A proper dynamic warm-up is an important step to prepare an athlete’s body to perform at maximum intensity during a workout, training session, and competition. In the past, a traditional warm-up routine involved a light jog followed by extensive static stretching. Studies have shown that too much static stretching lengthens muscles and nerves, which in turn decreases athletic performance for up to two hours. Unlike this “sit and stretch” method, an active dynamic warm-up increases body and core temperature, increases blood flow to muscles, focuses the athlete’s mind on the task ahead, and enhances coordination and motor ability. Thus, an effective dynamic warm-up should incorporate sport-specific movements and cause athletes to break a sweat in order to optimize athletic performance.

Endurance athletes face a unique dilemma during training and competitions. Their races are so long that their bodies can effectively burn through all their energy stores unless proper attention is given to fueling up before and even during competition. Not surprisingly, athletes can have trouble pairing a long, grueling race with eating and drinking. Let’s look at how you can replenish muscle glycogen stores and why pre-run fuel is essential to your performance.

For athletes, there are many difficulties that go along with exercising in hot temperatures. Whether you are a football player, track athletic or a year-round swimmer, it is extremely important to consider the environment in which you train.

This month’s edition of Sports Psychology is a further look into the Perform Phase of the Learn, Plan, Perform Model. This article focuses on imagery for peak performance, though this skill can be used at any time throughout the Learn, Plan, Perform model. Athletes can use this skill to learn how to perform in the present moment with the automatic knowledge stored from it.

Volleyball Psychology: Being mentally ready happens even before you step on the court

With the season in full swing and Junior Nationals upon us it is vital to cover all your bases to give your team the best chance at winning. This is where competition ramps up and each point is vital. The mental aspects and demands upon a player and team quickly accumulate in high pressure moments.

For many swim clubs, having a dedicated, swim-specific strength trainer on hand is not within their budget constraints. However, with the power of technology, such as the BridgeAthletic platform, age group swim coaches are fit to perform the role of dryland coach in lieu of a formal strength trainer. Club head coaches often express that their athletes are so used to hearing their coaching instructions in the pool that it helps to have a “3^rd party” strength coach with their athletes. That’s why so many clubs are giving the task of dedicated dryland specialist to one of their in-house assistant coaches, maintaining the important close athlete-coaching staff relationship while avoiding the need for expensive external strength trainers.

New and want to try out the BridgeAthletic app experience for yourself? The Workout of the Week will now be available as an in-app experience!  For all our loyal followers, sign up here to join the team and receive the Workout of the Week on your mobile device.  Just give us the basics and we'll set you up on our workout team.  

Step 1: Fill out the form below.

Step 2: Download the BridgeTracker app on your mobile device.

Step 3: We will send you an invite to join the Weekly Workout team. Once you get this, finish your profile and you'll get our Workout of the Week each Friday!

This month’s edition of Sport Psychology focuses on how to coach a team that has made it to the Performance Stage. This is the stage in which the team has come together around a set of goals and norms, allowing them to play as one unit rather than a group of individuals.

BridgeAthletic's Building Block Series is a set of 5 exercises that can be performed by volleyball players of all levels with limited equipment needed. Coaches can incorporate this volleyball-specific power circuit into programs in between drills.