Advances in Functional Training: Training Techniques for Coaches, Personal Trainers and Athletes

In the seven years since the publication of his first book, Functional Training for Sports, new understanding of functional anatomy created a shift in strength coaching. With this new material, Coach Boyle presents the continued evolution of functional training as seen by a leader in the strength and conditioning field. After an introduction into his new thinking, Michael uses ten basic sections to present everything a strength coach or personal trainer needs to understand modern training theory, beginning with his joint-by-joint approach to training, along with details of his use of Gray Cook and Lee Burton's Functional Movement Screen. Next he discusses injury avoidance, treatment, rehab and training after injury. Then he updates the reader on the current thinking in core training, back pain, and on how the hip musculature works, and how it fails. We learn his philosophy on cardiovascular training, and see what has worked for the athletes training in his facility. In the second half of the book, Michael shifts to training strategies, including which exercises he uses today and which he's discarded, what equipment and tools are in use on his gym floor, how he develops speed, and, of course, there's a large section on his now-famous single-leg training. Finally, we get to program design, where he puts the entire package together to mesh theory with daily reality. He'll teach you the basic objectives of a sound program, and then over the course of 32 pages, he'll show you exactly which programs he uses in a variety of client and athletic circumstances.

Table of Contents:
Mobility and Flexibility Injuries The Core The Hips Cardiovascular Training Developing Athleticism Equipment Choices Exercise Choices -The Basics and Single-Leg Training Program Design Sample Programs

About the Author :
Michael Boyle is an expert in strength and conditioning and what's often called functional training, and while he coaches daily during the workday, he also writes articles and book, and lectures nationally a couple-dozen times a year. He's the co-founder of Mike Boyle Strength and Conditioning, where he trains athletes from junior high to collegiate level to All Stars in almost every major professional sport. I think he'd agree, however, where he learns the most difficult training lessons is with his aging, chronic-pain-ridden adults, who invariably improve in mobility and ability under his expert guidance. Prior his work at MBSC, Michael was the head strength and conditioning coach at Boston University, where he continues as the strength and conditioning coach for men's ice hockey. The eight years prior, he was the strength and conditioning coach for the Boston Bruins of the National Hockey League; he was also the strength and conditioning coach for the 1998 US Women's Olympic Ice Hockey Team, the Gold Medalists in Nagano, and served as a consultant for the USA Hockey National Team Development Program. Michael has produced more than a dozen instructional videos - the newest being the recently released Functional Strength Coach 3, a 10-DVD set. His first book, Functional Training for Sports was a huge seller, and his second book, Designing Strength Training Programs and Facilities, has helped thousands of trainers and coaches during the setup of their training facilities. These books and DVDs are available through Perform Better.

Review :
Mike Boyle is a pioneer in the strength and conditioning field. While he's been at it over 25 years, he's never afraid to consider new ideas or to change his thought process in regard to training. Quite simply, Advances in Functional Training should be a staple in every coach and trainer's library. Mike Robertson, Robertson Training Systems Mike Boyle is the Godfather of performance training, and he's influenced countless others to become efficient and effective strength and conditioning coaches over the decades. He's a real-life practitioner, one with the experience of literally thousands of clients over the years. Robert dos Remedios, CSCS, SCCC, 2006 NSCA Collegiate Strength & Conditioning Professional of the Year We would be hard-pressed to find someone who has contributed more to the science and practice of keeping athletes healthy and performing at high levels than Michael Boyle. In this new book, he'll make you question what you've done in the past, re-evaluate what you're doing now, and motivate you to think for yourself in the future. Eric Cressey, Cressey Performance