This article suggests various methods to motivate jumpers to train for success. It includes specific activities, areas of emphasis, and ideas to stimulate creativity for coaches and trainers. Photos and complete article available upon request. jumpdocg@yahoo.com

Update on the London games and PED's: In my exploration of this topic I discovered that 8 athletes were found guilty of using PED's in the games. The most significant, Belarus women's shot putter, who was stripped of Gold. She was found to have an anabolic steroid in pre and post competition testing. The agent was supposedly one that would leave the body within 4-5 days of use.  An American Judo athlete was DQ'd for the use of marijuana; one might wonder how to periodize mellowing out with working out……couldn't help a bit of sarcasm! The other athletes did not contend for medals, but will face bans. On an informational note; Rosetta Green, a research and development corp. in Israel has developed a technique to synthesize HGH from plant algae. Although this isnt relevant for sports use, it is a positive for the treatment of growth disorders and some other malady's And FYI; the first American to test positive for HGH was an American teen phenom' Olympic weightlifter. He was age 19 and the new test confirmed...

Let's generate some activity for the coming week in track and field - London!

Sports performance coaches have been using this term "commonalities" for some time. It's attributed to the combination of specific movements - warm-up, running techniques, weight room protocols, hurdle mobility drills, etc. 

We also see these certain commonalities in competition performance - rhythmic qualitites, stride rate/frequency, angle of take-off in jumps/throws, and the list goes on! What of the differences we see in athletes, even the most successful? The following comments concern those elements that might not be text book form, but still has the function?

I wanted to precede this article with some comments. Dr. Marco has clearly described the importance of the nervous system and how it's linked to all other body systems. I recommend this article to all coaches, athletes, and trainers. We appreciate Dr. Marco's expertise and sharing with our track community!

I have a strong commitment and desire to make this blog a "call to arms" and a "challenge to the masses" - no real drama intended. We need your input and the experiences, knowledge, and wisdom of the Georgia track community!

I love this film of Allyson Felix and her trainer; you will notice the single leg work, squats with a weight vest, and lots of lower limb elastic strength work. Though not for the very young athletes; I've discovered that much of the youth training in eastern europe is very specific with free body resistance drills. They are very big on the single leg squat / balance (no loading of the spine here and absolutely requires flexibility and balance through a full range of motion). Beginners use hand rails for support and advance to kettle bells for added resistance. This film depicts a half squat w/weighted vest touching a box with the buttocks. The other exercises can be duplicated with band resistance and really work the eccentric and concentric muscle function. That Vertimax is great, but very expensive.

Felix’s introduction to strength training is chronicled in Barry Ross’s book, “Underground Secrets to Faster Running.” Much of the book explains MSF - mass specific force and why ground force per stride is...