Author
Dr. Greg Shepard.
385 articles
Dr. Greg Shepard contributed 385 articles to BFS Magazine, from 1980 to 2005 — part of the coaching voice that shaped the BFS Total Program.
Recurring themes include Football, Squat, Speed, and Safety. Every story is free — read it online or open the original magazine layout as a PDF.
The Final Word
D uring a football conference last year I posed the following question to a coach, “Why do you have your athletes lift weights?” After recovering from the shock of being asked an apparently ridiculous question, he replied, “To get stronger.” In just a minute I’ll tell you why thi
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Get Really Fast Part 3
Quick review: In our last issue I discussed the BFS 10 Components of Speed: Strength, The Start, Flexibility, Plyometrics, Technique, Stopwatch Time, Sprint Practice, Video Analysis, Speed Drills and Sprint Aids. I also discussed the strength and power exercises to perform in the
ReadUnder The Microscope
University of Colorado Head Football Coach Gary Barnett is currently under intense scrutiny. Indeed, all coaches are under the media microscope as never before. Here are some suggestions that might prove helpful: Review of Coach Barnett: Katie Hnida was a walk-on for the Buffs in
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Presidents Message
SINCE 1976BIGGER FASTER STRONGER INC. 843 WEST 2400 SOUTH SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH 84119 Local 801-974-0460 E-Mail: info@BFSMAIL.com PRESIDENT Dr. Greg Shepard VICE PRESIDENTS Richard Anderson Robert Rowbotham EDITOR Kim Goss PRODUCTION MANAGER LAYOUT & DESIGN Brook Bowen COVER PHOTO
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Get Really Fast Part II
Look at the front leg. This is why we parallel squat. Now, look at the back leg. This is why we power clean and/or power snatch. Photo: Tony Duffy Learn the secrets of valuable strength-speed exercises and the BFS 10 components for developing speed Quick review: In our last issue
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The Evolution of the BFS Revolution
You can't argue with success. More than 9,000 high schools have implemented the Bigger Faster Stronger program, and of these schools, more than 300 have won state championships in football after having had BFS clinics. Many college teams and high-profile professional athletes are
ReadThe BFS Safety Package
BFS Safety Package Tools to help you avoid and win weight room lawsuits During the past decade BFS President Dr. Greg Shepard has been an expert witness in 10 lawsuits involving injuries that occurred in the weight room. These lawsuits were directed primarily against coaches, tea
ReadPresidents Message Fall 2003
I always find this question strange. The BFS Program is designed and has always been designed to take an athlete to the very highest athletic performance level from junior high to high school to college and beyond. It has never been just a high school program and then when you go
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The Rangers of Regis University
Hows this for a coaching job? Your team has an uncommon work ethic. They love the game of basketball. They have an uncommon passion for excellence. They win twenty plus games a year, win their conference and make it to the NCAA tournament. Finally, their team GPA average is 3.6
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New BFS Total Program Concept
The Balance Drills: There are three drills. These can be done at the conclusion of a power snatch set or as a separate exercise. Demonstrating is 6-foot 2-inch Kristina Vengryte from the Regis University Womens Basketball team. It was Kristinas first try at these balance drills
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New BFS Total Program Concept Auxiliary Lifts
The BFS Program has evolved over the years and now offers coaches and athletes two choices when selecting auxiliary exercises to complement the core lifts. These two choices for auxiliaries are standard and advanced. In doing our BFS Clinics we found a wide variety among particip
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Lateral Plyometrics
Plyometrics are integral to a top athletic training program. Most plyo drills are performed moving forward, which produces great results but, as you think about it, is still insufficient. All team sports require that athletes move quickly and explosively not just forward but also
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PRESIDENTS MESSAGE Summer 2003
During the first days of the Iraq war, CNN aired a most touching story on one of our American troop members. The mother of this young man saw him on the CNN program and felt compelled to e-mail CNN asking that they relay a message to her son. As only a mother can, she conveyed he
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New BFS Total Program Concept Auxiliary Lifts
The BFS Program has evolved over the years and now offers coaches and athletes two choices when selecting auxiliary exercises to complement the core lifts. These two choices for auxiliaries are standard and advanced. In doing our BFS Clinics we found a wide variety among particip
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Bob's Basement
Bob Rowbotham and his son John trained in the basement of their home all through the years John played football in high school. When Johns teammates saw the quick results of the BFS program, they asked if they could train in Bobs basement too. Soon a group of about eight player
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The Low Box Squat
The box squat is a BFS core lift that gives athletes and coaches a huge advantage over others who do not use it. Now I would like to introduce a variation of the box squat that will take your training to the next level. Before getting into the technique of this great exercise, le
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BFS Athlete of the Year
I have done a lot of interviews in my career of writing articles for the BFS Journal and only a handful of athletes at any level had perfect technique on every phase of strength and conditioning. Tom Busch is one of those athletes. - Dr. Greg Shepard Tom Busch of Park High Scho
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PRESEDENT'S MESSAGE: Spring 2003
Accountability for your actions is one of the very most important ingredients for success and should be of primary focus for those in leadership positions. Head coaches set the tone for accountability in sports. Mayors set the tone in city government, and a CEO sets accountabilit
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GET REALLY FAST
What are the real keys to improving speed? What can you do to develop speed in the best and fastest way possible? BFS has the answers to these questions. If your team follows our BFS guidelines for speed, I guarantee that you will always be the fastest team in your conference and
ReadTAKE CHARGE!
