To receive our e-mailings with answers to questions on training as well as notifications of our new products, our sales, and freebies you have to subscribe to our mailing list.

April 17, 2007

RE: stretching for football (feedback from a football player and Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist)

We are sending to you this information because you have subscribed to Stadion Publishing Company's e-mail list.

Last Saturday I answered a question from an American football
player about whether it makes sense for him to use the DVD Secrets
of Stretching (http://www.stadion.com/secrets.html) and if being
able to do the splits is healthy for a football player.

One of Stadion e-mail list subscribers, Matt Baniewicz, CSCS
(Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist) and a former
football player has sent this comment:

I am a former college football player from the University at
Buffalo. I played offensive guard. I was the smallest offensive
lineman on my team, but the best in terms of production. My
quickness and speed were comparable to some of my teammates at the
same position. My strength and power were also comparable. My
flexibility in my hips and hamstrings were far superior than those
who played my position as well as the players from the so called
"skill" positions. This made a huge difference in terms of my
technique. A lot of stiff football players are not even able to
practice or execute proper technique because of limited mobility.
What made me good was my technique. I had better agility than most
players my size, because I could bend with ease. Anyone who was on
my team will tell you the same story. I would recommend Stretching
Scientifically and Secrets of Stretching for you. Keep in mind that
you are a football player, not a martial artist. Use these tools as
a guide. I have been studying sports training for 12 years now, and
these tools are the BEST references for flexibility training I have
ever seen.

Sincerely,

Matt Baniewicz, CSCS

And here is the original question, followed by my answer mailed
last Saturday:

>> Mr. Kurz,
>>
>> I am a college football player, and I want to maximize my potential as
>> an athlete. I have very good natural abilities, such as speed,
>> strength, and agility, but I feel that I could be much better if I
>> became more flexible. My question for you is do you think that your
>> DVD Secrets of Stretching will be helpful for a football player like me?
>> I'm a bigger guy, and right now it seems impossible for me to even think
>> about doing the splits. Also, I don't even know if being able to do the
>> splits is healthy for me as a football player. Could you please give me
>> some feedback, so that I can make the decision to buy this DVD or not.
>> It looks and seems very intriguing and helpful, but I wanted to hear
>> your input for an athlete like myself. Thank you for your time and
>> consideration.
>>
>> Respectfully,
>>
>> Ryan

>Answer:
>
>You know best if greater flexibility of your hips would help you on
>the field.
>
>If you were running straight ahead only--no evasions, no
>interceptions, or other maneuvers--then having extra flexibility
>would not be likely to help you. But playing American football you
>have to do all these maneuvers, and move in unpredictable ways,
>combining running, dodging, intercepting, slamming into people, and
>grappling, so more flexibility of hips and legs can give you
>greater freedom of movements.
>
>If you follow my program on the DVD Secrets of Stretching, I see no
>danger of developing great flexibility without good joint
>stability. Afterall, one of the main points of this DVD is showing
>how to strengthen hips and legs while increasing their flexibility.
>
>Perhaps you should ask your coach to look at this video
>(http://www.stadion.com/videos/1-minute_splits_01.wmv) and at
>photos on this page (http://www.stadion.com/photos.html).
>Both the video and the photos show a healthy combination of
>flexibility, joint integrity, and strength.

That is all for today.

Best regards,

Thomas Kurz

P.S.
Photos of my customers doing suspended splits can be found at
http://www.stadion.com/photos.html.

You can view the video showing strength, joint integrity, and
flexibility resulting from using my method of stretching at
http://www.stadion.com/videos/1-minute_splits_01.wmv (Windows Media Video)
or
http://www.stadion.com/videos/1-minute_splits_01.mov (QuickTime Movie).

DVD Secrets of Stretching is available at
http://www.stadion.com/secrets.html.

Book Stretching Scientifically is available at
http://www.stadion.com/stretch.html.

P.P.S.
If you like to receive my e-mails by RSS (Real Simple Syndication) the url is
http://www.aweber.com/z/rss/?stadion-list.
(What is RSS and how to use it is explained at
http://www.basictemplates.com/blog/2005/06/rss-real-simple-syndication.shtml.)

Exchange tips on working out and competing, and discuss training
and performance problems on Stadion's Sports and Martial Arts
Training Discussion Forum at http://www.stadion.com/phpBB3.
Let your friends know about the above-mentioned resources.
Forward this message to every athlete you know.

Stadion Publishing Home | What's New at Stadion | Questions & Answers on Training | The Athlete's Bookshelf | What Others Say About Our Titles | Contact Stadion Publishing
Register to be notified of free information and new products

© 2007 by Stadion Publishing Co., Inc. All Rights Reserved. This internet site is protected by copyright. Any distribution or duplication of any of its content (text or images) without written permission from Stadion Publishing Co., Inc. is prohibited by law.