In their combined 15 years of speed and strength training, both Judd and Matt have trained a variety of athletes. Judd has trained over 50 pro athletes, numerous first round draft picks, and all pro athletes. Matt and Judd have also sent 100s of athletes to college on athletic scholarships, worked with competitive triathletes, runners, swimmers, and cyclists. They have also directed and implemented programs for corporate wellness, Navy SEAL recruit training, and adult fitness. If you are interested in learning more about any of these programs MAD Sports Training is now offering a chance to become a certified coach.

MAD Sports Training’s 4 certification levels will teach you the science behind the art of speed and strength training. Each level is designed to teach particular concepts and techniques and will also allow you to participate in live drills. MAD Sports Training believes that if coach understands the basic fundamentals behind speed and strength training, they will be much more efficient at teaching and implementing these concepts to their athletes. Also, if a coach understands how to access and evaluate an athlete and determine the demands the body needs to reach certain goals then they will be able to identify what areas they need to focus their training on and have the knowledge to prevent injuries that often occur due to improper training. Becoming certified with MAD Sports Training as a Speed, Agility, and Strength Coach (SASC), will enhance your programs, add complexity to your drills, help redefine the focus of your training, give you more knowledge about proper training techniques, and increase the chances for your team to be successful.

Below lists the 4 levels and gives a brief description of each and what topics will be covered in each level. For more information on the SASC tests on Levels 1-4 please contact MAD Sports Training.

SASC Level 1

Level 1 covers the basic concepts in speed and strength training. Below lists the topics covered:

• Dynamic warm-ups and the benefit of implementing a dynamic warm-up over various other warm-ups.
• How to design your own dynamic warm-up and cater it to a specific activity that will be focused on during the upcoming session.
• Speed specific and change of direction specific dynamic warm-ups.
• Injury prevention and prehab of the knee.
• Proper acceleration and deceleration techniques in both vertical and horizontal plyometics.
• Suggestions on low speed and high speed foot contacts during plyometric sessions.
• Backside exercises and progressions.
• Basic core concepts and how to implement them in a way that best suits the sport the athlete plays.

SASC Level 2

Level 2 covers the basic concepts in strength training and periodization. Below lists the topics covered:

• Basic concepts of overload and how to avoid overtraining.
• How to squat and the progressions to teach a squat.
• How to clean (hang, power, full) and the progressions to teach the clean.
• How to implement exercises that will challenge not only the strength levels of athletes, but at the same time challenge their mobility and flexibility.
• Overhead movements. The pros and cons and how to correctly and effectively implement these explosive lifts into your program.
• Advanced progressions and complexes that will challenge even the most seasoned athlete.
• Basic periodization and program design to attain the desired strength goals.

SASC Level 3

Level 3 covers the basic concepts in speed and change of direction development. Below lists the topics covered:

Basic concepts in drive phase mechanics that include:

• Arm action and head position
• Posture and correct angles
• Front side and back side efficiency

Basic concepts in top end speed mechanics that include:

• Arm action and head position
• Posture and correct angles
• Front side and back side efficiency

Basic concepts in change of direction mechanics that include:

• Proper body control and foot placement during acceleration and deceleration into and out of cuts
• Proper mechanics during the high knee and low knee step over
• Drills that cover all aspects of becoming faster and quicker in both linear speed and change of direction.

SASC Level 4

Level 4 covers concepts in implementing each previous level into a program that will help your program or team become better athletes. Below lists the topics covered:

• Initial assessment and evaluation of athletes.
• How to set up proper testing for your specific sport.
• How to set up a program to focus on the weaknesses of an athlete.
• How to set up a weekly, monthly, and seasonal cycles for all lifting, speed, and change of direction work.