Take Charge! On a scale of one to ten: Be An Eleven! You are responsible for your own greatness. Take charge now of everything in your life. A person operating at a five level just kind of goes with the flow without direction or commitment. A true Eleven takes charge and proceeds
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11 REASONS WHY STEROIDS DON'T WORK
1. Bodybuilders, Powerlifters and Athletes from Mainstream Sports Are Not All the Same Bodybuilders dont run, jump or score goals. Powerlifters are interested in only three things: the squat, bench, and deadlift. Training programs for athletes, bodybuilders and powerlifters are
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STERIODS DON'T WORK
Most people define steroids as performance enhancing drugs. I define them as performance debilitating. Athletes in mainstream high school or collegiate sports can achieve better results through hard, consistent and smart training. Professional athletes in mainstream sports like b
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TOES ALIGNED
As I looked at the photos for this article, I couldnt help thinking that bad toe position is extremely obvious. However, when I see athletes lift or perform some other phase of strength and conditioning, correct toe alignment is a constant challenge. The good news is that once a
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PRESEDENT'S MESSAGE: Fall 2002
Not so long ago a high school coach attended a convention where BFS speakers demonstrated plyometric box jumping. After the convention, the coach decided to implement plyometrics in his own program. However, instead of purchasing commercially manufactured plyo boxes, he decided t
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PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE: Summer 2002
If you want something, you have never had, you must be willing to do something you have never done. That sentence is a powerful success statement. You can set all the goals you want, but if you are not willing to really do something, your chances of distinguished accomplishment a
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SPREAD THE CHEST
Presidents Note: In past issues, I introduced the Six Absolutes, which illustrated how coaching techniques in the weight room can be easy and amazingly effective in teaching and learning perfect technique. All coaches and athletes should use the Six Absolutes when coaching or sp
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BIGGER FASTER STRONGER LIFTING CHAINS
As you start an upward movement on a bench or squat without chains, the weight will get easier and easier to lift becuase your strength increases as your arms or legs straighten. Lifting chains create variable resistance. Variable resistance gradually adds weight as the bar moves
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THE BFS STRAIGHT-LEG DEAD LIFT
The BFS Straight-Leg Dead Lift is a high-priority auxiliary lift. We think of this lift as a stretching exercise. Therefore, our recommended technique is to use a very light weight and do every rep slowly, controlled and deep. Some have questioned the BFS position for the lower b
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KNEES ALIGNED
The BFS Six Absolutes 1. Use an Athletic or Jump Stance 2. Be Tall 3. Spread the Chest 4. Toes Aligned 5. Knees Aligned (Knees over toes) 6. Eyes On Target Presidents Note: In past issues, I introduced the Six Absolutes, which illustrated how coaching techniques in the weight ro
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SPOTTING THE SQUAT
GENERAL SPOTTING RULES 1. Always use three spotters (Photos 1 & 2). 2. Spotters have three important jobs: a. To be a coach b. To be a judge c. To be a teammate 3. Always be focused on your spotting job (Photo 3). The photo above shows the correct spotting positions for the paral
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PRESIDENTS MESSAGE WINTER 2002
Want to create a big edge for yourself? Sure you do-who wouldn't? But how much time and effort does it take? The answer is surprisingly, Not much; all it takes is a smart, thoughtful approach. I first discovered the importance of this process in 1976 with SMU's football team. The
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President's Message Fall 2001
I received a letter from Cavan Sullivan of Porta High School in Petersburg, Illinois. He is an 18-year old senior getting ready for his senior year of football. Cavan stated that he enjoyed reading the BFS Magazine and the Be An Eleven Guidebook. I love playing football almost m
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OUCH! SHOULDERS & SQUATTING
What is the solution? What is the cause? The remedies are simple. Everyone should be able to squat without neck or shoulder pain. Bar Selection: The ideal squat bar is a bar with a PSI rating of at least 135,000. A high PSI (Pounds per square inch) rating will give a bar the stre
