Sport Science Lab

Pittsburgh Trib-Review Polamalu Article

2008-12-04T14:58:00.000-08:00

Can't believe we missed this one (about halfway down the article):

He sure hasn't looked any slower, and part of that can be attributed to what he did during the offseason. Polamalu, with the Steelers' blessing, skipped all of the team's voluntary practices and trained in southern California.

He worked out at Sports Science Lab, where an emphasis is placed on how fast an athlete can move a weight and on exercises that simulate movements that are specific to a sport such as football.

"How much weight you lift is absolutely irrelevant to me," said Gavin MacMillan, president of Sports Science Lab. "The guy that lifts the most weight is never the guy that can run the fastest or jump the highest. In fact, it's quite the opposite."

That is not the only area in which MacMillan emphasized to Polamalu that less can be more.

"Honestly, what I think he did the two previous years was he over-trained, and I think that is really what hurt him," MacMillan said. "I think this summer he was able to kind of control that better."

Said Polamalu: "There were times when I would go there, and (MacMillan) would just send me home. I think I probably over-trained a lot."

Overdue: Steelers OK Polamalu's SSL Training

2008-12-04T14:51:00.000-08:00

I neglected to post this when it happened, but it's an interesting read still, especially if you're curious about how the NFL's coaching establishment sees SSL's methodology. Let's just say they're not true believers.
Maybe after Troy finishes up destroying the league they're going to take a little notice.

San Clemente Times mention

2008-12-04T13:21:00.000-08:00

The SC Times put a mention of SSL up in their "News Bites" section. A good run-down of the program with some quotes from Gavin. It's also in the Dana Point Times. Here's a screenshot since the main online link is to a PDF of the whole paper, and that just takes forever to load. Here's the text:

South County-based Sport Science Lab just released a new DVD, The Ballistic Ball Workout with Foundational Footwork, which has been proven to increase athleticism and more. Gavin MacMillan, founder of Sport Science Lab and former professional athlete, uses unconventional training methods for athletes, noting that conventional weight training not only helps cause sports injuries but can destroy athleticism.
“This is the only sports-training program that trains your nervous system,” says MacMillan. “One might ask why? It’s because the nervous system controls everything— limb speed, power, agility, grace, body integration, timing, rhythm, balance and coordination. These are the elements that define athleticism.” Sports Science Lab has facilities in San Juan Capistrano where training is offered for athletes in many sports including volleyball, basketball, track and field, football, soccer, tennis and much more.
A number of elite athletes also use the program, such as Troy Polamalu of the Pittsburgh Steelers, Tyson Chandler of the Charlotte Hornets and Aly Wagner of the gold medal–winning U.S. Olympic soccer team. Sport Science Lab’s unconventional program is said build balance, body integration and speed strength; increase speed, quickness, agility, flexibility and rotational power; and improve coordination, rhythm, timing, stability and athleticism. More information about training programs, how to get involved and the new DVD is available online at www.sportsciencelab.com.

Morgan Beck: Cal Senior Volleyball Striker

2008-11-20T14:24:00.001-08:00

Cal is in the top ten in the nation, along with an amazing SIX other Pac-10 teams. Morgan Beck looks to stay strong while the Bears host two top ten teams in USC and UCLA this weekend...the USC game will be televised on FSN Saturday, so if you want to get a look at a Sport Science Lab athlete in action, check that out!

Hungarian Weightlifter Dislocates Elbow...OW

2008-11-20T13:33:00.000-08:00

Here's a disturbing example of why SSL claims WEIGHT TRAINING DESTROYS ATHLETICISM::

BEIJING (AP)-Hungarian strongman Janos Baranyai's first Olympics ended in agony Wednesday when he dislocated his right elbow in the ugliest moment yet of the Olympic weightlifting competition.

Baranyai was trying to snatch 148 kg (326.3 pounds) in his third lift in the men's 77-kilogram division, when his elbow popped out of its socket.

No longer able to support the weight of the barbell, his right forearm bent backward. The 24-year-old Hungarian fell to the floor in shock, shaking and crying out in pain.

Hungary's coaching staff and competition officials rushed to Baranyai's aid as he lay trembling on the floor, his arm limp and twisted out of position.

