Advertise on podcast: VertiMax Vive

Brett Kuehn is a sports and human performance enthusiast, athlete, and mentor to Team VertiMax. He is a USMC veteran and business development professional at VertiMax. Brett’s passion is to help others achieve their goals whether they are an athlete looking to improve their speed, agility, and verticals; a coach looking to help their athletes gain an edge, or a sports performance owner or trainer seeking new ways to increase their business.    Al and Brett talk about some different ways you can improve your volleyball game during the off-season. He just got back from a training camp session and has some interesting insights to share on what athletes are doing to improve their jumps, agility, and net drills in this week’s episode.    Key Takeaways: [2:25] If you want to get far in volleyball, you need to jump high. You can’t forget this part during the off-season.  [3:45] Aside from using the VertiMax with multiple athletes, resistance bands are very helpful to target certain areas.  [4:55] Brett talks about why he likes to use the agility ladder.  [5:50] Passing the net drills and how to hone in on making your game more efficient.  [6:45] How do you best improve your blocking moves?    VertiMax VertiMax on Facebook VertiMax on Instagram VertiMax on YouTube VertiMax on LinkedIn VertiMax Certification Education   Tweetables: “Agility ladder is a great warm up drill to use to get your hips loose, your ankles, and helps you with your coordination. Super cheap and easy to move around."   "Resistance bands are small. You can hang them up on a wall. They are a cheap alternative to dumbbells."  

Brett Kuehn is a sports and human performance enthusiast, athlete, and mentor to Team VertiMax. He is a USMC veteran and business development professional at VertiMax. Brett’s passion is to help others achieve their goals whether they are an athlete looking to improve their speed, agility, and verticals; a coach looking to help their athletes gain an edge, or a sports performance owner or trainer seeking new ways to increase their business.    Al and Brett talk about some of the fun ways you can get your kid excited and moving in youth baseball. Kids need to be engaged and their circummlum needs to be fun or else they’ll never want to go. Brett breaks down some routines for you to train to get children moving and consistent.    Key Takeaways: [1:00] What are some fun ways to train for youth baseball? [1:50] Brett breaks down some fun baseball warmups.  [3:20] Best hitting drills you can use for your young athletes.  [6:35] Al loves seeing his kids have a relay race at the very end of each practice.  [7:30] If kids are just going through the motions, it gets boring for them.    VertiMax VertiMax on Facebook VertiMax on Instagram VertiMax on YouTube VertiMax on LinkedIn VertiMax Certification Education Tweetables: “Run through first, that’s it. So the kids will run as fast as they can through first so that you can see who gets there the fastest."   "Their fun is part of the practice. A relay race is a great way to do that."  

Kerry Bennett is a VertiMax Master Trainer and Ambasador. Kerry is a former NFL player with the Washington Redskins and has successfully transitioned into a renowned sports performance coach. With a degree in kinesiology, he founded the Beast Bus, a mobile sports performance facility featuring advanced training equipment like VertiMax.   Al and Kerry talk about what it means to be a VertiMax trainer as well as a VertiMax ambassador. Kerry shares why he’s passionate about the VertiMax system and how it helps you stand out from a very saturated sports industry as a coach.    Key Takeaways: [1:50] A little bit about Kerry and his athletic career.  [5:10] What does it take to be a VertiMax Master Trainer? [7:55] Learn more about the VertiMax ambassador program.   [10:55] VertiMax trainer is unique in itself and separates you from other sports performance coaches.  [12:55] Kerry is also a community outreach partner in Texas. What has Kerry learned so far?  [16:40] Kerry loves being in this space because he’s always learning something new.    VertiMax VertiMax on Facebook VertiMax on Instagram VertiMax on YouTube VertiMax on LinkedIn VertiMax Certification Education Girlsbasketballwf.org   Tweetables: “You can make a business just using the VertiMax alone. If you’re a trainer just starting out, it’s portable and you can build your whole program around it."   "Anywhere from athlete, anywhere from general pop, you can create a fitness routine [with the VertiMax]. You can’t go wrong with it."  