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PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE - Summer 2001
It is human nature for most young people to think that their future is quite distant. Ninth graders feel they have all the time in the world. It becomes quite sobering to put time frames in terms of days. What if you only had a thousand days left? Would you be more productive wit
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AFRICAN AMERICANS Binding Families Together
Everyone has to have some identity. Take the young people of today who are trying so desperately to identify with something. Dont you think that every child needs to know who his or her father is? These are questions that when answered will give them links back to who they are,
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BREAK OVER 10 RECORDS EVERY DAY ALL YEAR LONG
Recently I did a BFS Clinic for Coach Bruce Shearer of Burlington-Edison High School in the state of Washington. Coach Shearer has hosted a number of BFS Clinics at several different high schools throughout his coaching career. He said, Is that all you can break? Only eight reco
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WE CAN DO SOMETHING!
I believe there are reasons that can be defined, empathized with and dealt with. I believe we, as coaches and athletes, can do something positive to help prevent shootings and violence in the future. The recent shooting at Santana High School in a suburb of San Diego left senior
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PRESIDENTS MESSAGE - Spring 2001
Is a 6-6 245-pound guy a big man? Is he a big, big man? Think football and then think general public. Is this guy a big, big man. I just happened to be listening to a country song. It was about Big John. Big Bad John. Everyone was in awe of Big Bad John. Anyway, he dies in a co
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PLYOMETRIC BOX JUMPING What You Must Know
THE SAFETY FACTOR: Our BFS Plyo Boxes offer four important safety advantages. First, each box has a rubberized non-slip landing surface. Second, each box is wider at the bottom, which creates great stability. Third, each box is made of thick plywood that is glued and screwed with
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MEGA HEX, HEX, HI-HEX - Which One for My Program?
A Hex Bar is like the old Trap Bar, but with a superior hexagon shape. Most use it as a safer way to do Dead Lifts. It strengthens the lower back, thigh, trunk and trap muscles/tendons. The Hex Bar workout can be done in the shortest amount of time of all core lifts and is space
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HE CANT SQUAT- He Hasnt Got Enough Flexibility
At a recent clinic, the head football coach had four younger athletes who could not squat. The reason that was given? Lack of flexibility. This is a common reasoning by many coaches. This almost always is not the case. The real reason is lack of what I call a kinesthetic feel for
ReadHOW GOOD IS GOOD? The BFS Standards Bring Relevance to Achivements
I first started thinking about standards in 1964 when I trained my first group of high school athletes. I felt, at the time, if twenty football players could Bench Press 200 pounds or more, you could win a state championship. As I shared my idea, others scoffed. Its a lot more
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EYES ON TARGET
Presidents Note: In our Winter 1999 BFS Journal, we introduced the BFS Six Absolutes. They are now a focal point in all BFS Clinics. The Six Absolutes are amazingly effective in teaching and learning perfect technique not only in the weight room but in any sport. Learn the Six A
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BOX SQUAT WARNING
Over the last twenty years, I have heard of only a handful of athletes getting hurt on the Box Squat. That is quite remarkable when you consider the millions of repetitions performed by athletes over that time period. However, just like all exercises or activities there are safet
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BFS ATHLETE OF THE YEAR: Conrad Ivie
Conrads selection was based on athletic achievement in sports, the ability to overcome obstacles, scholarship, leadership, general character and the ability to put life into its proper perspective. Conrad has proved himself in everyone of these criteria and is most deserving of
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PRESIDENTS MESSAGE FALL 2000
For Coaches Over Forty: Remember when you were younger, way back in the 50's and 60's? Let's take a look at how times have changed: Then: Long Hair Now: Longing for hair; Then: A keg Now: An EKG; Then: Moving to California because it's cool Now: Moving to California because it's
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3 POWER CLEAN DRILLS
