Latest Betta Podcast Episodes
282: Training quality
GAINcast with Vern Gambetta - May 20, 2024 16:00 - 28 minutes ★★★★★ - 44 ratingsA lot has been going on in the sporting world this spring, and in our worlds as well. On this week's GAINcast we discuss a variety of topics including finding and measuring training quality, variability in skill execution, the right role for biomechanics analysis in coaching, and unstructured t...
281: Presentation zen (with Garr Reynolds)
GAINcast with Vern Gambetta - April 15, 2024 16:00 - 34 minutes ★★★★★ - 44 ratingsCommunication is the cornerstone of coaching. Garr Reynold's best-selling book Presentation Zen explains how to reach the audience through simplicity and storytelling. He joins us on this weeks' GAINcast to discuss how these lessons can be helpful for coaches as well, including insights on edit...
280: Training trends and current events
GAINcast with Vern Gambetta - March 11, 2024 16:00 - 24 minutes ★★★★★ - 44 ratingsOn this week's episode we discuss some recent training trends and current events, including the World Indoor Championships, competition scheduling in an Olympic year, zone 2 training, the NFL combine, and much more. For more information on this topic, read the complete show notes at: https://...
279: Athlete profiling (with Jason Hettler)
GAINcast with Vern Gambetta - February 05, 2024 17:00 - 46 minutes ★★★★★ - 44 ratingsWhat sport you play is different than how you play that sport. In the game of tennis, for example, vastly different styles of play emerge, which require a different approach to preapre for. On this week's GAINcast Jason Hettler of IMG Academy Tennis explains their process of profiling athletes,...
278: The New Year's roundtable
GAINcast with Vern Gambetta - January 08, 2024 17:00 - 54 minutes ★★★★★ - 44 ratingsTo kick of 2024 we're putting together a spectacular roundtable featuring guests Dr. Michael Joyner, Grace Golden, and Randy Ballard. We take a look back at trends from 2023, as well as what we see ahead in 2024. In addition we dive into the value of tribes, rethinking monitoring, soft skills, ...
277: Books, travels, and Olympic preparations
GAINcast with Vern Gambetta - December 04, 2023 15:46 - 33 minutes ★★★★★ - 44 ratingsOn this week's GAINcast Vern shares his top 6 books of 2023, key insights after recent travels to Europe and Australia, plus thoughts as we look ahead at preparing for the 2024 Olympics. For more information on this topic, read the complete show notes at: https://www.hmmrmedia.com/2023/12/gai...
276: Thoughts on strength
GAINcast with Vern Gambetta - November 06, 2023 09:04 - 31 minutes ★★★★★ - 44 ratingsA recent interview on HMMR Media shared some of the weight room numbers of the hammer throw world champion. After hearing them, everyone asked: how can a champion be so weak? Strength is complex. Strength is contextual. On this week’s podcast we share some ideas about the role of strength in at...
275: Championship behaviors (with Hugh McCutcheon)
GAINcast with Vern Gambetta - October 01, 2023 10:44 - 43 minutes ★★★★★ - 44 ratingsChampionship results require championship behaviors from both athletes and coaches. Having guided multiple men's and women's teams at the highest levels, volleyball coach Hugh McCutcheon knows a thing or two about what championships behaviors are. On this week's GAINcast he joins us to share hi...
274: Lessons learned
GAINcast with Vern Gambetta - August 14, 2023 16:00 - 32 minutes ★★★★★ - 44 ratingsWe take a look at some current events and current happenings in our own training to reflect on some lessons learned on this week's GAINcast. To start with we debrief the USWNT's disappointing performance at the World Cup, before sharing lessons on how to best draw parallels from past experience...
273: The ACL
GAINcast with Vern Gambetta - July 31, 2023 16:00 - 20 minutes ★★★★★ - 44 ratingsThe start of the recent women's World Cup in soccer has turned focus to the rash of ACL injuries in the sport, and the particular impact it has had on female players. On this week's GAINcast Vern looks at the structure of the knee, risk factors for injuries, and what coaches can do to help reve...