Jennifer George is the Women’s Basketball Strength Coach at Rollins College as well as the Director of Sports Performance at Bishop Moore Catholic High School. Jennifer is also the Founder of Girls Basketball Worldwide Foundation, a youth organization based in Orlando, Florida.    Al and Jennifer talk about the difference between coaching high school vs. college teams on this week’s episode. Jennifer has also played internationally and has seen a wide range of students come through her doors. She shares what it takes to be a well-rounded coach at the university level that takes into account the different athletic needs with each of her students.      Key Takeaways: [1:05] A little bit about Jennifer and her athletic career.  [1:35] What are some of the differences between playing pro in the US vs. internationally?  [4:45] Jennifer has coached both high school and college. What are some of the pros and cons of both? [9:30] Jennifer is able to push college women a little harder than the highschool team due to the flexible schedule.  [10:10] In college, you have to adapt to new schedules, which can make training consistently a lot harder.  [10:40] Are you new to coaching? Find a mentor. [12:10] There is no ‘right’ way to train. However, there is definitely a wrong way.     VertiMax VertiMax on Facebook VertiMax on Instagram VertiMax on YouTube VertiMax on LinkedIn VertiMax Certification Education Girlsbasketballwf.org   Tweetables: “Challenges at the highschool level are time and commitments. It’s basically 6am or after school, so you lose a lot of that time."   "The challenge at college level is the actual sport and coaches canceling on a whim. You have a plan and the next thing you know, the practice is canceled."  

Jennifer George is the Women’s Basketball Strength Coach at Rollins College as well as the Director of Sports Performance at Bishop Moore Catholic High School. Jennifer is also the Founder of Girls Basketball Worldwide Foundation, a youth organization based in Orlando, Florida.    Al and Jennifer talk about women’s sports and certain challenges that women face when they’re playing a sport to its fullest potential. Although the United States has done better when it comes to bridging the gap between male and female sports, it’s still not perfect.    Key Takeaways: [2:00] A little bit about Jennifer and her athletic career.  [3:35] Jennifer shares the moment she knew she wanted to make basketball her career.  [9:00] What kind of challenges has Jennifer faced in her sport’s career?  [11:20] 40% of girls drop out of sports in middle school due to lack of opportunities.  [12:50] Representation matters at all levels, and not just in sports.  [14:30] Jennifer is passionate about closing the gap between male and female sports in the Caribbean. She explains how it’s different over there than it is in the United States.      VertiMax VertiMax on Facebook VertiMax on Instagram VertiMax on YouTube VertiMax on LinkedIn VertiMax Certification Education Girlsbasketballwf.org   Tweetables: “I had a passion, I would do it for free. I love training people."   "40% of girls drop out of sports because of lack of opportunities and lack of skill sets."  

Jennifer George is the Women’s Basketball Strength Coach at Rollins College as well as the Director of Sports Performance at Bishop Moore Catholic High School. Jennifer is also the Founder of Girls Basketball Worldwide Foundation, a youth organization based in Orlando, Florida.    Jennifer joins Al to discuss her Foundation and why there’s a deep need to help underprivileged players that are on sports scholarships. Sports have the ability to elevate your mindset and your quality of life, and Jennifer shares why it’s important to encourage our youth of today to continue playing in these sports programs.    Key Takeaways: [2:00] A little bit about Jennifer and her athletic history. [3:20] Why did Jennifer Found the Girls Basketball Worldwide Foundation? [4:50] So few go on to play in the WNBA/NBA, but that shouldn’t deter people from playing sports. Sports can teach you so much.  [7:15] What’s next for Jennifer and her Foundation?     VertiMax VertiMax on Facebook VertiMax on Instagram VertiMax on YouTube VertiMax on LinkedIn VertiMax Certification Education Girlsbasketballwf.org   Tweetables: “Even though girls can come or athletes can come to the states to have a better life for themselves, they still need help once they’re here."   "40% of girls drop out of sports after middle school."  

