GAINcast with Vern Gambetta
276 episodes - English - Latest episode: 29 days ago - ★★★★★ - 43 ratingsAthletic development pioneer Vern Gambetta dives into one training question each episode.
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Episodes
76: Foundation Training
August 03, 2017 09:12 - 29 minutes - 26.8 MBAs the saying goes, you cannot build a strong house without a solid foundation. With pre-season training on the horizon for many sports, we take a look at what that foundation should look like, how it is trained, where it fits into the plan, and more. For more information on this topic, read the complete show notes at: http://www.hmmrmedia.com/2017/08/gaincast-episode-76-foundation-training/ This episode is brought to you by HMMR Plus and GAIN. HMMR Plus members receive exclusive benefi...
75: Ask More, Tell Less (with Jim Richardson)
July 27, 2017 07:47 - 39 minutes - 36 MBIn nearly 30 years as head swim coach at the University of Michigan, Jim Richardson develop a powerhouse. Much of that success came from one thing: asking questions. On this week GAINcast we sit down with coach Richardson and hear how asking question led him to become a better coach, to rethink the athletic development of his athletes, to reduce injuries, and more. For more information on this topic, read the complete show notes at:http://www.hmmrmedia.com/2017/07/gaincast-episode-75-ask-mor...
74: What's Your Filter?
July 20, 2017 14:52 - 27 minutes - 25.5 MBThe information age has brought access to loads of information, but more information can sometimes just make it harder to find something of value. Coaches need a filter to sift through the information. On this episode of the GAINCast we discuss tools and shortcuts we use to evaluate information online. For more information on this topic, read the complete show notes at:http://www.hmmrmedia.com/2017/07/gaincast-epiosde-74-whats-your-filter/ This episode is brought to you by HMMR Plus and GA...
73: Being Present
July 13, 2017 16:00 - 25 minutes - 23.2 MBEveryone talks about staying in the moment, but few people say how easy it is to fall out of it. Recently the HMMR Podcast discussed how athletes can avoid distractions in training. Coaches can face even more distractions and, as they are not playing the game, it can be even harder to stay present. On this episode of the GAINcast we look at how coaches can help stay present. For more information on this topic, read the complete show notes at: http://www.hmmrmedia.com/2017/07/gaincast-episod...
72: Voices of GAIN
July 06, 2017 09:17 - 40 minutes - 37.6 MBSome of the world's leading coaches make up the faculty at GAIN each year, but there are even more world-class coaches are in attendance. On this week's episode of the GAINcast we wanted to take a chance to hear those other voices. We sat down for a quick chat with coaches like Greg Gatz (UNC), Darren Ritchie (Scottish Athletics), Nick Hill, Vinny Comiskey (Navy), and Dan Nobel (Hill Academy). For more information on this topic, read the complete show notes at: http://www.hmmrmedia.com/2017...
71: Peak Performance Part 2 (with Brad Stulberg and Steve Magness)
June 29, 2017 16:00 - 44 minutes - 40.9 MBOn part one of our interview with Peak Performance authors Brad Stulberg and Steve Magness we covered the stress-growth formula and productivity strategies like single-tasking. On this week’s GAINcast we continue the discussion to discuss how skills come from struggling, sleep, the role of focus and thought in performance, and more. For more information on this topic, read the complete show notes at: http://www.hmmrmedia.com/2017/06/gaincast-episode-71-peak-performance-part-2-with-brad-stul...
70: Peak Performance Part 1 (with Brad Stulberg and Steve Magness)
June 22, 2017 13:36 - 38 minutes - 35.7 MBWhat does it take to reach peak performance in sport or in life? The new book Peak Performance by Steve Magness and Brad Stulberg attempts to answer this question and on this week’s GAINcast they join us for the first part of an interview on the topic where we discuss the stress-growth formula, productivity strategies like single-tasking, and more. For more information on this topic, read the complete show notes at: http://www.hmmrmedia.com/2017/06/gaincast-episode-70-peak-performance-part-...
