In alignment with our mission to use best practices of health and performance to provide world-class training, we work diligently to host annual events with sports science industry leaders from around the world to better serve local trainers, coaches, medical professionals and ultimately – the athletes they serve. Our agenda varies with each conference, but we deliberately hand-select all subject matter to expand on the knowledge base of our attendees.
Building Tomorrow’s Next Level ATHletes Today
Join us on Saturday, May 16th at our Katy, TX location for a full day of expert forums and interactive, hands-on workshops centered around the development of athletic performance and resilience to injury. For anyone involved in sport, this event is one not to be missed. The day is broken into three sections to provide a holistic outlook on the development of athletic performance:
1) Building the Foundation
2) Developing Powerful Athletes
3) Preparing and Performing at the Next Level
Those in attendance can also receive 0.8 CEUs from the NSCA. We hope to see you on May 16th as we work together to properly build tomorrow’s Next Level ATHletes. Breakfast and lunch will be included with the price of admission.
Date
POSTPONED UNTIL
FURTHER NOTICE
Time
POSTPONED UNTIL
FURTHER NOTICE
Location
Athlete Training + Health
Memorial Hermann Sports Park
23910 Katy Freeway
Katy, Texas 77494
Sponsored by
Agenda
Intro
Open Registration, Welcome, Networking and Breakfast (provided).
8:00 – 8:45am
Part 1 – Building the Foundation
Lecture – The Influence of Growth and Maturity on Long-Term Athletic Development: Implications for Training, Sports Performance and Injury Risk
9:00 – 10:00am
Speaker Dr. Jon Oliver
Young athletes represent a truly unique population. Inevitably those athletes with aspirations to excel in sport will need to specialize at some point. However, intensified sport-specific training around periods of rapid growth and development can bring many challenges. Rapid growth and lag times in the growth of different systems can make young athletes more susceptible to injury, while the underlying processes that contribute to growth, maturation and development may have implications for how young athletes adapt to training. While practitioners should not shy away from using high training-intensities with young athletes there is a need to first develop training skills, to progress training appropriately and to consider the extra time that young athletes may need for recovery between sessions. By investing time in building solid foundations a long-term athletic development program should be able to create robust athletes who are better able to avoid and recovery from injuries, and athletes who are able to train and perform at a higher level when they leave a youth program.
Practical Workshop – Developing foundational athletic motor qualities for performance in developing athletes
Speaker Dr. Rhodri Lloyd
10:15 – 11:15am
This will be a practical session where delegates are introduced to solutions for developing a broad range of athletic motor skill qualities in young athletes. Together with developing good base levels of strength, these athletic motor skills represent the building blocks of training and provide the foundations that can then be progressed to more complex training to benefit both performance and injury. Different types of athletic motor skill competencies will be introduced together with a framework for progressing skills and demonstrations provided to show how this can work in a practical setting with young athletes of varying ability and experience.
Part 2 – Developing Powerful Athletes
Lecture – The Little Things You Are Missing to Develop a Faster, More Explosive Athlete
Speaker Chris Korfist
11:30 – 12:30pm
During this lecture, we will look at other aspects of running that are often missed in training and often lead to a stagnation of training or lack of development, or even in some cases injury. More specifically, we will look at the role of lateral stability in the hip and the function of the foot/ankle complex. This will be practically demonstrated during the workshop to reinforce take home messages for practitioners to make a difference with their athletes.
Lunch (provided)
12:30 – 1:30pm
Practical Workshop – The Little Things You Are Missing to Develop a Faster, More Explosive Athlete
Speaker Chris Korfist
1:30 – 2:15pm
During this workshop, we will look at other aspects of running that are often missed in training and often lead to a stagnation of training or lack of development, or even in some cases injury. More specifically, we will look at the role of lateral stability in the hip and the function of the foot/ankle complex. This will be practically demonstrated during the workshop to reinforce take home messages for practitioners to make a difference with their athletes.
Practical Workshop – Resisted Sled Training – Applied Assessment, Prescription and Coaching
Speaker Dr. Micheál Cahill
2:15 – 3:00pm
Resisted sled training (RST) is a commonly used method of sprint specific training, however there is a lack of uniformity on training guidelines and best practice. RST can be used as a mode of horizontal strength training to compliment a well rounded training program to improve speed. This workshop is aimed at providing valuable practical insight from evidence based research on young athletes to better equip coaches to assess, prescribe and coach RST to enhance speed. Of particular interest to practitioners dealing with young athletes will be the interaction of maturation and training competence on the phase of targeted sprint adaptation.