There are three highly effective, yet simple, Power Clean Drills I present at a BFS Clinic. These drills only take a few minutes, even with a large group. They are ideal when starting high school or college athletes and/or students on the Power Clean or Power Snatch. These three
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NIK ARRHENIUS
Nik Arrhenius could lay claim to historys top high school Discus thrower even though he does not hold the World or American record. This article will explain why I feel so strongly about Niks ability and it will also outline the success formula which made this possible. Nik is
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THE MOST POWERFUL MOTIVATIONAL TOOL
If you use this powerful tool and have talent in addition with a solid training program, you can achieve true greatness. There are three main steps in gaining the most out of The Most Powerful Motivational Tool. However, before I reveal these three steps, I should give you my def
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MORE THAN JUST A CLINIC
Through the use of pictures, I have tried to capture the basics of a BFS Clinic. PICTURE 1 BFS Clinician Jim Brown taking a West Seneca West High School (New York) athlete through his 11 heavy reps on the Box Squat. Head Football Coach, Jim Kuhn said, "The result of the BFS Clini
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THE BFS NUTRITION SYSTEM QUICK OVERVIEW
RULE #1: Stay away from the Five Lethal Foods: Soda, French Fries, Potato Chips, Pastries/cookies and Candy. RULE #2: Make water, juice or milk your drink of choice. During competition, make water your drink of choice. We do not endorse sport drinks. RULE #3: Use the 40-point BFS
ReadA FUN CHALLENGE (Agility Drills)
I have used the term Power Balance for many years. Lunges, in the past, have been the primary auxiliary exercise to develop power balance at BFS. Exercises which demand balance use stabilizing muscles about as equally as the prime movers. Free weights normally develop the stabi
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TODAY I WIN! - The Kevin Wilson Story
Kevin Wilson, a 15-year old junior guard from Santana High School in San Diego County, collapsed on the football field during practice on August 23rd of 1999. His father, Don Wilson remembered, I knew it was at least heat exhaustion. The coaches were putting ice on him. At that
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GOLDEN GOPHER TURNAROUND- The University of Minnesota
In just his third season, Coach Mason guided the Golden Gophers to an 8-4 1999 record and their first bowl appearance since the 1986 Liberty Bowl. Many coach-of-the-year awards were bestowed upon Coach Mason, including being the Big Ten Coach of the Year. Minnesota achieved the m
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TRIPLE THREAT- Sanderson Brothers Wrestling
All three of the Sanderson brothers were on last years Iowa State team, which finished 2nd in the nation. Cody (133-lb.) was second in both his junior and senior year in the NCAA championships. Cole (157-lb.) came in second last year, and younger brother Cael (184-lb.) went 39-0
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THE BFS TOTAL PROGRAM
Like most coaches, I have received a lot of help from a lot of different sources when formulating a direction and philosophy. And, like most coaches, I am always looking for ways to improve. The BFS Program is ever evolving. However, as I think about where our BFS Program came fr
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PLYOMETRIC BOX JUMPING
The BFS Plyometric Program should be done two times per week during the off-season. A third workout could be done on an individual basis. During the season, plyometric workouts are done as time is available between games and practice. Our complete BFS Plyometric Program consists
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SETS & REPS
The BFS Set-Rep System is superior to any other system when it comes to rapid strength gains with continual progress. It is for high school and college athletes. After great strength is attained at the college level, then periodization systems used by most colleges is a viable op
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PARK HIGH SCHOOL Work Hard. . .Expect to Win
Doug Ekmark is the head football coach at Park High School in Cottage Grove, Minnesota, a suburb of St. Paul. He is also one of our BFS Clinicians. Coach Ekmark has followed the BFS Program for well over a decade. He does it completely from A to Z. I went to Park High School last
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THE RISE OF YOUTH
There are many who believe our world is getting worse. That our youth are almost frightening. I see a different picture. I see more opportunity than ever before. I see the problems and challenges our youth face, but also see much goodness. I see many wonderful examples of greatne
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BOX SQUAT? The First Thing We Do!