272: Beyond dichotomies (with Kevin Becker)
GAINcast with Vern Gambetta - July 10, 2023 09:04 - 35 minutes ★★★★★ - 44 ratingsWe live in the age of polarization. We get into long debates about whether things are black or white, but when it comes to topics like training and motor learning, the reality is often a shade of grey. Professor Kevin Becker is looking to create a conversation beyond dichotomies. On this week's...
271: Lessons from GAIN
GAINcast with Vern Gambetta - June 26, 2023 07:21 - 26 minutes ★★★★★ - 44 ratingsThis year's GAIN has come and gone and what an experience it was. On this week's GAINcast Vern and Martin share the biggest learnings at this year's GAIN. Plus they discuss in detail the key characteristics of a training system. For more information on this topic, read the complete show notes ...
270: Competition skills
GAINcast with Vern Gambetta - June 12, 2023 11:38 - 16 minutes ★★★★★ - 44 ratingsJust like other parts of sport, competing is a skill that can be trained. On this week's GAINcast we explore what makes up the skill of competing and how to best train it. In addition we discuss the winning difference, creativity, and more. For more information on this topic, read the complete ...
269: Force and sprinting (with Dan Cleather and Jon Goodwin)
GAINcast with Vern Gambetta - May 29, 2023 12:04 - 42 minutes ★★★★★ - 44 ratingsWhy are some athletes faster than others? And how do we make athletes faster? In their new book Dan Cleather and Jon Goodwin argue that the answer begins and ends with a consideration of force production. Both of them join this week's podcast to discuss key drivers in sprint performance, what fa...
268: Implements and injuries
GAINcast with Vern Gambetta - May 15, 2023 13:10 - 26 minutes ★★★★★ - 44 ratingsAnother baseball season is underway and, once again, the injuries are piling up. On this week’s GAINcast we speculate about what might be causing the injuries, how training is related to injuries, and where using heavy and light implements can go right or wrong. For more information on this top...
267: From east to west (with Bogdan Poprawski)
GAINcast with Vern Gambetta - May 01, 2023 17:45 - 37 minutes ★★★★★ - 44 ratingsThe 1980s were a time of global awakening in track and field. As coaches experimented with new training methods, ideas started spreading all over the blog. Coach Bogdan Poprawski was at the center of that process, moving as a young coach from Poland to Canada and helping Gerard Mach set up a new...
266: Training camp (with Chris Webb)
GAINcast with Vern Gambetta - April 17, 2023 12:08 - 30 minutes ★★★★★ - 44 ratingsThe training camp is an integral part of the training process in many sports. But how can you get the most out of it? On this week's GAINcast we share ideas around planning training camps to get the most out of them with swim coach Chris Webb. In addition, we look at optimal planning of multiple...
264: Redefining LTAD (with Joe Eisenmann)
GAINcast with Vern Gambetta - March 20, 2023 08:09 - 42 minutes ★★★★★ - 44 ratingsLong-term athlete development models are often packaged with convincing narratives and buzzwords. But they're also full of a few myths as well. Dr. Joe Eisenmann's career has combined his academic interests in pediatric physiology with his practical experiences in youth coaching. Combined he's h...
263: Odds and ends
GAINcast with Vern Gambetta - March 06, 2023 09:57 - 25 minutes ★★★★★ - 44 ratingsCompetition season is starting up again in many sports. We start this week's GAINcast off by looking at how to best structure training in the days before a competition and how to learn what works best for your individual athletes. In addition we also talk about pre-meet workouts, psychological p...
262: The sprint lab (with Emily McClelland)
GAINcast with Vern Gambetta - February 20, 2023 07:35 - 33 minutes ★★★★★ - 44 ratingsThe SMU Locomotor Performance Lab is at the cutting edge of researching practical questions on sprinting and jumping. On this week's GAINcast Emily McClelland joins us to discuss her latest research on vertical jumping and sex differences in short sprints. For more information on this topic, r...