Part 3 – Preparing and Performing at the Next Level
Lecture – In-Season Training & Athlete Management
Speaker Matt Van Dyke
3:15 – 4:15pm
This session will cover practical methods of managing athletes training and performance throughout the in-season phase of the annual cycle. With the goal of creating “optimal performance” repeatedly throughout the team sport season, athletes must be trained appropriately throughout the off-season, and then trained/managed accordingly during the competition cycle. These management techniques include, but are not limited to, weight room training, practice planning, and occasionally return to play procedures. Each of these require a high level of communication and understanding among staff and athletes if players are to be “fast and fresh” for repeated performances throughout the season.
Practical Workshop – The Full Story Behind an ACL Tear: Surgical, Rehabilitative and Performance Insights
Speakers Chris Slocum, Chris Lefever and Dr. Bonnie Gregory
4:30 – 5:30pm
This lecture will cover the three different domains that collaborate to return the injured athlete back to sport following ACL injury: surgical reconstruction, physical therapy rehabilitation and performance. The clinician or coach is often highly specialized in one domain, sometimes lacking exposure to the roles and considerations of others involved in the continuum of care. Theoretically, the model is seamless and collaborative – in practice, it is often not. This lecture will discuss best practice for this unique patient population and highlight high-yield, practical insights and advice for use in the clinic or weight room.
Part 1
Dr. Jon Oliver
Jon is a Professor (Full) of Applied Paediatric Exercise Science at Cardiff Metropolitan University, where he co-founded the Youth Physical Development Centre. That Centre provides an interface for evidence-based practice, housing a team of researchers and coaches who provide strength and conditioning support to young athletes aged 6-18 years old while also undertaking research in long-term athletic development. This research is centred around three key themes; injury, performance and the health and wellbeing of young athletes. Jon has published over 100 international peer-review articles, contributed to numerous consensus and position statements on youth resistance training and athletic development and works with a host of institutes, sports and professional organisations both nationally and internationally. This includes recently co-authoring the American College of Sports Medicine Essentials of Youth Fitness textbook. Jon is also an Adjunct Professor at the Sports Performance and Research Institute New Zealand.
Part 1
Dr. Rhodri Lloyd
Rhodri is a Reader in Paediatric Strength and Conditioning at Cardiff Metropolitan University and Chair of the Youth Physical Development Centre, which offers after-school strength and conditioning provision to young athletes. He also holds a research associate position with Auckland University of Technology and is a research fellow for Waikato Institute of Technology. His research interests surround the impact of growth and maturation on long-term athletic development, and the neuromuscular mechanisms underpinning training adaptations in youth. He is a senior associate editor for the Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research and an associate editor for the Strength and Conditioning Journal. In 2016, he received the Strength and Conditioning Coach of the Year award for Research and Education from the UK Strength and Conditioning Association (UKSCA) and in 2017 was awarded the Terry J. Housh Outstanding Young Investigator of the Year award from the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA).
Part 1
Dr. Micheál Cahill
Dr. Micheál Cahill, originally from Limerick, Ireland serves as the Vice President of Performance and Sports Science at Athlete Training + Health. Micheál is responsible for the training philosophy within ATH for all training programs, the development of all coaches within ATH and the daily integration of services between hospital, academic and professional team partnerships as well as assisting in company growth and strategy. Micheál has previously worked as the Director of Sports Science at Jesuit College in Dallas catering to the needs of 750 athletes from 21 sports weekly from 2013 – 2018. Prior to that he owned a sports performance company and worked at Baylor University and the Clare Senior Gaelic Football Team. He also worked with numerous individual athletes across a broad range of sports from amateur to professional level across the world. Micheál completed his undergraduate and Masters degrees in Ireland before obtaining his PhD at Auckland University of Technology, New Zealand focusing on acceleration and resisted sprinting in young athletes. Current research interests include the influence of strength, speed and power on youth athletes of varying maturation.
Part 2
Chris Korfist
Chris Korfist is a speed/performance coach from Chicago, Illinois. In addition to being a high school sprint coach, he also operates his facility, Slow Guy Speed School, which caters to a variety of athletes ranging from elementary school athletes to professional/Olympic athletes. He also co-owns TrackFootballConsortium.com which is a bi-annual conference bringing together outside the box thinkers who focus on building a better athlete effectively. He also is co-owner of Reflexive Performance Reset which is a system of breathing and neurological drills that empower your clients and athletes to create instant improvements in their performance.