My emphasis...that just sounds horrible...and once more, there's basically no other sport that requires a slow-moving, high-stress movement that will destroy your limbs with the slightest miscalculation or random sway or wiggle. Unreal.
That poor guy's definitely going to need some restorative training...give us a call! We'll have you better than ever.

Press Release: New Training DVD Increases Athleticism

2008-11-20T13:22:00.000-08:00

Pick up our DVD in the store!

(Nov 15, 2008 – San Juan Capistrano, CA) Sport Science Lab just unveiled a new DVD, The Ballistic Ball Workout with Foundational Footwork, that has been proven to increase athleticism and more.

Gavin MacMillan, Founder of Sport Science Lab, and former professional athlete, explains “This is the only sports training program that trains your Nervous System. One might be tempted to ask why? The answer is, because the nervous system controls everything—limb speed, power, agility, grace, body integration, timing, rhythm, balance and coordination. These are the elements that define athleticism. Muscles simply contract and relax....when your nervous system tell them to.”

PDF Version

Ball Workout Impacts Regular Guy

2008-11-18T17:30:00.001-08:00

I'll tell you right up front, I own the company promoting Sports Science Lab and the DVDs.

And like the guy from Hair Club for Men, I use the product.

I'm no athlete, although I'd like to be. But I do keep myself in great shape by doing cardio and resistance training regularly. Really regularly. Like for 20 years straight.

I was lifting and using a Bowflex in the evenings until I met Gavin. He convinced me that the heavy weight lifting is not only "not good" but actually detrimental.

This past weekend I was in a little funk about doing my normal exercise routines. I did it anyway (I'm OCD that way) but didn't enjoy nor get the most from it.

Monday night I did the Ballistic Ball Workout, which I typically do 3 times a week. It really kicked my butt. As usual. But, here's the key - and the reason I finally had to share this -I felt awesome. Not muscle sore. Used, yes. But almost electric. And this morning on my cross trainer, I really kicked it!! I maintained a higher level throughout the workout. Never got tired, or struggled at all. And...when I looked at the timer for the first time, I was 9 minutes OVER. I was thinking that there was 6 or 7 minutes left before I hit my Cardio time of 60 minutes.

Certainly this is not the first time I've done the Ballistic Ball Workout. But, it's sooooo powerful and impactful...even to a regular person staying in shape, that this time I felt compelled to tell it in the blog. Plus, I cannot even begin to tell you the impact this workout has on my core. I'm more flexible, certainly stronger and more stable and yes, it is even helping my coordination. This is all showing in my golf swing. My rotational power is increasing regularly. BTW...it may be worth stating that I'm 60. So this stuff will work for everyone. Everyone, that is, who doesn't mind working hard, because the workout is not easy.

Anyway, give it a try. Once you do, you'll be hooked. I promise you.

Terry

Terry Vitiello

President & Creative Director

Quantum Communications

3648 Ocean Ranch Blvd

Oceanside, CA 92025

(760) 754-3220

www.enemyofgoodenough.com

terry@enemyofgoodenough.com

Plyometrics according to wikipedia

2008-11-07T13:34:00.000-08:00

"Plyometrics is a type of exercise training designed to produce fast, powerful movements, and improve the functions of the nervous system, generally for the purpose of improving performance in a specific sport. Plyometric movements, in which a muscle is loaded and then contracted in rapid sequence, use the strength, elasticity and innervation of muscle and as it was supposed to be surrounding tissues to jump higher, run faster, throw farther, or hit harder, depending on the desired training goal. Plyometrics is used to increase the speed or force of muscular contractions, often with the goal of increasing the height of a jump or the speed of a punch or throw" direct from

www.wikipedia.org

Finally, recognition of the nervous system and the need to train that system. The only thing I want to add is that plyometrics is not the only way to train the nervous system. Check out our Ballistic Ball Workout---and the way we teach Aquatics. Both these routines stimulate and challenge the nervous system, as does every exercise at Sport Science LAb.