The Parallel Squat is perhaps the most difficult for an athlete to learn of all the core or multi-joint exercises. Even the concept of correct positioning is a difficult one for most high school athletes. Correct positioning means that the head, eyes, chest lower back, hips, knee
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BOX SQUAT ADVANTAGES
In the BFS Program, true Parallel Squats are done once a week as are Box Squats. They are done all year round, both in-season and off-season. Other Squat Variations such as Front Squats can be done instead of Box Squats; however, the Squat variation of choice is the Box Squat esp
ReadNATIONAL POWER ZANESVILLE BLUE DEVIL BASKETBALL
Dear Dr. Shepard, I really enjoyed your visit to Zanesville High School. We were really impressed with your ability to teach and enthusiasm for improving athletic performance. We are doing the Power Snatches and Jerk Presses that you showed us. Our players think they are great. O
ReadWESTMINSTER CHRISTIAN HIGH SCHOOL
Two years ago Westminster Christian High School in Southwest Miami had a Bigger Faster Stronger clinic put on by BFS clinician, Len Walencikowski. The next spring Westminster Christian finished with a sparkling 36-win undefeated National Championship season and their coach Rich H
ReadBASEBALL STRENGTH TRAINING THE LAST FRONTIER
We call baseball the last frontier of strength training among men's major team sports. The first sport to catch on to the importance of weight training and to really learn the secret was Track and Field, specifically the throwers. They learned "the secret" in the 1960's. A decade
ReadPOPLAR BLUFF GIRLS EXCEL
Editor's Note: Jim Brown trains between 125 and 150 varsity girl athletes daily at Poplar Bluff High School in Missouri. They all do the entire BFS Program. Coach Brown has done a magnificent job. The performance of his girls may stand alone in the nation as far as strength devel
ReadP.J. BROWN
Editor's Note: P.J. Brown just completed his freshman year at Poplar Bluff High School in Missouri. His father, Jim Brown has been a BFS Clinician for over 10 years. As a result, P.J. has been on the BFS Program even before his 7th grade year. He knows the program backwards and f
ReadWE GOT NEXT! THE UTAH STARZZ
"We got next" slogans have been proliferated in the media. The Women's National Basketball Association is upon us. The initials WNBA are becoming recognized as the ultimate in women's sports and the Utah Starzz are part of this pioneering effort. Valerie Ackerman, president of th
ReadOREGON CITY HIGH SCHOOL THREE-TIME NATIONAL CHAMPIONS
Special repeat article from the Fall 1996 Journal Oregon City High School dominates in girl's basketball. Oregon City is located just outside Portland with a population of nearly 18,000 people. Last year I was impressed with the first two national championships and wondered if th
ReadCHARDON
Bob Doyle is the Head Football Coach for the Chardon High School Hilltoppers in Chardon, Ohio. He is also a BFS Clinician and by definition that means they do the BFS Program. This means you normally lift weights on Monday, Wednesday and Fridays during the off-season. Then on Tue
ReadATHLETIC DIRECTORS
This special fall edition of the BFS Journal is presented for the first time to athletic directors. Many of you may have read our journal but I know also that many athletic directors are not that familiar with our organization. Bigger Faster Stronger is dedicated to helping athle
ReadST. ANTHONY
The football season of 1996 was the year of the Trojan: the St. Anthony Trojans on the island of Maui in Hawaii. This was Charlie Ane's fifth year as head coach. It had been 16 years since St. Anthony had made the playoffs. They had won less than five games over the last seven ye
ReadTHE BFS TOTAL PROGRAM BOOK
Part 4 in a continuing series of the entire BFS Total Program Book THE LOW POWER POSITION Many coaches have remarked after our BFS Clinics that it's amazing how we get young athletes to squat perfectly in just a minute or two even with no previous squatting experience. The trick
ReadJUMPING HIGHER
I. FLEXIBILITY: Stretching hard everyday is a key component to jumping higher. The vast majority of athletes and coaches stretch to avoid pulling a muscle or to prevent an injury which is a secondary reason at BFS. Our primary reason for stretching is for speed and jumping power.