Part 3
Matt Van Dyke
Matt Van Dyke is the Associate Director of Applied Sports Science at the University of Texas. With the Longhorns, Matt is responsible for the complete oversight of the football team in regards to the management of training loads and recovery modalities implemented to each individual athlete in order to maximize performance and readiness. Prior to his position with the University of Texas, Van Dyke was the Associate Director of Sports Performance at the University of Denver. Before that, Matt was the Assistant Director of Strength and Conditioning for Olympic Sports at the University of Minnesota and completed his Graduate Assistantship at St. Cloud State University and received his Master’s Degree in exercise physiology in 2015. Matt is responsible for authoring multiple books while also writing for multiple websites and platforms. Matt was a member of the Iowa State Football Team for 4 years as a wide receiver where he earned Big XII Second Team Academic Honors for the 2011 and 2012 seasons. Matt is certified by the Collegiate Strength and Conditioning Coaches Association (SCCC). He earned his Bachelor’s Degree in exercise science from Iowa State University in December of 2012.
Part 3
Chris Slocum
Before joining the ATH staff, Chris Slocum was a member of the Ohio State University Strength and Conditioning staff where he worked with athletes across many sports in the Ohio State athletic department. Chris played collegiate football and earned his undergraduate degree in the state of Ohio at DIII powerhouse, Mount Union. He attended Houston Baptist University for post-grad and also served as the Director of Olympic Sports Performance while at HBU. Chris has also worked with the University of Houston football team, multiple private sports performance facilities and numerous sports medicine organizations. He brings collegiate sports experience – as an athlete and a performance coach – along with a passion for athletic development to every training session and every athlete he coaches.
Part 3
Chris Lefever
Chris Lefever is a sports physical therapist with the Memorial Hermann IRONMAN Sports Medicine Institute at Katy Sports Park. He graduated from Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania with a Bachelor’s of Science in Exercise Science and a Doctor of Physical Therapy. After his graduate studies, he completed a Sports Physical Therapy Residency with the IRONMAN Sports Medicine Institute, before pursuing his Division 1 Sports Physical Therapy Fellowship training at Duke University where he worked with football, men’s and women’s basketball and men’s lacrosse. He currently holds board certification as a Sports Clinical Specialist (SCS) through the American Physical Therapy Association and is a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS) through the National Strength and Conditioning Association. In addition to providing clinical care here at Katy Sports Park, he is currently serving as fellowship coordinator to help develop a Division 1 Sports Physical Therapy Fellowship and also serves as a sports physical therapy residency site coordinator. With a skillset specialized to help rehabilitate the injured athlete, Chris enjoys working with anyone along the spectrum of acute injury, injury prevention and sport performance.
Part 3
Dr. Bonnie Gregory
Dr. Gregory received her undergraduate degree at Duke University (Durham, NC) where she was a varsity rower and achieved academic All-Atlantic Coast Conference honors. She completed medical school at the University of Louisville (Louisville, KY) where she was inducted into the Gold Humanism Honor Society. She completed her residency in Orthopaedic Surgery at the prestigious Rush University Medical Center (Chicago, IL) followed by a fellowship in Shoulder and Sports Medicine at Duke University (Durham, NC). Dr. Gregory specializes in Sports Medicine with an emphasis on innovative, arthroscopic procedures and complex, open surgeries of the shoulder, elbow, hip, and knee. She treats a full spectrum of musculoskeletal injuries in athletes of all ages, with a special interest in the demands of competitive athletes. She has an active interest in clinical research and is an expert in nonsurgical management and rehabilitation of sports-related injuries. Ultimately, Dr. Gregory’s goal is to utilize evidence-based, individualized treatment plans to get her patients back to the activities they enjoy and prevent future injuries.
Travel
Accommodations
Attendees receive Athlete Training + Health’s discount at the Omni Westside Hotel. Please use the link here to search for rooms.
Distance
Omni Westside Hotel is approximately 11 miles (16 minutes) from Athlete Training + Health located in the Memorial Hermann Sports Park.
George Bush Intercontinental Airport is approximately 30 miles (40-60 minutes) from Omni Westside Hotel and 56 miles (60-75 minutes) from Athlete Training + Health located in the Memorial Hermann Sports Park.
William P. Hobby Airport is approximately 35 miles (40-60 minutes) from Omni Westside Hotel and 43 miles (50-75 minutes) from Athlete Training + Health located in the Memorial Hermann Sports Park.
Transport
We recommend taxi and rideshare options as the most efficient way to get to Omni Westside and Athlete Training + Health. These options are available at both airports.
Car rentals are also available at both airports. If you wish to organize a car rental we recommend booking direct with your chosen vendor at least a few weeks in advance.
Parking
Omni Westside offers complimentary self-parking and valet service for $15 per day per vehicle.
Temperature
In May the average temperature in Houston ranges between the high 60’s to mid 80’s.
Dress Code
Casual attire.
Local area and things to do
For activities and events during your stay in Houston, click here.
For questions about the symposium please fill out the form below.