"Plyometric training involves practicing plyometric movements to toughen tissues and train nerve cells to stimulate a specific pattern of muscle contraction so the muscle generates as strong a contraction as possible in the shortest amount of time. A plyometric contraction involves first a rapid muscle lengthening movement, followed by a short resting phase, then an explosive muscle shortening movement, which enables the muscles that work together in doing the particular motion. Plyometric training engages the myostatic-reflex, which is the automatic contraction of muscle when their stretch nerve receptors are stimulated.

Plyometric exercises use explosive movements to develop muscular power, the ability to generate a large amount of force quickly. Plyometric training acts on the nerves, muscles, and tendons to increase an athlete's power output without necessarily increasing their maximum strength" direct from wikipedia.

I must caution here. Plyometrics is very popular right now. But plyometrics such as box jumping should not be used too often, and for not too many repetitions. Stay tuned for our DVD on plyometrics & box jumping, coming in the next month.

"Muscular power is determined by how long it takes for strength to be converted into speed. The ability to convert strength to speed in a very short time allows for athletic movements beyond what raw strength will allow. Thus an athlete who has strong legs and can perform the freeweight squat with extremely heavy weights over a long duration may get less distance on a standing long jump or height on a vertical leap than a weaker athlete who is able to generate a smaller amount of force but in a shorter amount of time. The plyometrically trained athlete may have a lower maximal force output, and thus may not squat as much, but his training allows him to shorten the amount of time required to reach his maximum force output, leading to more power from each contraction", again from wikipedia.

So, they are saying what we've been saying for over 10 years. The person who is the strongest, the person who can lift the most weight is not the fastest, quickest, best athlete.

Saving a Basketball Career

2008-11-05T15:53:00.001-08:00

My name is Augie Johnston and I play D2 basketball at Cal State Monterey Bay. This past summer Django Evans introduced me to Sport Science Lab and their theories. I have always been a weight lifter my whole life. I played point guard in high school on a very good team was considered lightning quick and was the best ball handler on the team. After signing to CSUMB I was told by about every coach I met that I should get bigger in order to play at the college level. I reached 190 by my freshmen year of college and was told I was too slow to play point guard and I could even feel my handles slipping. After my junior season I was up to 200 lbs. I felt slower than ever and had to rely only on my jump shot. Django schooled me on Sport Science Lab principles and I began doing the Ballistic Ball Workout, supercat workouts, and Aquatic workouts. After three weeks I did something that I never thought I could do...for the first time in my life I dunked from outside the key, and off of two feet. I have completed many different 15 week plyometric workouts, such as "Air Alert" and never gained more than an inch of vert. Thank you for saving my basketball career.

Injuries To Female Athletes

2008-10-23T15:32:00.001-07:00

Female athletes in this country are suffering an inordinate number of knee injuries, particularly ACL (Anterior Cruciate Ligament) injuries. In fact, studies show that female athletes are 5-7 times more likely to sustain a torn ACL than their male counterparts.

Current research agrees that women are built from a different set of blueprints than men and these physiological differences can lead to knee and ankle injuries when these differences are not recognized nor accounted for in training regimens.

As an example, Dr. Laura Losi, director of the bone health program at Children's National Medical Center in Washington, D.C. states that "A woman'spelvis is wider, which is why women's knees go into a knock-kneed position, and the feet tend to roll into a little flat footedness.

Dr.Letha Griffin, an orthopedic surgeon in Atlanta adds, "Girls tend to run, jump, and turn with straighter legs and less bending at the knees and hips than boys. Little girls run more upright while little boys stay low to the ground."

The Sports Medicine Center in Cincinnati agrees, "Women tend to be very front dominant. They primarily use their quadriceps which means their bodies don't fully activate the muscles on the back side, specifically the hamstrings and the glutes. This imbalance of muscle use ends up putting stress on the ACL."

Our evidence-based, unconventional training at Sport Science Lab provides some answers. We start by training the feet because of the number of proprioceptors located there and because every athletic move begins with the feet.

Our foundational footwork is essentially re-training the athlete which includes proper running mechanics, i.e. Patterning proper movements, running on the balls of their feet---another inherently damaging habit female athletes must overcome is that they run flatfooted---landing softly and using their arms more and more efficiently. Most importantly, we imprint this new foundation before we hit any playing surface.