Mario Garza is the Director of Baseball Development at the New York Yankees. As a former pro baseball athlete for the Houston Astros, Mario uses his expertise to help develop baseball players to maximize their full potential and make them better.    Mario joins Al to discuss drill strategies for different baseball positions. He offers advice for both infield and outfield athletes looking to up their game and increase their explosive power. You don’t want to miss this quick 15-minute episode!    Key Takeaways: [1:35] A little bit about Mario and his work at the New York Yankees.  [2:45] What kind of drills should infield baseball athletes be practicing?  [3:45] It’s incredibly important to practice throwing at different angles.  [5:00] Mario explains what a game clock drill is.  [6:05] What drills should outfield athletes be practicing? [8:25] You pay rent on speed. What does Mario mean by this?  [10:10] You have to actively practice increasing your speed. Don’t take it for granted.  [12:45] Mario offers tricks on how you can make your bat a little heavier to train speed.    VertiMax VertiMax on Facebook VertiMax on Instagram VertiMax on YouTube VertiMax on LinkedIn VertiMax Certification Education   Tweetables: “When we’re playing catch, I think it’s important to move our feet while catching. We’re never going to make a throw from a standstill position."   "Put the constraint of a game clock on the player so that they have to make a play quicker or slower depending on the runner."  

Mario Garza is the Director of Baseball Development at the New York Yankees. As a former pro baseball athlete for the Houston Astros, Mario uses his expertise to help develop baseball players to maximize their full potential and make them better.    Mario joins Al to share insights into what it takes to nurture the next generation of MLB stars. They dive into the evolving landscape of player development, the role of a development coach, and Mario offers advice for parents on fostering athletic talent in young children in this week’s episode!    Key Takeaways: [1:25] A little bit about Mario and his work at the New York Yankees.  [3:30] What does a player development coach mean?  [5:35] How has player development improved over the years?  [7:50] How should parents be thinking about cultivating athletic talent in their children? [12:20] Is there a blueprint on what the MLB is looking for or does it depend on each team?  [13:10] 8 months out of the year, you’re in full competition mode.  [13:40] It’s important to note that baseball is a game of recovery.    VertiMax VertiMax on Facebook VertiMax on Instagram VertiMax on YouTube VertiMax on LinkedIn VertiMax Certification Education   Tweetables: “A player development coach is looking at anything and everything that we can develop in an athlete. At the end of the day, our job is to maximize the value and potential."   "The crucial window of 8-12, you can actually impact the development of the athlete and their general athleticism."  

Brett Kuehn is a sports and human performance enthusiast, athlete, and mentor to Team VertiMax. He is a USMC veteran and business development professional at VertiMax. Brett’s passion is to help others achieve their goals whether they are an athlete looking to improve their speed, agility, and verticals; a coach looking to help their athletes gain an edge, or a sports performance owner or trainer seeking new ways to increase their business.    Brett and Al discuss ways to get your athlete warmed up and ready during football season. Here are some quick and easy runningback drills that you can practice. They offer different methods and variations so that you can trigger both lateral and vertical movements.    Key Takeaways: [2:00] The jumpcut drill.  [3:20] Rapid response line drill.  [4:25] The Lateral drill. [5:35] Cone hop variations.  [6:35] The sweep drill.  [7:45] The VertiMax app also has a complete football training program!    VertiMax VertiMax on Facebook VertiMax on Instagram VertiMax on YouTube VertiMax on LinkedIn VertiMax Certification Education   Tweetables: “Have your athlete run towards that cone and push off one foot to go left or right and then have them sprint to finish while performing a touchdown."   "Have your athlete shuffle back and forth over the line. It helps get their athletes' feet warmed up."  