ReadSOUTHWEST MISSOURI STATE
Southwest Missouri State University (SMS) was founded in 1905 in Springfield, the "Queen City of the Ozarks." It is within easy driving distance of Kansas City, St. Louis, Tulsa, Little Rock and also only 45 minutes away from Branson, a hotbed of country music. The almost 18,000
ReadONE SURE-FIRE WINNING SECRET
Unification! That's the most sure-fire secret to winning in high school sports. Very few high schools enjoy a unified approach to strength and conditioning. The majority of high schools have a wide variety of programs and philosophies floating around. The typical three-sport athl
ReadGREEN BAY PACKERS
Editor's Note: The following biographical information is taken out of the Green Bay Media Guide. Coach Johnston has a great and varied football and strength coaching experience. Affable Kent Johnston, who directs and coordinates the Packers' strength and conditioning program on a
ReadMONTY BEISEL
Monty Beisel of Douglass High School in Kansas is the 1997 Bigger Faster Stronger Athlete of the Year. He becomes the 18th recipient of this most prestigious award. Selection is based on athletic achievement in sports, the ability to overcome obstacles, scholarship, leadership, g
ReadChris Fuamatu-Ma'afala
Honolulu is on the island of Oahu in the state of Hawaii. Oahu is known as the "gathering place." Many Polynesian people come to Oahu not only from other Hawaiiaan islands but other more distant South Pacific islands. BYU - Hawaii on the north side of Oahu features the Polynesian
ReadOLIN KREUTZ
"Olin is a natural born leader. He and our quarterback Brock Huard are our two best leaders on the team and we've got a lot of excellent leaders especially in the senior class. He is also a tough, tough guy. Olin's best attribute is that he's a football player . He likes it tough
ReadUNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON
Rick Huegli heads the University of Washington Strength and Conditioning Program. He is assisted by Bill Gillespie who is in his sixth year with the Husky program and Kyle Feldman who is in her second year. Coach Feldman said that her mentor before coming to Washington was streng
ReadTHE UTAH JAZZ DIFFERENCE
A. Over the last five years the Jazz have led the NBA in least amount of injuries. B. The Jazz have led the NBA in least amount of injuries 10 out of the last 12 years. C. You are fined $35,000 if you miss a strength and conditioning workout under certain conditions. D. Every pla
ReadCOACHES AND ATHLETES MAKING AMERICA GREAT
My definition of leadership is "Doing the Right Thing At the Right Time . . . Unafraid of Risk." This special BFS Winter Edition offers many examples of inspiring leadership which exemplifies this definition. My favorite movie this year was "Air Force One." I saw it three times a
ReadGREEN BAY PACKER HISTORY
Packer Sweep: Jerry Kramer (64) and Fuzzy Thurston (63) lead Jimmy Taylor around end in the famous Packer Sweep. Bart Starr has handed off to Taylor with Lombardi watching from the sidelines. Lombardi said of the Sweep, "there is nothing spectacular about it, it's just a yard gai
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BROCK OLIVO
If this guy isnt the most dedicated football player in America, Missouri followers would like to see the guy who is. The quote above is the opening statement about Brock Olivo in the Missouri Football Media Guide. Intrigued, I couldnt wait to meet the 6-1 214-pound senior ta
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STRENGHT AND CONDITIONING PROGRAM
Are You Committed? is the question asked on the front cover of the University of Florida Strength and Conditioning Manual. A summer letter sent to Gator football players had the following statement: The SEC and National Championship of 1996 were not achieved by talent alone, bu
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REGGIE MCGREW
Reggie McGrew is considered by many at the University of Florida to have the potential of being their best defensive lineman ever. The quote above is quite a statement considering the wealth of talent produced throughout Gator history. Reggie had an incredible prep career and w
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THE BFS BOX SQUAT
I learned about the Box Squat from two throwers in Los Angeles in the late 1960s. George Frenn was our nations best Hammer thrower and John Cole was one of the best Discus throwers. Both George and John were also world record holders in Powerlifting. We first trained at the ori
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GREEN BAY PACKERS
Editorss Note: The following biographical information is taken out of the Green Bay Media Guide. Coach Johnston has a great and varied football and strength coaching experience. Affable Kent Johnston, who directs and coordinates the Packers strength and conditioning program on
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CHRIS FUAMATU-MA'AFALA
Honolulu is on the island of Oahu in the state of Hawaii. Oahu is known as the gathering place. Many Polynesian people come to Oahu not only from other Hawaiian islands but other more distant South Pacific islands. BYU - Hawaii on the north side of Oahu features the Polynesian
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DO BFS CLINICS WORK? YOU BETCHA!