Our Ballistic Ball Workout DVD with foundational footwork...for women athletes helps prevent and even rehab knee and ankle injuries. We're taking advanced orders for this revolutionary DVD.

New Aquatic workout DVD

2008-10-23T14:51:00.000-07:00

We just finished shooting the new Aquatic workout DVD. We used an underwater rig to get the best instructional angles of the exercises since most of the action happens underwater. It's very clear in the footage what's going on and how to do the exercises.

Just a few words about the program. Our Aquatic workouts are a unique, extremely effective training tool. They're effective because because they stimulate full range of motion in all joint positions with rotational, spiral and diagonal movement patterns using both extended & bent limbs.

It involves progressive complexity, instability, stretch, speed, difficulty, mental effort, frequency and speed of contraction and relaxation.

The Aquatic workout is excellent for nervous system training because it involves the proper alternation of muscular tension and relaxation in the phases of movement as well as high nervous system stimulation. This training eliminates non-essential muscle tension, which does not contribute to mobility or stability.

Nervous system is one of the most important components of our training methodology and this Aquatic work. Athleticism is the subconscious ability to compute and apply the correct amount of force at every moment of each movement. Athletes must have an understanding of how to program or imprint the nervous system by specific sensory and motor activity.

And this Aquatic work allows one to do high velocity training which conditions the nervous system and helps improve and even increase athleticism!

Check out the new DVD in our shopping cart.

Welcome Aly Wagner

2008-10-23T14:39:00.000-07:00

Aly Wagner, fresh from winning a gold medal at the Bejiing Olympics, has come to SSL to rehab and get ready for her upcoming professional soccer season. For all of Aly's fans, I'll be posting comments from her and updating her progress here regularly.

JSerra moves to 5-0

2008-10-23T14:30:00.000-07:00

The JSerra football team that trains with Gavin @ Sport Science Lab improved to 5-o by beating Katella 35-2. Congratulationd guys!

Sports Lab Athlete: Tate Forcier

2008-06-30T11:23:00.000-07:00

Tate has been training with Sports Lab for years, and is reaping the rewards.

It's a deep and talented year for quarterbacks out West and over a two day period, we had a chance to see just about every top signal caller in the region. One player who really stood out was San Diego (Calif.) Scripps Ranch signal caller Tate Forcier.

Forcier, 6-1, 185 pounds brings a lot to the table and it's easy to see why he's sitting on 30+ offers at this time. The quarterback had very good workouts at the Elite 11 regional camp at Cal and the NIKE Camp at Stanford the following day.

In terms of physical tools, there may not be three or four quarterbacks nationally with a better skill set than Forcier. He showed off a cannon for an arm and had arguably the most life on his ball over the weekend. Forcier had the quickest drop, the quickest release and threw the tightest ball of the weekend as well.

He was also one of the most accurate winning the Golden Gun accuracy challenge at Cal on Friday. Forcier is very athletic, moves around the pocket with ease and throws on the run or rolling out as good as anyone we've seen.

From a physical standpoint, the only thing Forcier may lack is the ideal size some colleges are looking for but it's obviously not affecting his recruitment much with amont of he's holding offers and his overall athletic package is one that you just can't overlook.

On the recruiting front, Forcier said he's still wide open among the schools that are recruiting him and has no favorite schools at the moment.

Sports Lab Athlete: Max Hooper

2008-06-27T11:19:00.000-07:00

Max Hooper is a talented up-and-comer garnering some national attention from colleges, and he trains with Marv Marinovich's Sports Lab. Check out this write-up at Rivals.com:

Hooper plays in one of the best leagues in the country (WCAL) and set a record in the 14 league games he played this season, hitting 46 three-pointers, topping the previous five year old record of 36.
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So not only is he working hard to prove himself as the top shooter in the state of California, but he's also proving himself as one of the top student-athletes not only in the state, but perhaps in the country.
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There's no doubt that Max Hooper is one of the state of California's players to watch in the coming months.

Great write-up Max! Keep up the good work, we'll be seeing a lot more of you!

SportsLab on the NFL Network!

