You Want An Advantage
In Sport? The Athlete’s Edge Can Help
Make That Happen
Whether you
consider yourself an exercise lover or athlete, we’re all looking to reach that
next step, next PB, or next goal.
In both
sport and an exercise program, hard work and dedication are required. But at
what point do you need an extra boost?
We’re
investigating this by looking at McMaster’s newest initiative.
Always
innovative in research and technology, McMaster looks at training and
developing athletes using a variety of their expertise.
With one of
the best High Performance Area’s in the country, McMaster has developed a new
program, The Athlete’s Edge, which aims to help individuals and teams improve their
athletic potential.
You want to get to that
next level? Here are 5 Ways to Gain Advantage In Sport:
1. Track Your Training
After all that training, how do you know if you’re making gains? If you don’t have a coach at your disposal, make sure you’re documenting your journey, all the while, thinking about that overall goal.
With a variety of different ways to track your progress, The Athlete’s Edge has many different tests available for both assessment and tracking. These include a movement assessment, sleep pattern and quality analysis test, developmental age & PHV; great for youth athletes, body composition test, and more.
Current client NCCH (National Cycling Centre Hamilton), has found the VO2 max test beneficial.
2. Fuel Your Training Right
Nutrition habits can have a major impact on sport performance. When you’re training hard, your body needs the right fuel and the right amount of fuel. Keeping track of what you’re eating and following a nutrition program is always a great idea to help you reach your potential.
In order for individuals and teams to reach their training goals, The Athlete’s Edge offers nutrition coaching to help athletes perform their best. Their nutritionist, Dianna Moulden, has worked with the Ti-Cats as well as with McMaster’s varsity teams.
3. Have a Sound Strength and Conditioning Program
Not just a
personal trainer, S&C coaches focus on sport performance. Based on your
sport, your coach will assess the type of training needed. Performance training
for strength, power, speed, agility, endurance, flexibility, and more are
things that may be tested and trained.
The Strength
and Conditioning portion of The Athlete’s Edge is run by McMaster’s Strength
and Conditioning Coordinator, Steve Lidstone, and a group of S&C coaches.
With over 17 years of Strength and Conditioning experience, Steve is well
versed in athletic development and has worked in both Canada and the US.
4. Embrace Recovery
Recovery is
just as important as the training itself. While your plan should include a recovery
itinerary, it may change depending on your sport. Wouldn't it be nice to know
you have recovery and injury specialists available in the same building as your
training?
Take
advantage of The Athlete’s Edge sport medicine and rehabilitation specialists,
who are in the same building. Without going too far, athletes have access to
the David Braley Sport Medicine and Rehabilitation Centre. Not only will athletes be able to
use the cold tub, but the physicians, physiotherapists, massage therapists, and
chiropractors are some of the best in the business.
5. Work With Your Team
If you’re
participating in a team sport, team development becomes an important part of
the process. Learning to communicate and trust one another becomes an essential
part of the process.
Being a multi-faceted
program, The Athlete’s Edge has access to ALTITUDE,
which works as an enriching and educational experience to develop interpersonal
relationships within groups.
ALTITUDE has
worked with many different elementary schools, high school groups, McMaster
students, staff, community sports teams, and more.
Already making
a dent in the Hamilton community, those athletes who have joined the program have
seen great gains in their performance.