Roger Pauley stood with a group of other parents waiting for the bus to return with Whittemore-Prescotts winning team after their hard-fought victory against Harbor Springs. Like most of the parents, Roger was beaming with pride over the performance of the small CC-class school
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THE FOUR LOLLIPOP STICKS
Last June we brought all of our BFS Clinicians into Salt Lake City, Utah for our annual meeting. The purpose is to discuss and exchange ideas on how we can make our great BFS Clinics even better. We had one of our best meetings and accomplished our purpose several times over. We
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MONTY BEISEL
Monty Beisel of Douglass High School in Kansas is the 1997 Bigger Faster Stronger Athlete of the Year. He becomes the 18th recipient of this most prestigious award. Selection is based on athletic achievement in sports, the ability to overcome obstacles, scholarship, leadership, g
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THE REAL TRUTH ABOUT FAT
I had a physical last August. The doctor wanted to put me on drugs to lower my 245 cholesterol count. My HDL cholesterol was too low and the LDL count was too high. To make matters worse, my triglyceride count of 205 was quite high. A relatively new way to measure heart risk is t
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HUSKY STRENGTH & CONDITIONING PROGRAM
Rick Huegli heads the University of Washington Strength and Conditioning Program. He is assisted by Bill Gillespie who is in his sixth year with the Husky program and Kyle Feldman who is in her second year. Coach Feldman said that her mentor before coming to Washington was streng
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OLIN KREUTZ
Olins athletic ability and his footwork really make him an outstanding center, says Head Husky Football Coach, Jim Lambright. He has such good feet and balance. We saw that from the beginning. There are not too many out there who are better. Olin is bright enough to make all
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SO FAVRE SO GOOD
It seems so clear now. When you look closely at Brett Favres high school and college career, you wouldnt be surprised at his amazing record as the now premier quarterback in the NFL. A lot of smart people are kicking their rear ends because they could have had Brett instead of
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GREEN BAY PACKER HISTORY
By. Dr. Greg Shepard I took a stop over at the Chicago OHare Airport, rented a car and drove straight north for three hours to Green Bay, Wisconsin. Its population is slightly over 100,000 which is dwarfed by all other NFL cities. The Green Bay Packer story is a remarkable one
ReadPRESEDENT'S MESSAGE: Winter 1997
My definition of leadership is Doing the Right Thing At the Right Time . . . Unafraid of Risk. This special BFS Winter Edition offers many examples of inspiring leadership which exemplifies this definition. My favorite movie this year was Air Force One. I saw it three times a
ReadTRAINING CREED
The human body is a marvel created with wondrous intricacies and unfathomable complexities. When your body is overloaded, as in weight training exercises, it adapts, builds, and grows to make itself ready for tomorrow. After another workout, this process of adapting, building and
ReadOregon City High School
Oregon City High School dominates in girl's basketball. Last spring they again won the Oregon State 4-A Basketball Championship by defeating Glencoe High School by a wide 51-29 margin. That victory was their 41st in a row and propelled them to their second consecutive USA Today n
ReadTHE POWER CLEAN
How do you teach the Power Clean most effectively in the first week of a Physical Education Class or to a group of athletes learning this lift for the first time? What equipment and teaching tools should you have? Can you teach junior high students? Should the same procedures be
ReadDANIEL ARRHENIUS
Daniel Arrhenius is just starting his senior year at Mountain View High School in Orem, Utah and he has already made a name for himself. Daniel threw the Discus, as a junior 189-1 and the shot a prodigious 62-9 feet. Those marks may be the best double for a junior in the nation.