69: Long-Term Development (with Patrick McHugh)
June 15, 2017 09:42 - 40 minutes - 37 MBAt North Shore Country Day School students range from age 4 to 18. As athletic director, Patrick McHugh has had a chance to put in place a truly long-term athletic development process. The key word there is process: long-term development is not a model, but a process that is never linear. On this episode he talked about his philosophy and more. For more information on this topic, read the complete show notes at: http://www.hmmrmedia.com/2017/06/gaincast-episode-69-long-term-development-with...
68: The Medicalization of Sport
June 08, 2017 14:14 - 36 minutes - 33.6 MBOver the past decade the influence of medicine in sport has grown tremendously. Now more than ever problems are being defined and treated as medical conditions and viewed through the eyes of doctors. The problem is that no one area has all the answers in sport. As each silo grows closer, it becomes harder for different specialists to work together and profit from each others knowledge. On this episode of the GAINcast we take a look at the medicalization of sport and discuss better ways to ad...
67: Periodization Trends (with Dave Tenney)
June 01, 2017 10:39 - 44 minutes - 40.4 MBAll eyes look towards Europe in the soccer world and if you look close enough you will see there are some interesting team sports planning trends gaining momentum. As the High Performance Director for the MLS champions Seattle Sounders FC, Dave Tenney has tried to keep his team on the cutting edge and has looked closely at the new models emerging from Europe. On this episode, we have a discussion with Tenney about the direction periodization is headed and how he has seen successful solutions...
66: The Champion's Choice (with Chris Webb)
May 25, 2017 10:12 - 41 minutes - 38.3 MBTo get athletes to be champions, we have to get them to think like champions. This requires a team culture where athletes are given space to independently choose to do what it takes to win. This is exactly the environment swim coach Chris Webb has set up with several clubs. On this week's podcast Webb joins us to talk about the steps he is taking to install cultural change at his new job with T2 Aquatics in Florida. For more information on this topic, read the complete show notes at:http://w...
65: Conditioning Pitchers
May 18, 2017 08:44 - 38 minutes - 35.4 MBSpringtime means baseball and on this episode we look specifically at the conditioning needs of pitchers. Pitching is an extremely fast and explosive movement that has unique conditioning demands, yet most conditioning programs are based on tradition rather than being optimized to the needs of the players. On this episode of the podcast Vern Gambetta shares best practices developed while working with top club in Major League Baseball. For links and more information about this topic, read the...
64: Odds and Ends
May 11, 2017 11:18 - 38 minutes - 35.4 MBOver the past few months we've accumulated several small topics to discuss and haven't had the time to jump into them. Well, now's the time. On this week's episode we discuss various odds and ends related to current events and training such as whether track and field records should be reset, the sub 2 hour marathon attempt, what makes master coaches stand out, and balancing variation and risk in training. For links and more information about this topic, read the complete show notes at: http...
63: Supporting Champions (with Steve Ingham)
May 04, 2017 10:15 - 45 minutes - 41.6 MBModern sports have a team of coaches behind each athlete. The support staff can add value to a team, but they can also detract from the team if not properly integrated. Physiologist Steve Ingham has served in a variety of senior national roles in the UK. Throughout a career of assisting world-class athletes he has learned how to build a performance team and how support coaches can best support athletes. On this week's episode we discuss some lessons Ingham has learned in this area. For links...
62: Player Evaluations
April 27, 2017 08:16 - 32 minutes - 29.9 MBWith drafts for many professional sports taking place in the coming months for professional sports leagues in North America, it is a good time to take a look at how we evaluate players. Effectively evaluating a player is about more than measuring their performance, it is about learning about them from every angle and getting input from the entire coaching staff. On this week's episode we discuss best practices in player evaluations. For links and more information about this topic, read the c...
61: The Future of Periodization (with John Kiely)
April 20, 2017 14:04 - 1 hour - 57.2 MBJohn Kiely is one of the leading minds in periodization. By taking a critical look at current approaches to periodization, he is asking how we can move the field forward to keep up with what science and leading coaches have learned. On this episode he joins us to discuss how current models can be problematic, what other factors coaches need to take into account while planning, the role of stress and team culture in adaptation, and how technology can help coaches. For links and more informati...
