powerline

October 10, 2017

Implementing variety in metabolic conditioning protocols

While year-round conditioning is vital to the growth and development of athletes, it can be mentally and physically taxing. In addition to proper rest, recovery and rejuvenation strategies, implementing variety can reduce some of the mental tedium as...


July 24, 2017

A tribute to the strength of coaches

It has been said that life shrinks or expands in proportion to one’s courage. Two undeniable and highly visible characteristics of great coaches are their indelible courage and inner strength. All aspects and categories of the coaching profession ...


February 20, 2017

Strength evaluation and assessment for the new year

The first steps into 2017 have been taken, and with them come time for assessment, reaffirmation and renewed commitment to achieving goals. The day-to-day operation of a strength and conditioning program presents challenges and the need for troubl...


January 20, 2017

Female strength training: Dissecting misconceptions & evaluating strategies

In my early years as a sports coach, and the subsequent years entering the strength and conditioning field, the mainstream culture viewed strength training as a male endeavor. At the time, the social stigma and paucity of disseminated information fed...


November 28, 2016

Powerline: Developing size and strength in young athletes

One of the most prominent dilemmas faced by youth and high school coaches is finding safe, proven and productive ways to accelerate the strength levels and physical development of their athletes. The term “hard gainer” is used prolifically by str...


August 8, 2016

Using caution in the summer heat

Coaches of outdoor fall sports are currently in the process of training their athletes in the heat of summer. Soon, especially in football, athletes will be engaged in full-gear, full-speed practices. For the most part, these coaches have been edu...


September 12, 2014

Don’t neglect the neck

The neck is a critically important area for football players  “Do your players truly invest adequate time and effort in strengthening their necks?” It is my hope that everyone answered with a resounding, affirmative yes! In football �...


August 23, 2014

Ken Mannie’s mailbag: Answering questions from coaches

It’s time once again to reach into the mailbag and scan my email for some of the most frequently asked questions I’ve received from coaches. There were a lot of great questions that require some lengthy discussion, and I’ve picked a few that...