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Parents: Are You Standing in the Way of Your Athletes Performance?

Parents: Are You Standing in the Way of Your Athletes Performance?

By Aaron Thigpen Owner Gamespeed Sports Performance August 2018
One tv show I get a kick out of is the “Goldbergs”.  The mother, Berverly Goldberg. is the epitome of the “Helicopter” parent. She unabashadly maintains her purpose in life is to ensure that her kids every dream and desire come to fruition. The escapades of her manipulation, interference and blind support are hilarious and the bases for many of the family’s stories. 
Of course we all love our kids and in terms of sports we want them to be successful. HOWEVEEER…..Some of your well intended actions can actually be stunting your child’s athletic development. 
If you are thin-skinned you may want to stop here but if you really want the best for your athlete read on.

SIX Traps Parents Fall Into

  • The “Former” Athlete:  Your athletic past maybe irrelevant. We tend to remember  the past a little more fondly than it might have been, In masters track we have a saying; “We were always greater than we were”. Keep in mind things change, trends in coaching, training and physical preparation evolve. What may […]
Parents: Are You Standing in the Way of Your Athletes Performance?2021-12-17T13:50:40-08:00

Wanna Build Muscle? Eat Like a First Grader!!

By Aaron Thigpen, Owner Gamespeed Sports Performance Aug 2018

Wondering why I have a picture of a Mickey Mouse lunch box. Well when I was in grade school I had one and little did I know my beloved mother (may she rest in peace) packed it with a lunch that gave me the building blocks of a athletes high performance meal.

The go to meal that fueled my legendary recess exploits that Im sure are still talked about at Taft Elementary was an Orange, Peanut Butter sandwhich and Chocolate Milk. 

Oranges (antioxidant)  are a great source of Vitamin C,  which can reduce exercise-induced oxidative stress and supports a healthy immune system for better recovery for athletes.

 

Peanut Butter (protein) has the necessary protein athletes need to keep muscles strong and free from injury.  The nutrient-dense nature of “PB” contains healthy fats that provide long-lasting energy for athletes.

Chocolate Milk  (carbs & protein mix) Refuels muscles after a workout.  Compared to sports drinks chocolate milk leads to a higher concentration of muscle fuel (known as […]

Wanna Build Muscle? Eat Like a First Grader!!2021-12-17T13:50:59-08:00

Berto’s Ability to Press: Will to Win, Super Conditioning or Fatigue Management?

Berto’s Ability to Press: Will to Win, Super Conditioning or Fatigue Management?

By Aaron Thigpen, Owner,Gamespeed Sports Performance Aug 2018
Photo by Trappfotos

Boxing- On August 4th  34 year old Andre Berto won a decision over Devon Alexander (31) in a tightly contested match. After suffering a knockdown in the third round Berto battled back with unrelentting pressure. As a result Alexander could not keep the pace  and succmbed to the constant pressure.

Was Berto’s performance a result of a strong will to win, superior athletic conditioning or his ability to handle fatigue? Actually a combination of all three. As his trainer for the past six years we are constantly striving to develop these factors.

A couple years back I  used the phrase “comfortable being uncomfortable” in describing my approach to preparing fighters and then World Champion Andre Ward in his rematch with Sergei Kovalev that was aired on a segment of HBO.  Nice to hear it repeated nowadays but most dont truly understand what I meant.

Your training must take a “three” pronged approach if you are to be successful in any sport. Any program must  prepare you for high levels  of Mental Pressure, Fitness and resistance to the ill effects of Fatigue.

The ability to […]

Berto’s Ability to Press: Will to Win, Super Conditioning or Fatigue Management?2021-12-17T13:52:10-08:00

Off Season Gains Start With Fueling The Body – Know The Basics

Off Season Gains Start With Fueling The Body – Know The Basics

By Aaron Thigpen, Owner Gamespeed Sports Performance  Aug-2018

Summers over. So it’s that time again. Your journey to greatness has started again and your headed back to the gym. Your goal to get bigger, stronger or both will directly be affected on how well you eat. First you must understand the basic parameters that will allow your food intake to bring you to the next level.

So without getting into diets, recipes and all the minute details first make sure you understand the most basic concepts for “athletic eating”.

Know your caloric intake needs:

  1. Use this simple formula – Activity Level Rating x Body Weight= Calorie Requirements

Males 23 (Heavy Activty Level)  x Body weight

Females 20 (Heavy Activity Level) x Body Weight

Example- 23 x 175lbs = 4025

 

Learn how to calculate daily calories:

  1. There are a number of free apps you can use such as: My Fitness Pal or My Plate

 

For Athletes who want to gain size and strength:

Consume 500 more calories per day.

For Athletes wanting to loss weight but maintain strength:

Reduce your calorie intake by 500 per day.

 

Know the bodies Fueling Requirements

Proteins should be  12- 15% of you caloric intake.

Carbohydrates should […]

Off Season Gains Start With Fueling The Body – Know The Basics2021-12-17T13:52:40-08:00

Inside Andre Berto’s Training Camp – Devon Alexander Fight

“Andre Berto and Devon Alexander meet in a high-stakes crossroads battle with the winner emerging one step closer to another shot at the welterweight crown,” 

Former 147-pound world champions Andre Berto (31-5, 24 KOs) and Devon Alexander (27-4-1, 14 KOs) will battle in a 12-round showdown that headlines a stacked night of Premier Boxing Champions on FOX and FOX Deportes live in prime time on Saturday, August 4 from NYCB LIVE, home of the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum.