60: It's Not That Complicated
April 13, 2017 10:58 - 22 minutes - 20.4 MBAt the end of day, training comes down to a few core principles. Yet the complexity of the human body often cause us to lose focus of this and make training more complex than it needs to be in many cases. On this episode of the GAINcast we discuss the need to keep things simple and how to keep things simple. For links and more information about this topic, read the complete show notes at: http://www.hmmrmedia.com/2017/04/gaincast-episode-60-its-not-that-complicated/ Don't miss out on our ...
59: Take It to the Limit (with Dr. Michael Joyner)
April 06, 2017 16:00 - 52 minutes - 48.5 MBHow far can we take the human body? Can we break two hours in the marathon? Or will Usain Bolt's records ever fall? Dr. Michael Joyner of the Mayo Clinic has spent his career asking that very question. On this week's episode of the GAINcast, Dr. Joyner joins us to discuss the limits of human performance, what training and sports science need to improve upon to take us there, and more. For links and more information about this topic, read the complete show notes at: http://www.hmmrmedia.com/...
58: Q&A
March 30, 2017 09:28 - 28 minutes - 26.6 MBMost episodes are dedicated to the questions we are currently confronting, but this episode we've asked listeners what is on their mind and address several listener questions on topics like creating buy-in to athletic development, keeping an open mind as a coach, velocity-based training and more. For links and more information about this topic, read the complete show notes at: http://www.hmmrmedia.com/2017/03/gaincast-episode-58-qa/ The GAINcast is brought to you by GAIN. Join us from June...
57: The Strength Coach & The Way of the Dinosaur
March 23, 2017 16:00 - 31 minutes - 29.3 MBAfter a string of more hospitalized athletes, CBS took a look recently at the problems across collegiate strength and conditioning. Their findings point to certification as the problem. Certification is not the problem. The problem is deeper and requires us to analyze and define what our role as a coach is. On this week's episode Vern discusses the issues with the profession and current certification programs, as well as how coaches education programs can be improved to address this. For lin...
56: Peaking and Getting Ready
March 16, 2017 12:17 - 32 minutes - 30.3 MBAs coaches, the competition season is our test. Did we get our athletes ready for the big competition? On this episode Vern talks about strategies and best practices for helping your athletes peak and get ready when it counts. For links and more information about this topic, read the complete show notes at: http://www.hmmrmedia.com/2017/03/gaincast-56-peaking-and-getting-ready/ Want to learn more about planning? John Martin Bingisser and John Kiely four an upcoming seminar on periodizatio...
55: Technical Models
March 09, 2017 11:22 - 21 minutes - 20 MBTechnical models are often what we turn to when we develop an athlete's technique. How do we develop models? And how do we adapt them to the athlete? On this week's episode Vern looks at how technical models fit into training and what steps coaches need to take to get the most out of them. For links and more information about this topic, read the complete show notes at: http://www.hmmrmedia.com/2017/03/gaincast-episode-54-technical-models/ The GAINcast is brought to you by GAIN. Join us f...
54: On Target
March 02, 2017 09:57 - 36 minutes - 33.8 MBRecently Martin published an article on HMMR Media discussing the role of specific strength exercises in team sports. Contrary to what many people thing, finding the solution to this topic is not about simply putting work into different categories in training. Good training is about making sure each element is on target, no matter its category. On this episode we talk about how to stay on target and how we often ignore on field training as a means of physical preparation. For links and more ...
53: American Football Then and Now
February 23, 2017 13:50 - 31 minutes - 29.4 MBAmerican football has undergone drastic change in the 50 years since Vern strapped on a helmet as a college lineman. New practice guidelines are finally trying to keep up with the changes to help protect players. But will they work? On this episode of the podcast we discuss how the sport is evolved and how practice must evolve with it. For links and more information about this topic, read the complete show notes at: http://www.hmmrmedia.com/2017/02/gaincast-episode-53-american-football-then...
52: Winning Culture (with the Carmel Swim Club)
February 16, 2017 12:27 - 48 minutes - 44.4 MBSuburban Carmel, Indiana might seem like an unlikely spot to find one of the nation's top swimming clubs, but year in and year out it continues to produce champions. The Carmel Swim Club and Carmel High School have put together a winning culture that has produced a national record 31 straight high school state championships. On a recent visit to the club, Vern sat down with Carmel coaches Chris Plumb and Ian Murray to discuss how they helped grow the culture and what role athletic developmen...