Brett Kuehn is a sports and human performance enthusiast, athlete, and mentor to Team VertiMax. He is a USMC veteran and business development professional at VertiMax. Brett’s passion is to help others achieve their goals whether they are an athlete looking to improve their speed, agility, and verticals; a coach looking to help their athletes gain an edge, or a sports performance owner or trainer seeking new ways to increase their business.    Brett and Al discuss how the VertiMax Raptor is different from standard resistance bands and how you can leverage this equipment to take your performance to the next level. The Raptor does so much more than just look fancy and both Brett and Al dive into how you can hence your speed, agility, and more in this week’s podcast.    Key Takeaways: [1:00] A little bit about Brett and the work he does at VertiMax. [2:35] What’s so great about the Vertimax Raptor? [4:35] Forward acceleration is a great exercise to practice on the Raptor.   [7:50] What’s the backpedal drill and how can athletes benefit from this movement?  [9:15] How do you perform an ankle-loaded lateral drill?  [10:45] Brett explains the final exercise you can do to improve your resistance on the Raptor.    VertiMax VertiMax on Facebook VertiMax on Instagram VertiMax on YouTube VertiMax on LinkedIn VertiMax Certification Education   Tweetables: “The faster you can stop, the faster you can move, and you’ll just be a better athlete. That’s what the forward acceleration drill will do to help you."   "Not many people train this because it’s almost impossible to train with regular resistance bands, but with VertiMax technology, you can start the resistance off right away [at your ankles]."  

Brett Kuehn is a sports and human performance enthusiast, athlete, and mentor to Team VertiMax. He is a USMC veteran and business development professional at VertiMax. Brett’s passion is to help others achieve their goals whether they are an athlete looking to improve their speed, agility, and verticals; a coach looking to help their athletes gain an edge, or a sports performance owner or trainer seeking new ways to increase their business.    Brett and Al discuss why it’s beneficial to get your child to participate in multiple different sports. Sometimes children need variety and to also explore what they do or don’t like. There’s so many great sports out there, so don’t limit them to just one thing.    Key Takeaways: [1:10] What sports should kids play?  [3:05] Children can get burnt out playing only one sport. [4:30] Playing multiple sports helps reduce injuries.  [6:15] When you play multiple sports, you also keep your options open.  [7:15] As you get older, around highschool, then it makes sense to focus on one sport.  [10:25] Sometimes your kid can be great at the technicalities of the sport, but not be very athletic.  [10:55] Sports don't have to be so competitive. It’s also about having fun and trying new things.    VertiMax VertiMax on Facebook VertiMax on Instagram VertiMax on YouTube VertiMax on LinkedIn VertiMax Certification Education   Tweetables: “Kids are built for variety. They need different things and different coaches."   "My kid ended up doing a sport that I had known nothing about. Give your kid a chance and try other sports."  

Brett Kuehn is a sports and human performance enthusiast, athlete, and mentor to Team VertiMax. He is a USMC veteran and business development professional at VertiMax. Brett’s passion is to help others achieve their goals whether they are an athlete looking to improve their speed, agility, and verticals; a coach looking to help their athletes gain an edge, or a sports performance owner or trainer seeking new ways to increase their business.    Brett discusses five best ways to approach your athletes with kindness and how to build a meaningful connection with them while you are training them. Coaches might not realize the impact they have on these athletes and you can never really tell what’s actually going on at home. Coaches can be that one parental-figure or friend for that person. Here are some tips to bridge the gap between you and your team.    Key Takeaways: [1:45] Here’s why you want to connect first and then coach second. [3:15] Take some time to just listen to them. It goes a long way.  [4:45] What are some of the best ways to show an athlete you care?  [5:15] Be someone they can trust.  [6:25] Respect your fellow human. It is a two way street.    VertiMax VertiMax on Facebook VertiMax on Instagram VertiMax on YouTube VertiMax on LinkedIn VertiMax Certification Education   Tweetables: “As a coach, you really do have an impact on these athletes."   "You can’t have that military mindset of shut up and do what I tell you. Listen to your athletes."