focus on movement. Movement vs muscle. The body does not know muscles, it only knows movements. Also the strongest kid is not always the best athlete. The fastest kid is not always the best athlete. However the best athlete is among the strongest, fastest, quickest...and not necessarily the 'biggest' in terms of muscle mass either.
5) looking for specific training programs for sport. Start with the opposing muscle groups. Triathletes are the WORST! I have 3 IronMan competitors and they are destroyed when it comes to imbalances. Most of them have a posterior chain limitation and are constantly in a flexed position in the torso due to swimming 99.9% freestyle, biking (sitting in the handle bars leaned over) and running...just one example.
6) most don't understand the basics (I'm talking kettlebell training here) and they are already looking for the holy grail. The basics will do most athletes best because emphasis on the posterior chain (swings / snatches) weight in front where most sports are played (front squats) flexibility (windmills and TGUs) overhead pressing (military press) which they rarely get in traditional weight training.
OK, rant over. This should induce some good food for thought.
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