In this episode of the Evolving Performance Podcast, Kevin is joined by Mike Robertson, President of Robertson Training Systems and co-owner of Indianapolis Fitness and Sports Training (IFAST), recognized as one of the top ten gyms in America by Men's Health. They delve into the foundational principles of program design, individualizing training, and navigating the complexities of an athlete's career. Mike introduces his ”7 Rs” framework for building effective training programs, emphasizing the importance of every component from warm-ups to recovery.

They explore Mike's comprehensive athlete assessment process, which includes identifying limitations and opportunities for improvement through conversation, movement analysis, and objective data. The conversation further addresses the critical balance between driving performance gains and enhancing durability, discussing how risk tolerance in training should evolve over an athlete's career. Finally, they cover strategies for training athletes immediately after an injury, focusing on psychological support and utilizing the recovery period as an opportunity for holistic development. This episode provides actionable insights for coaches and athletes looking to optimize training adaptation and career longevity.

Topics Include:

• The ”7 Rs” framework for effective training program design.
• The importance of educating clients on training methods.
• Comprehensive athlete assessment and objective data utilization.
• Balancing performance improvements with durability and longevity strategies.
• Adapting training approaches based on an athlete's career stage and sport schedule.
• Strategies for programming and supporting injured athletes.
• The role of consistency in long-term athletic development.
• Specific exercises for restoring movement capacity.
• Integrating isometrics and eccentrics in early offseason programming.

📲 Connect with Mike: RobertsonTrainingSystems.com | Instagram: @robtrainsystems

⏱️ Timestamps:

00:00 – Welcome and Introduction to Mike Robertson
01:29 – Mike's reflection on his role in inspiring the podcast
03:31 – Discussion on Mike's approach to program design across diverse clients
04:34 – The origin story and evolution of the ”7 Rs” training framework
05:21 – Detailed breakdown of the 7 Rs: Release, Reset, Readiness, Reactive, Resistance, Resiliency, Recovery
06:18 – The importance of including every component in a training system
06:55 – Strategies for educating clients on the ”why” behind their training
09:28 – The profound positive impact of effective warm-ups on performance
11:14 – Mike's comprehensive intake and assessment process for new clients and athletes
13:12 – Discussion on assessing athletic and general movement foundations
13:46 – Utilizing objective data, including force plates, for athlete assessment and tracking
15:31 – Connecting assessment findings to a clear and confident plan of attack
16:07 – The value of video feedback for both client progress and coach development
19:18 – Integrating follow-up testing to guide program progression and decision-making
22:24 – Balancing addressing movement limitations with driving performance goals
23:36 – The three key ”buckets” of training: Mobility, Neurological Outputs, and Metabolic

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Thanks for listening!