We’re getting ready for the 2012 Poliquin™ BioSignature Convention in Las Vegas on Labor Day weekend and wanted to give you a glimpse of what you can expect to learn.
Ben Prentiss, owner of Prentiss Hockey Performance in Darien, Connecticut, will provide strategies for getting better strength and conditioning results from elite athletes and the general population. Ben is a strength and conditioning coach who has trained numerous elite hockey players including NHL All-Stars and Stanley Cup winners.
Here are three things you will learn from Ben:
1) A strength coach differs from a personal trainer in approaches to program design, periodization, planning, and training philosophy. Your general population clientele doesn't have the same goals as an athlete who needs to peak for a certain date.
However, there is no such thing as sports specific training. A female fat loss client can squat just like an athlete can squat. Loads, tempos, sets, and reps may differ, but the exercises can be the same. Strongman training can be used for athletes as well as general population clients. It is just the parameters that may differ.
Athletes may do different exercises at certain times in order to peak for camp. And there may be certain exercises women aren't interested in doing. Another aspect where they differ is recovery.
2) One of the most important lessons I've learned from 17 years in the gym is that sometimes studies and research aren't the sure answer. Rather, experience in the gym can be the best research and your best guide in training athletes.
Put your efforts into becoming a more intelligent trainer rather than into advertising and sales pitches.
3) Training professional athletes over the long term is different from the general population because an athlete often has invested their life and livelihood into their sport. When training elites over their career, you will often encounter setbacks, such as injuries. How you coach in such a situation will be key to your athlete’s success.
For example, I will present how one of my athletes, Max Pacioretty, came back from a broken neck and concussion. We will take a look at what his four month off-season program looked like to get him back to playing shape so that he could win the Masterton Trophy the next season.
For a full speaker list or to sign up for the Convention, go to
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