51: The Debrief
February 09, 2017 10:35 - 31 minutes - 28.8 MBMaking your training more effective starts with learning from your past experiences, both good and bad. Understanding the value of debriefing and having a process in place is therefore essential. On this episode of the GAINcast, Vern explains some best practices for debriefing based on a career of experience. For links and more information about this topic, read the complete show notes at: http://www.hmmrmedia.com/2017/02/gaincast-episode-51-the-debrief/ The GAINcast is brought to you by ...
50: Serial Winning Coaches (with Sergio Lara-Bercial)
February 02, 2017 11:12 - 52 minutes - 48 MBSergio Lara-Bercial had a simple question he wanted answered: what makes serial winning coaches so successful. As a senior research fellow at the International Council for Coaching Excellence he was able to sit down with coaches who produce Olympic champions and record holders time and time again. In this episode he talks about his background, the project, and what lessons he learned from talking with the best coaches in the world. For links and more information about this topic, read the co...
49: Reconditioning (with Bill Knowles)
January 26, 2017 08:45 - 39 minutes - 36.8 MBBill Knowles is a world-renowned expert in reconditioning, having worked with athletes and teams from across the globe at the Olympic and professional levels. He joins us on this weeks podcast to discuss injuries, coming back from injury, and athletic development. For links and more information about this topic, read the complete show notes at: http://www.hmmrmedia.com/2017/01/gaincast-episode-49-reconditioning-with-bill-knowles/ The GAINcast is brought to you by GAIN. Join us from June 13...
48: Standing on the Shoulders of Giants
January 19, 2017 13:42 - 38 minutes - 35.4 MBKnowing who came before us and what they did is a key factor in becoming a better coach. After all, everything old is new again. On this week's episode Vern runs down a list of some of the giants whose shoulders he stands on, providing a great starting point for those wanting to learn more about this history of training. For links and more information about this topic, read the complete show notes at: http://www.hmmrmedia.com/2017/01/gaincast-48-standing-on-the-shoulders-of-giants/ The GA...
47: The Art of Coaching (with Harry Marra)
January 12, 2017 17:00 - 49 minutes - 45.3 MBRecently Ashton Eaton announced his retirement. During his career he took the decathlon to new levels and it was coach Harry Marra who helped guide him there. In order to break down 10 complex events, Marra has become a master of communication and the art of coaching. On this week's episode he joins us to discuss the art of coaching, the decathlon, and more. For links and more information about this topic, read the complete show notes at: http://www.hmmrmedia.com/2017/01/gaincast-episode-45...
46: State of the Sport (with Nick Garcia)
January 05, 2017 17:00 - 47 minutes - 44 MBFor the first time ever the GAINcast and the HMMR Podcast join forces to co-host the first episode of 2017. As the new year gets underway we chat about the state of training for sports. Topics span from how to use injury prediction, Olympic lifting, finding context in training, doping, and more. For links and more information about this topic, read the complete show notes at: http://www.hmmrmedia.com/2017/01/gaincast-episode-46-state-of-the-sport-with-nick-garcia/ The GAINcast is brought ...
45: Perform (with Randy Ballard)
December 29, 2016 15:43 - 39 minutes - 36.1 MBHelping athletes perform their best is about more than strength and conditioning, sports medicine, physiotherapy, or any individual component. It is about brining all the fields together. Randy Ballard, the University of Illinois Associate Director of Athletics for Sports Medicine, joins this week's podcast to discuss I-PERFORM, the unified approach to student-athlete health, well-being and performance he has implemented in Champaign. For links and more information about this topic, read the...
44: High Performance (with Troy Taylor)
December 22, 2016 14:54 - 37 minutes - 34.9 MBFor the final episode in our series of interviews from the US Ski and Snowboard Association's Center of Excellence we sit down with the boss: high performance director Troy Taylor. Taylor discusses leading a high performance team, supporting coaches, and developing a culture across multiple sports, as well as his thoughts on various trends in training. For links and more information about this topic, read the complete show notes at: http://www.hmmrmedia.com/2016/11/gaincast-episode-44-high-...
