Every day we hear championship stories about how BridgeAthletic's strength training software is helping coaches and athletes achieve their goals and overcome obstacles. These stories motivate us to build better athletes across all sports. Featured in this #BridgeBuilt Series is Chris Finn, owner of Par4Success, Physical Therapist, Strength and Conditioning Specialist, and TPI certified golf-medical professional, who breaks down how he's using BridgeAthletic to help train golf athletes at every level, both in person and around the world. 

The transition into college athletics is not always easy for athletes. It can be particularly difficult for players that are not in shape or for players that are used to being the star and now find themselves sitting on the bench. It is crucial for collegiate athletes to use time in the offseason to stay physically fit and prepare for the upcoming season. New players do not want to come into preseason behind and be trying to play catch-up all season long. While preparing for the collegiate level, players should prioritize strength and conditioning, nutrition, and sleep.

Preparing for competition both mentally and physically is essential for the big day. From early morning practices to intense dryland training, swimmers have put in the hard work to get ahead of their competition. During the crucial weeks and days leading up to swim meets, swimmers should properly implement a taper phase in their training to optimize performance on race day.

Every day we hear championship stories about how BridgeAthletic's strength training software is helping coaches and athletes achieve their goals and overcome obstacles. By making coaches more efficient, the department more connected, and athletes' development more accessible, the BridgeAthletic strength training software takes athletic programs to the next level. These stories motivate us to build better athletes across sports and around the world. Featured in this #BridgeBuilt Series is Notre Dame High School’s Nick Garcia, Head Strength and Conditioning Coach, who talks about the success his team of performance coaches and athletes has using BridgeAthletic’s platform.

Strength training causes a series of physical changes to the body and it’s easy to notice external changes like increases in muscle tone and mass; however, it is less obvious to see hormonal responses and changes within the body.

Strength training develops motor neuron pathways that enhance an athlete's brain-body coordination during functional movements. The “neural adaptations” athletes undergo in training refer to the brain’s ability to recruit muscles to contract and produce a particular movement. Practicing an exercise with resistance teaches an athlete's brain to fire the correct muscles to achieve the desired motion. Over time, the athlete’s technique for the exercise becomes ingrained and the movement becomes more automatic.

Whether it’s kicking, throwing, running, jumping or swimming, an athlete’s core is involved in almost every action. Core muscles are responsible for stabilizing the spine and pelvis as well as generating and transferring energy from the center of the body to its extremities. Developing core strength and stability enables athletes to maximize their power output and perform complex athletic movements that require coordination, balance, and technical skills. Additionally, focusing on core strength can help athletes stabilize other weak areas to reduce the risk of injury. When designing a strength program, coaches should implement core exercises in order to optimize athletic performance.

Nutrition is one of the most important aspects of being an elite athlete. The way an athlete treats their body before and after workouts on a daily basis can maximize their overall performance. Before making a grocery run, athletes should make a plan in order to stay organized, save money, and choose healthy options. It is imperative for elite athletes to prioritize nutrition and hydration to ensure their bodies are ready to go for training or competition. To learn more about athletic nutrition for collegiate athletes check out this article.