2008-06-25T09:20:00.000-07:00

The NFL Network had a great piece on Tuesday about Troy Polamalu's training at Sports Lab. Still not sure that Marv and the crew are training athletes on a whole new level? This video might be what it takes to convince you.

You can view the video here.

Dan Ellis Becomes a Star

2008-05-30T14:18:00.000-07:00

Goaltender Dan Ellis earned the second star in the NHL Three Stars of the Week named by the league.

Ellis was 2-0-1 with a 0.33 goals-against average, a .991 save percentage and two shutouts. He has kept the Predators in the playoff hunt with five of a possible six points. In back-to-back starts against the Columbus Blue Jackets, he made 36 and 43 saves, recording his fifth and sixth shutouts of the season as the Predators won 3-0, Mar. 25 and 2-0, Mar. 28.

· Ellis set a franchise record with a scoreless streak of 233:39 that began March 22 against Chicago and ended with the overtime goal in Detroit.

· He is also fifth in the NHL since 1944-45 in longest stretches without allowing a goal.

· Ellis had 147 consecutive saves during the streak. His 43 saves against Columbus was a career-high and is tied for the highest number of saves in a game this season.

Ellis has appeared in 42 games posting a record of 22-10-3, with a 2.28 goals-against average, a .926 save percentage and six shutouts.

Ellis has allowed one goal or fewer in eight of his last 13 starts. He had a 1.75 goals-against average and a .949 save percentage in the month of March.
His .926 save percentage leads the NHL.

His 2.28 goals-against average is tied for seventh best and is shutout total is tied for third best.

He has a 16-6-3 record in his last 22 decisions, is 10-3-3 in one-goal games and 16-1-0 when he receives three or more goals in offensive support this season.

Troy Polamalu earns contract extension

2007-07-24T09:08:00.000-07:00

Congratulations Troy! From ESPN.com:

Polamalu, one of the most versatile players in Steelers history, was a first-team All-Pro player when Pittsburgh won the Super Bowl during the 2005 season and was a second team All-Pro in 2004. He made the Pro Bowl the last three seasons and, besides being known for the flowing black hair that streams out of his helmet, is widely regarded as one of the league's top defensive players.

Sports Lab wishes you the best!

Fleishman Keeps Moving Up!

2007-07-20T09:49:00.000-07:00

Zack Fleishman, who trains extensively with Sports Lab, won again at the Countrywide Classic, 7-6, 6-3 over Robert Kendrick. Zack is a former UCLA Bruin, and his alma mater's artcle has some great quotes:

“I just feel like I went out and played great against Gonzalez, and there’s no reason I can’t come out and play great again,” Fleishman said after clinching his first-ever quarterfinal appearance on the ATP Tour. “I think I proved that this is an official level that I can play at, instead of just one good outing.”

Photo by Jessica Chou

Former Bruin Zack Fleishman handled Robert Kendrick in two sets to move on to the quarterfinals at the Countrywide Classic.

Zack Fleishman advances at Countrywide!

2007-07-18T09:07:00.000-07:00

Following up on his test at Wimbledon, Sportslab athlete Zack Fleishman takes another stride in the world of Men's Tennis by defeating Fernando Gonzales, the #6 ranked player in the world.
"I beat a top 10 player at my former college, in my hometown, at a place where I've practiced since I was 9 years old," said Fleishman, who now is 2-2 in tour matches this year and 5-12 lifetime. "My pure strategy coming in was to play my game and if I needed to adjust I would."
We couldn't be happier for Zack and will be cheering him along from success to success!

Zach Fleishman returns a shot to Fernando Gonzalez, of Chile, during the first round of the Countrywide Classic tennis tournament, Tuesday, July 17, 2007, in Los Angeles. Fleishman won 7-6 (5), 6-4.
(AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill) Image from Yahoo Sports

Zach Fleishman reacts after upsetting top seed Fernando Gonzalez, of Chile, in the first round of the Countrywide Classic tennis tournament, Tuesday, July 17, 2007, in Los Angeles. Fleishman won 7-6 (5), 6-4.
(AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill) Image from Yahoo Sports

The Blog is up!

2007-05-15T11:29:00.000-07:00

Check back soon for many useful items in our new blog!