43: Focus on Function
December 15, 2016 12:46 - 34 minutes - 31.5 MBCoaches have a near limitless inventory of exercises to select from and navigating this topic can be difficult since even two exercises that look nearly identical can cause vastly different adaptations in an athlete. On this week's episode we give some suggestion on how to evaluate the application of an exercise to your goals by focusing on the function. For links and more information about this topic, read the complete show notes at: http://www.hmmrmedia.com/2016/12/gaincast-episode-43-foc...
42: Use the Data (with Bill Sands)
December 08, 2016 15:31 - 39 minutes - 35.9 MBOn this week's episode we continue to put together highlights from Vern's recent trip to the US Ski and Snowboard Association's Center of Excellence. Combining sport and science can be a difficult balance and guest Bill Sands joins Vern to talk about the approach that made him a pioneer in recovery and monitoring. Currently the sport technologist at the US Ski and Snowboard Association, Sands has a wide range of experience with several organizations and shares his best practices for sports s...
41: GAIN Time
December 01, 2016 14:01 - 29 minutes - 26.7 MBNext year will mark the 10th edition of GAIN. On this week's episode we reveal next year's faculty, give an overview of what GAIN is about, and walk you through a day at GAIN. For links and more information about this topic, read the complete show notes at: http://www.hmmrmedia.com/2016/12/gaincast-episode-41-gain-time/ You can also sign up for GAIN 2017 at http://www.thegainnetwork.com/
40: Visiting the USSA Center of Excellence
November 24, 2016 14:14 - 49 minutes - 45.4 MBLast month Vern visited the US Ski and Snowboard Association's Center of Excellence in Park City, Utah. While there he had a chance to sit down with their performance staff to share experiences, ideas and more. This is the first in a series of episodes from his visit. In this episode Vern has a roundtable chat with coaches Mike Bahn, Tracy Fober, Tschana Schiller and Michael Bingaman. For links and more information about this topic, read the complete show notes at: http://www.hmmrmedia.com/...
39: Teaching Speed
November 17, 2016 11:20 - 40 minutes - 36.8 MBKnowing about speed is one thing, but teaching it is something else. This is where the art of coaching comes into play. On this week's episode Vern walks us through what he would do on the first day of speed training with a new group of athletes. It's a great look into the mind of a coach to see how they put together their session and why. For links and more information about this topic, read the complete show notes at: http://www.hmmrmedia.com/2016/11/gaincast-episode-39-teaching-speed/ T...
38: The 24-Hour Athlete
November 10, 2016 10:15 - 25 minutes - 23.7 MBFocusing on the two hours a day an athlete trains misses out on the vast majority of what is going on in an athletes life. The other 22 hours a day in many cases are more important. Lifestyle can have both positive and negative effects on performance and to reach the top you truly need to be a 24-hour athlete. On this week's episode Vern talks about how lifestyle can affect performance both positively and negatively. For links and more information about this topic, read the complete show not...
37: Physical Education (with Greg Thompson)
November 03, 2016 11:45 - 35 minutes - 33 MBEveryone laments about the current state of physical education, but what are we to do about it? GAIN faculty member Greg Thompson has put it upon himself to find a solution. As a USSF A-License coach and a primary school physical education teacher, he joins us on this week's episode to discuss his methods for building athletes from the ground up in schools. For links and more information about this topic, read the complete show notes at: http://www.hmmrmedia.com/2016/11/gaincast-37-physical-...
36: Physical Literacy
October 27, 2016 14:24 - 34 minutes - 31.4 MBLearning to move is a lot like learning to read and write: you cannot write a novel without first learning the ABCs and how to string them together into words, sentences, and paragraphs. On this week's episode Vern discusses physical literacy and how it fits into athletic development. For links and more information about this topic, read the complete show notes at: http://www.hmmrmedia.com/2016/10/gaincast-episode-36-physical-literacy/ This episode if brought to you by GAIN (www.thegainne...
35: Art and Science of Coaching Baseball (with Paul Davis)
October 20, 2016 13:42 - 41 minutes - 37.8 MBBaseball is a sport that oscillates between tradition and modern analytics. Coaches like Paul Davis of the St. Louis Cardinals try to find a balance in the middle. As a developmental pitching coordinator and coach he has to understand the science of movement and the art of coaching. On this episode Davis joins us to walk through his approach to developing pitchers as athletes. For links and more information about this topic, read the complete show notes at: http://www.hmmrmedia.com/2016/10/g...
