“If you look at your programs from 5 years ago and don’t do a facepalm, you probably need to reconsider your continuing education approach”
Eric Cressey
In my pursuit of developing the best coaching system in the world for Contact Athletes, here are my top face-palms of 2024…
1: Loaded Jumps: They are Overrated (for most)
Loaded jumps are too light to build strength
Yet, too heavy to build speed and power
(for most)
Avoid my mistake: Don’t confuse expressing power with developing power
95% of athletes should focus on relative strength and speed/plyos – the middle will take care of itself
2: Neck Training: It won’t significantly reduce concussion risk
I’ve repeatedly quoted:
“For every pound increase in neck strength, odds of concussion decreased by 5%” (Collins et al 2014)
In view of recent research – I was wrong
I’m still an advocate for neck training
But evidence only suggests a small, nonsignificant relationship between neck strength and lower concussion risk (Garrett et al., 2023)
3: Nordics: They aren’t a Supreme Hamstring Exercise
Hamstring injuries occur during the late swing phase of sprinting
Nordics don’t train the hamstrings at long muscle lengths (because the hips are extended)
Guex et al (2016) found that short muscle length training you get from Nordics is nowhere near as effective as long muscle length training at building eccentric strength
Nordics are still a good exercise, but nothing special
I like seated hamstring curls (with a 2 down, 1 up tempo)
4: Speed Training: It’s Overrated
I joke
Go sprint
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