Rich Clarke

Here is the outcome of my 10-year journey in the Change of Direction and Agility Space Want to impact performance and reduce ACL injury risk? Here you go:

People go over "sprint" positioning and postures all the time. Yet when we do the same for COD, people scream from the mountain tops "That's not agility training." We know that. We are just practicing like anyone would any other skill.

To offend a strong man, tell him a lie. To offend a weak man, tell him the truth. - Marcus Aurelius

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My philosophy has simplified over the years. 1) #GetFASTfast first 2) Learn to be "first" to be fast 3) Apply appropriate Game Speeds and what this means 4) Change directions A to B as efficient and fast as possible 5) Change directions other applicable ways. Much more ....

If you’re under 30 and have no responsibilities, I recommend working as many hours per week as humanly possible. You’ll never be able to work this hard again. And the compounding effects of a few years can set up your life for decades.

@brianmccormick Not in the slightest surprised. Same in all sports, missed opportunities for information or skill development, training more focussed on exposure than anything that has a coordination benefit. "Just go to that line or around that cone and come back 8 times"

@RICH_AgilityLab I watched sprints like this with an NBA Head Coach and asked if he noticed anything. Nothing. He asked his performance staff. Nothing. It didn't even occur to them that there were two directions players can turn to change directions. They're just looking at making specific times.

People seem to be missing 2 things: 1) NCAA restricts practice w/🏀. This likely is S&C session, not basketball practice. They can't use a 🏀. 2) My point is about teaching movement within S&C, not just running sprints. See 2011 BSMPG presentation: youtube.com/watch?v=iI1aqv…

@brianmccormick 100% with this, we talk lots about movement skills in the gym, and then T&F has made us mad about sprint mechanics, but almost all other movement is simply used as a mode of conditioning or just dosed as exposire. We are very poor at skill acquisition

Presentation was not specific to change of direction specifically, but the theme of my presentation was S&C should include teaching movement skills, not just bigger, faster, stronger. Part 2: youtube.com/watch?v=ZAQrUn…

@les7spellman Add in that tendon remodelling exposure often justified by overcoming isometrics - lack of full range and ecc demand there too

Offszn thts- every1 pushing heavy concentric loads—Tendon only involved in transf muscle force vs acting like a spring. get rapid musc gains w/o tendon remodeling. Priv industry justifies cost on “obj” outcomes — strength, jumps, spd . Then point finger at teams when guys go down

@Alan_Couzens A general heuristis for most things performance: x.com/RICH_AgilityLa…

You think it's a, but it's b.

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@Tony_Villani_ 100% I love your stuff Tony but it doesn’t mean I see it exactly the same or directly place it in my training. Differences of perspective are good!

Education and learning your own philosophy adapting ideas from others is much better than any drill you will EVER learn.

One part of movement I think a lot more about these days is FLOW None of the worlds best are clunky, robotic or jerky in how they move

What can I say?! We made British basketball history! The UK’s first @FIBA3x3 Quest, presented by @rise_3x3, featuring elite players from all over the UK. I’m incredibly proud and so very thankful to staff, suppliers, players, sponsors and spectators. We truly #risetogether

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@CoachKenVick @McInnesWatson Yes agree. A big responsibility for a consumer to understand what social media is and isn’t.

@RICH_AgilityLab @McInnesWatson I believe that’s true. But I can also say that I see intern classes come shows the influence of influencers on “professionals” is growing. From consulting work, even professionals are susceptible to FOMO. And now players are coming in looking for these things because of social

Over-hyped trends; Fascial fitness VBT training Coiling Recovery tech Extensive & “deep tier” plyos Spinal engine Rotational training What else? And I need to add, I use some form of all, most for decades. Lots of good stuff here. Don’t chase hype, and don’t ignore tools.

I hear you But I think it mellows when you remember that what you see on social media is not what people’s practice actually looks like. Prob less than 1% are throwing out the basics. It’s just that SM will of course promote anything novel, so that is what coaches will share. Perceived new paradigms and ideas. As squats don’t get clicks, and not getting clicks is bad for business

@RICH_AgilityLab @McInnesWatson I can see how that’s a take, but far from my view. I think everyone skipped the part where I said I use all of these. The hype isn’t a knock against the method, it’s against a culture among coaches & therapists to jump on band wagons, often throwing out basics for the “new.”

@McInnesWatson @CoachKenVick Everything that isn’t squats, dead’s and jumps with landings where your knees touch your nips = overhyped nonsense Just get strong and play your sport Matt

@CoachKenVick I’ve made it. Deep Tier plyos (which aren’t plyos) are deemed over hyped and a trend 😂 What a complement

I’m interested in how many uk based sports science or strength and conditioning students use X currently! Is it a platform you use? If so please put your hand up in the comments, as id love to ask you a question 🙋‍♂️

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@nwconditioning Thanks dude!

@RICH_AgilityLab Congratulations Rich!

I guess now is a good time as any to share that I’m going to be looking after the GB men’s and women’s 3x3 squads for the foreseeable Not a bad sport for a multi-directional speed specialist! The road to #LA2028