34: Live from Glasgow
October 13, 2016 16:00 - 48 minutes - 44.3 MBTwo weeks ago Vern and Martin got the opportunity to present at the Scottish Athletics annual coaching conference. At the end of the seminar we got that chance to pose some questions to all the presenters at a roundtable session. We recorded that discussion and present it as this week's episode. For links and more information about this topic, read the complete show notes at: http://www.hmmrmedia.com/2016/10/gaincast-episode-34-live-from-glasgow/ This episode if brought to you by GAIN (www...
33: Connections
October 06, 2016 13:43 - 29 minutes - 27.3 MBConnections are all around us in sport, but we often overlook them. Muscles connect, movements connect, athletes connect, coaches connect, disciplines connect, sports connect, and so on. On this episode of the GAINcast Vern discusses what role these connections play and how we as coaches can enhance connections. For links and more information about this topic, read the complete show notes at: http://www.hmmrmedia.com/2016/10/gaincast-episode-33-connections/ This episode if brought to you ...
32: Reflections
September 29, 2016 12:41 - 19 minutes - 17.8 MBThis past weekend both Vern and Martin presented at Scottish Athletics National Coaching Conference in Glasgow. During the seminar they took a few minutes away to share some instant impressions on the seminars they had heard so far, including topics like distance training, youth athletic development, and more. For links and more information about this topic, read the complete show notes at: http://www.hmmrmedia.com/2016/09/gaincast-32-reflections/ This episode if brought to you by GAIN (ww...
31: Optimizing Your Workout
September 22, 2016 11:34 - 33 minutes - 30.5 MBEarlier this summer we looked at winning the workout, and on this week's episode we dive deeper into the topic by providing specific ideas and tips on how to optimize your workout to get the most out of each session in terms of structure, organization, athlete buy in, and more. For links and more information about this topic, read the complete show notes at: http://www.hmmrmedia.com/2016/09/gaincast-episode-31-optimizing-your-workout/ This episode if brought to you by GAIN (www.thegainnetw...
30: Coaching Shortcuts
September 15, 2016 12:27 - 35 minutes - 32.6 MBIn his nearly 50 years of coaching, Vern has learned many lessons the hard way. On this week’s GAINcast he shares some of his lessons learned that can hopefully serve as shortcuts for younger coaches and a reminder of effective training practices for more experienced coaches. For links and more information about this topic, read the complete show notes at: http://www.hmmrmedia.com/2016/09/gaincast-episode-30-coaching-shortcuts/ This episode if brought to you by GAIN (www.thegainnetwork.com...
29: Dryland Training (with Matt Kredich)
September 08, 2016 11:02 - 50 minutes - 46.7 MBFor the past year Vern has been working with University of Tennessee swim team to create integrated dryland training program. On this week's episode Tennessee head coach Matt Kredich joins us to discuss his own training philosophy and how they are putting the pieces together in Knoxville. He provides great insight on how head coaches and strength coaches can get on the same page, have the team buy in, and achieve results together. For links and more information about this topic, read the com...
28: The Volume Trap
September 01, 2016 11:17 - 32 minutes - 29.8 MBVolume is a core element of athletic development. When we start out with athletes, the first test is often how much they can handle. When we talk with other coaches, we first look at how much they do. But are we asking the wrong questions? On this episode of the GAINcast Vern looks at how we need to change our thinking about volume and get out of the volume trap. For links and more information about this topic, read the complete show notes at: http://www.hmmrmedia.com/2016/09/gaincast-episod...
27: Sports Science
August 25, 2016 16:00 - 35 minutes - 32.5 MBSports science is nothing new, but over the past decade it has moved more from the academic setting to the team setting. More and more teams are employing sports scientists and these teams need to address the new question of how to integrate sports science and performance. On this episode of the GAINcast we tackle this topic and look at how to best put the sport in sports science. For links and more information about this topic, read the complete show notes at: http://www.hmmrmedia.com/2016...