Berto has been training with Gamespeed’s Aaron Thigpen since 2012.

Inside Andre Berto’s Training Camp – Devon Alexander Fight2021-12-17T13:53:56-08:00

5 Reasons to Consider A Summer Lifting Program

Okay summers here. Time for sun, fun and weights? Yes I said weights. Summer is an optimum time to make strength gains. Now don’t get me wrong, Im not talking “bulking up”.  I mean developing and improving relative “strength to body weight ratio”. The type of strength work that can translate into power and explosiveness when you get back on the court or field.

Heres some good reasons why:

More Available Training Hours – With no school you may have a few more available  hours to schedule gym time.  Now you can take your time and not just squeeze it in but quality time. Also with more time comes more consistency which is the foundation for developing strength.

Replenish Strength Stores– Summer is a great time to replenish strength stores that are depeleted from the rigors of the past competitive season. Reload!

Opportunity to Correct Imbalances – Summer provides an opportuynity to get the body centered. Playing sports creates imbalances that need to be corrected in the off season. For those whose competitive seasons were more demanding you can recover from injuries and trauma and reset the body  for the next season.

Do Things The Right Way – Time to cross the T’s and dot […]

5 Reasons to Consider A Summer Lifting Program2021-12-17T13:54:35-08:00

Getting the most out of a Sports Camp

Getting the most out of a Sports Camp

By Aaron Thigpen – Gamespeed Sports Performance
Alright, its that time of year. Sports camps of all types will be going on.  Here’s a few tips athletes and parent’s should know to get the most out of the experience. As an instructor of numerous camps over the years here’s some tips from an instructors perspective.

1. Research your camp thoroughly. Know things like: age range, skill level, number of participant’s, coach to athlete ratio, level of expertise . All of these factor into the level of fun and quality of instruction. Your athlete should be a “realistic” fit to get the most out of the experience.

2. Know the cancellation or absentee policy. Things do come up (weather, sickness) and you want to be up to speed on where you stand once you’ve put your money down.

3. Be equipped properly.  Make sure you have the appropriate attire, footwear etc. Improper footwear on the wrong surface can lead to injuries.  Check the weather to have the right clothing or change of clothing readily available.

4. Nutrition: Eat properly before the activity, have something to snack on for longer durations. Dried fruit, granola, trail-mix and sports bars are all […]

Getting the most out of a Sports Camp2021-12-17T13:55:11-08:00

Trio Plans, Prepares & Realize Freshman Baseball Goals

San Ramon – Some of the Bay Areas best baseball is played in the Contra Costa county. In particular that stretch up the 680 freeway from the 580 to highway 4.  There are highly competitive, little leagues, travel teams and high school programs. Each year hundreds of kids attempt to make the transition into highschool baseball by making the all important freshman squad. Programs like De La Salle, San Ramon Valley, Campolindo and others can see easily up to 60-70 athletes aspiring to make their freshman teams. Unfortunately there are only a few roster spots.

We’ve been training baseball athletes for over 23 years in this area and this is of great concern to athletes and parents. Everyone wants to play freashman baseball. The hard truth is most will be cut. Some things will be out of there control, others are not. In most cases the athletes are just plain not prepared. Most dont have the athletic habits that are required to succeed initially in highschool sports.

Well we can tell you of three young men who made sure that wasnt going to happen. Conor and Ryan Jewik along with Josh Sherwood with the help of their parents dedided well in advance to […]

Trio Plans, Prepares & Realize Freshman Baseball Goals2018-04-05T10:16:12-07:00

Speed Tip: Hills for Power Running

Speed Tip: Hills for Power Running .
 

Hills provide a great way of building leg strength and power. However different grades and distances will result in different training effects.

Short Steep Hills – Acceleration, Power and Explosiveness.

Long Shallow Hills – Speed endurance and maintenance of top end speed.

Speed Tip: Hills for Power Running2021-12-17T13:56:03-08:00

Speed Tip: Proper “Armswing” is key to faster running.

Speed Tip: The Proper “Armswing” is key to faster running.

  1. Swing the arms forward and backward, not across the body.
  2. Swing the arms from the shoulders.
  3. Keep the elbows bent at about 90 degrees and focus on driving them backward.
  4. The hands should pass the body at pocket height.
  5. Swing the arms powerfully through a full range of motion. Chin height to pass the butt.
  6. Keep the shoulders and hands relaxed. The shoulders should be down and the hands should be relaxed but firm. Do not clench your fist or flop the hands.

Concord- Gamespeed sports provides running training to youth athletes in a variety of sports. Ready to Raise Your Game? Check out our Speed Skills & Youth Speed Skills Classes

Coach Aaron Thigpen is a former world class sprinter and has been teaching athletes to run faster for over 25 years. 

Speed Tip: Proper “Armswing” is key to faster running.2021-12-17T13:56:49-08:00

Gym Hours

Gym Hours

Monday 4-7pm

Tuesday 4-7pm

Wednesday 4-7pm

Thursday 4-7pm

Friday & Saturday Closed

Sunday 9-11am

One to One by appointment

 

 

 

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