261: Building and rebuilding the amateur athlete (with Donie Fox)
GAINcast with Vern Gambetta - February 06, 2023 14:40 - 46 minutes ★★★★★ - 44 ratingsWe often talk about developing elite athletes, but the amateur sporting world is even bigger and more demanding in many ways. On this week's GAINcast coach and physiotherapist Donie Fox joins us to discuss how his team have implemented athletic development structure into their local GAA club. In...
260: The network
GAINcast with Vern Gambetta - January 23, 2023 11:22 - 40 minutes ★★★★★ - 44 ratingsGAIN stands for the Gambetta Athletic Improvement Network. Most people think it is all about Gambetta, but the Network is the most important word in GAIN. On this week's GAINcast, three original GAIN members join us to discuss the power of mentorship, and how the network has evolved their own co...
259: Top books of 2022
GAINcast with Vern Gambetta - January 09, 2023 14:45 - 23 minutes ★★★★★ - 44 ratingsVern is a notorious reader on a wide range of topics. On this week's GAIN cast he looks back at his top books of 2022, breaking down more than 20 titles for listeners. For more information on this topic, read the complete show notes at: https://www.hmmrmedia.com/2023/01/gaincast-episode-259-t...
258: State of the sport (with Nick Garcia)
GAINcast with Vern Gambetta - December 26, 2022 08:48 - 42 minutes ★★★★★ - 44 ratingsThe year is coming to end, which means it is time for our annual combined episode of the GAINcast and HMMR Podcast to discuss the state of training for sports. We share highlights from our favorite episodes of the year, discuss training trends like isometrics, microdosing vs. split training, and...
257: Rethinking agility (with Bill Knowles)
GAINcast with Vern Gambetta - December 12, 2022 07:34 - 38 minutes ★★★★★ - 44 ratingsThe debate about the transfer of change of direction and agility training is a bit like the debate about general and specific training. Specificity is a critical factor, but not all general training is the same. And specific training can also be counterproductive if you don’t understand what you...
256: Live Q&A
GAINcast with Vern Gambetta - November 28, 2022 13:43 - 1 hour ★★★★★ - 44 ratingsOn Vern's recent visit to Switzerland we did a live Q&A, answering questions and exchanging ideas on a variety of topics including: measuring strength, building connections, enhancing training transfer, best practices for combining different training methods, rethinking overload, strength traini...
255: On testing
GAINcast with Vern Gambetta - November 14, 2022 18:40 - 31 minutes ★★★★★ - 44 ratingsTesting is a crucial part of the training and coaching process. On this episode of the GAINcast Vern walks through his approach to testing and shares his best practices, including a walk through of how he set up and implemented the testing program at the Chicago White Sox in the 1990s. For mor...
250: LTAD
GAINcast with Vern Gambetta - September 05, 2022 12:31 - 28 minutes ★★★★★ - 44 ratingsLTAD has almost become a cliché. Everyone has an LTAD program and they all look the same. How can that be? Because the models assume a linear march to the top of the athletic achievement pyramid. In reality it is a very chaotic process at best, full of detours, false starts and redirection. On t...
249: The training session
GAINcast with Vern Gambetta - August 22, 2022 09:14 - 27 minutes ★★★★★ - 44 ratingsThe individual session is the core element of training. It is how coaches deliver their programs, build athletes, and connect with people. On this week's GAINcast we look in detail about how we can rethink and improve upon training session and microcycle design. For more information on this to...
248: The championships
GAINcast with Vern Gambetta - August 08, 2022 15:10 - 44 minutes ★★★★★ - 44 ratingsThe World Championships in track and field recently finished, with some amazing performances and storylines. On this week's GAINcast Vern and Martin break down some of the action, including the planning challenges of multiple championships in one season, hurdling technique, the role of speed in ...