ReadAl Oerter
Al Oerter is one of only two athletes to win gold in the same event in four consecutive olympic games. I would like to thank the NSCA for inviting Al Oerter as keynote speaker to the NSCA convention last June in Atlanta. The following article includes excerpts from his speech. Ne
ReadSaguaro Wins State
Saguaro (pronounced Sa-wa-row) High School in the Phoenix, Arizona area won the 1995 4-A State Football Championship by a 42-7 score in front of over 21,000 people at Sun Devil Stadium. I did a clinic for Head Football Coach Tim Beck to kick-off his 1994 season and another the ni
ReadHazelwood East Soars To The Top
Jim Brown did a BFS Clinic for Hazelwood East High School in St. Louis, Missouri. Coach Rick Gorzynski's Spartans have had the best record in the area since 1989 but always had trouble when they got to the playoffs. "A lot of people call us chokers," said Gorzynski. After a heart
ReadExpect Victory
Dr. Shepard's Note: I followed Northwestern's odyssey with great interest. I was so impressed with how physical they looked and played that I just had to call Strength Coach Larry Lilja. From what I saw on TV, I was pretty sure they did a mainstream type of program. When I got th
ReadThe Five Power Axioms for Success
This has been a phenomenal year for BFS Clinics. Twenty clinics were held throughout the nation in March alone. We thank all coach and athlete participants as each clinic seems to have had its own remarkable experience. What prompts athletes to give standing ovations at the end o
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Northwestern
The college football story of the decade, perhaps the century, started during the halftime of a mens basketball game in January of 1992. Gary Barnett, unheralded and little known, was introduced to the Northwestern student body as the new head football coach. Coach Barnett close
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Saguaro Wins State
Saguaro (pronounced Sa-wa-row) High School in the Phoenix, Arizona area won the 1995 4-A State Football Championship by a 42-7 score in front of over 21,000 people at Sun Devil Stadium. I did a clinic for Head Football Coach Tim Beck to kick-off his 1994 season and another the ni
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Hazelwood East Soars to the Top
Jim Brown did a BFS Clinic for Hazelwood East High School in St. Louis, Missouri. Coach Rick Gorzynskis Spartans have had the best record in the area since 1989 but always had trouble when they got to the playoffs. A lot of people call us chokers, said Gorzynski. After a heart
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The BFS Total Program
Introduction The Upper Limit coach who desires a state-of-the-art program must be acutely aware of the importance of a total program concept for his athletes. You can no longer just emphasize lifting a few weights and work out a few months in the off-season. It is much more compl
ReadLower Back Safety
Lower back injuries have caused many, many athletes to miss games and or seasons. These types of injuries have, in some cases, ended careers. Many times a muscle spasm in the lower back will occur just from bending over to pick up a ball. Lower back injuries can happen anyplace a
ReadHamstring Safety
Hamstring injuries can cause an athlete to miss a game or a whole season. Hamstring injuries in the off-season can ruin progress for weeks. Injuries to the Hamstring area have caused team losses in every sport and have been the cause of ending an athlete's career. I believe most,
Read"Juan" Big Sun Devil
Juan Roque (pronounced Ro-kay) is this year's largest Pac-10 lineman. Standing 6'8" and weighing 319 pounds, Juan is described as being Arizona State's best lineman since perennial pro bowler Randall McDaniel (1984-87). Juan was a first-team all-Pac-10 selection in 1995 and this
ReadKnee Safety
Knee injuries are among the most feared of athletic injuries and perhaps the least understood. Knee injuries have ended many careers, ended seasons and ended normal lifestyles. Many, if not most, knee injuries can be prevented and certainly their severity can be reduced. If a kne
ReadTHE SECRET
Baseball is the last frontier in the epic saga of strength and conditioning history. The first athletes to figure out the strength and conditioning "secret" were the throwers in track and field. As soon as the secret became widely known in the late 1960's, the marks for the Discu
ReadPeriodization Analysis
Last June, I attended the NSCA Convention in Atlanta. I was particularly interested in listening to Dr. Michael Stone's two-hour presentation on periodization. He really knows his stuff and I greatly respect his research and knowledge. Some coaches have expressed that BFS is fine
ReadJeff Popovich
"Popovich is like (Pro Bowl Player) Steve Tasker of the Buffalo Bills," said Butch Davis, head football coach of the nationally ranked Miami Hurricanes. "He's a terrific little athlete with a tremendous amount of fire. He's going to have a good career here." No, Jeff Popovich is
ReadDavid Webber
David Webber is our 1996 Bigger Faster Stronger Athlete of the Year. He is from Hazelwood East High School in St. Louis, Missouri. David becomes the 17th recipient of our most prestigious award. Selections are based on athletic achievement in sports, the ability to overcome obsta
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