I am often asked by parents, coaches and athletes what my thoughts are on specific gains in one area of training. Too much over-thinking!

We are trapped in a world of hyped-up gadgets for training and the media makes use of a professional athlete to sell it to the public.

Let me give you an example. A question that I often receive from football players is what can I do to become faster?

Well, I have a simple answer. Run.

There are three things that greatly affect speed development.

- stride length (how far each step is when running)

- stride frequency (how fast you can pick em up and put em down)

- ground force (hard ground contact when running)

All can be improved by running.

If I only had one "thing" to choose for speed work. It would be short 10 yard and 20 yard sprints.

Football is a sport that is based on acceleration and deceleration. Primarily reactive sport. The average football play lasts no longer than 4 to 5 seconds and research has shown that most players never reach full speed during a play. You can actually decrease your 40 yard dash time by simply working on short sprints.

- you can perform the sprints in different stances and different methods

- you can work on mechanics

- develops great leg drive and power

- depending on the volume and sprint to rest ratio they can act as conditioning

- no gadgets or fancy equipment is needed

- you can vary the degree of difficulty by changing the running surface

Don't over-think things. Now don't get me wrong there are supplemental things that can be added to assist in the speed development, but try not to stray away from the primary goal!

If I wanted to become a great INDY 500 car driver, I wouldn't train on a horse? I would drive the car!

Until next time, practice hard and stay focused on your goa

(Another great sports tip from guest blogger Jon Doyle of www.baseballtrainingsecrets.com)

There is no doubt that you have heard many coaches, and even more quotes by pro ball players, talk about how important the mental aspect is to the game of baseball.

Then why isn't mental training taught more by coaches?

I have no idea. Maybe you can offer a suggestion.

I will let you in on an inside "secret" that will enable you to take your game to the next level. A secret so powerful that you will have the ability to put your body on auto-pilot and let your instincts take over...almost at will!

What is this secret?...Visualization.

Yeah I know you have heard the word thrown around many times, but did anyone tell you how to apply it? Probably not.

Here is a simple three- step solution so you can become a visualization master.

1. Close you eyes and picture in your head the best swing you ever took. The best pitch you ever threw. The best play you ever made. It does not matter. Just see that perfect play and "watch" it over and over in your head.

Do this with as much detail as possible. The smell, the sky, the crowd, the catcher pounding his glove. You get the idea. As much detail as possible.

2. Ok now that you have that perfect play in mind take it into the on deck circle, the pitcher's mound or the field. You will want to practice this as much as possible. The more you do it the better you get (as do the results!) If you do not feel comfortable using the visualization techniques in a game just yet, work on them in practice or exibition games.

Now just take that perfect play and "plug in" the pitcher or batter and the current surroundings. See yourself take that perfect swing. Feel yourself launch that perfect fastball on the black.

See it over and over. When you are good you will be able to do this in split seconds. I used to do it between every pitch! And I teach my students to do the same.

3. Let your body take over! Your body knows what to do considering all of the practice time you put in. It is the mind that gets in the way. Not any more!

It's really that simple once you master this awesome technique. Do yourself and give it a try. You will certainly thank me.

Good luck!

+(Jon Doyle is a former NCAA All-American baseball player who now works as a strength and conditioning specialist. For more tips check out [www.baseballtrainingsecrets.com|http://www.baseballtrainingsecre

(Another great sports tip from guest blogger Jon Doyle of www.baseballtrainingsecrets.com)

Sadly, youth shoulder-related injuries (and surgeries) have increased three-fold over the last decade. This number is certainly alarming and a cause for concern.

However, it is quite easy to avoid such injuries IF you know what to look for and what preventative measures to take.

1. Abuse. Today, youth pitchers throw three to four times as many pitcher per season than they did a decade ago. When I played Little League we played 16 games and maybe a few for All-Stars. Now, a youth ballplayer can easily play over 100 games a year. Simple math tells you there is a greater chance for injury if you do not take the correct measures (which I will explain below).

2. Incorrect throwing mechanics. Simply put, if a pitcher is throwing in a manner that places a large amount of stress on their arm and doing it over and over, an arm injury is going to happen. Period. Remember, arm injuries rarely are acute. They are a product of abuse over time.

3. Preventative exercises. If a player is old enough to pitch, he or she is old enough to perform simple exercises that only take 5-7 minutes a few times a week. These exercises will not stunt their growth or cause any harm. They will balance out the body and help prevent injuries.

Please don't overlok this message. You may think it could never happen to your child, but as I see it arm injuries are here to stay. The sad thing is they are so easily preventable.

Jon Doyle is a former NCAA All-American baseball player who now works as a strength and conditioning specialist. For more tips check out [www.baseballtrainingsecrets.com|http://www.baseballtraining

(Another great baseball tip from guest blogger Jon Doyle of www.baseballtrainingsecrets.com)

With Major League Baseball in full swing I think it is important to learn the nuances of the game as you watch.

If you are a young player watch how the pros go about their business.

If you are a parent or coach this is your chance to get across points you have been trying to make. Now, you will have the support of the Major Leaguers your kids look up to!

For instance, if you are teaching how to get in front of a ground ball, simply have them watch Derek Jeter. He is textbook on almost every play.

It is also a great way to get across that even the pros aren't perfect. I think this is important to teach the kids how the pros simply shake it off and get back to playing the game they love.

The possibilities are endless. Watching the games together (or assigning "homework" - This will be the best homework they have ever done) will allow everyone to get more out of each game.

-

Jon Doyle is a former NCAA All-American baseball player who now works as a strength and conditioning specialist. For more baseball tips check out [www.baseballtrainingsecrets.com|http://www.baseballtraining

Kelvin Sampson is familiar with red and white, but if the reports are true, he'll be a cream and crimson Hoosier very soon.

Kelvin Sampson, 259-109 in 12 seasons at Oklahoma, reportedly was offered and accepted the Indiana University basketball head coaching position over the weekend.

Wow, is there really no chance for Bobby Knight to return? Can Sampson fulfill Hoosier expectations? Interesting times lie ahead in B-town.

And, what happened to Alford?

[Post your comments|http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=20098642&postID=114357

There are quite a lot of parent and coach "battles" that go on in youth sports. Is it necessary? No. Is there a solution? Yes.

This basketball post is a great example of what to do when kids don't listen, a team loses, parents are upset, and coaches are criticized. Many times it's the true fundamentals that are overlooked.

Something else to think about is parenting. Coaches may want to write up some tips on how parents can help develop their child's sports skills and teamwork mentality, and even practice pla