Jordan at Pepperdine - Week 2

Jordan Webster at Pepperdine University

My second week in Malibu has given me more tools in my toolbox including detailed presentations/practical for the Functional Movement Screen, Titleist Performance Institute (TPI) movement screen and Beach Volleyball Rating (BVR) system. Setting up for team sessions is a big part of an interns responsibility in USA so it’s important to do it right. Once the coaches see you’re competent in these minor tasks, you’re allowed more responsibilities coaching wise. It is very much a “you have to earn your stripes” situation. Had the opportunity to help out with data collection at the World Series of Beach Volleyball in Long Beach which was great to be a part of. This was a Asics sponsored event with free trainers, t-shirts, shorts and merchandise - it was the real deal.

Movement Screening at Asics World Series of Beach Volleyball

Intern Education

It was another informative week for me at Pepperdine. With Pep being a very movement orientated facility, assessing movement is obviously a very useful part of their process. The Interns and I were shown the Functional Movement Screening. I had performed modified versions before, but was nice to go through a presentation on it, followed by the practical application and how Pep use it. We also went through the Titliest Performance Institute’s (TPI) movement screening for golf. This is a very extensive mobility and postural control testing protocol which can be used to identify problems with a golfer’s swing before you’ve even seen them swing.

Part of the resources given to interns at Pepperdine.

Coach Interaction

My second week into the internship and I think I’m really figuring out the different types of coaches around me. They are all “Strength and Conditioning Wizards” in a way that their knowledge base seems to be never ending. I had numerous conversations where I felt humbled by how much I really didn’t know. I always took notes on interesting points and especially made sure to go and research concepts that were brought up often so I could follow future conversations. After speaking with Matt about how bad I was at pull ups, I’ve somehow been talked into doing an extra workout every morning of a minimum of 50 pull ups a day and increasing the reps every week. On Thursday we trained at 4:30am as we had a busy day of coaching and travelling to Long Beach ahead.

The BVR Clinic set up (http://www.idrills.net/beach-volleyball-rating-bvr/#get-your-bvr)

Team Sessions

Before their S&C session, I went down to watch Men’s Basketball practice in their state of the art basketball hall. Coaches at Pepperdine attend 90% of their team’s practice and games when scheduling allows it. I find this inspiring, as the coaches aren’t just “Strength coaches”, they fully integrated into the sport and the culture This comes from spending a lot of time around the team, even when they aren’t lifting. Really starting to get stuck into some coaching now, after learning the specific way the coaches like to cue movements and like sessions set up. I’ve been given a few Freshman to take through sessions which has been cool. We have been struggling with slight language barriers, as people don’t seem understand me through my thick Northern accent. This is making me much more aware on being clear, loud and speaking slowly during coaching. The energy in the team sessions is always cool, its exactly like those videos of American weight rooms with athletes shouting and getting each other hyped for every set. Sessions always finish with a quick word from the coach and a bringing together of hands and chant for a positive finish.

https://youtu.be/MxfXK4ZTB6o

California Life

I spent the weekend at Long Beach this weekend helping out at the Asics World Series of Beach Volleyball. Matt has created a Beach Volleyball Rating system which he used to analyze different physical properties of athletes and compares them to normative data. This includes testing strength, jumping ability, anthropometrics and mobility. It was a great atmosphere with lots of hype between Beach Volleyball Enthusiasts with a music concert taking place 200m down the beach. It was good to see “in the field testing” and see behind the scenes of such a big sporting event over here. Ticked off another American food brand with an In N Out Burger, and probably drank my weight in Gatorade.

World Series of Beach Volleyball.

Matt Goosey at USFCA

 So I’m finally here in San Francisco and I can honestly say that I’m a good balance of excited and nervous of what’s to come over the next six weeks!! I can’t wait to get started and see what’s to come.

My first day in the gym was a great one; I was introduced to and started working with the women’s basketball team. From there we were straight down to business with their workouts and immediately I was aware of the total respect the athlete had for themselves, the coaches and the work they were doing. It was clear that there was a specific work ethic required from them and they respected and kept to that.

The sessions themselves were great as it gave me a chance to watch how the athletes move and get an understanding as to what they were capable of. But it wasn’t all watching and shadowing the other coaches; I was able to get involved with a few individual athletes while they completed different stages of their workout. I enjoyed every second of it and I know that I will continue to do so as my involvement progresses.

 

Throughout the rest of the week I’ve had a few early starts for conditioning sessions on the football (soccer field) which were an amazing time to learn but surprisingly cold! I thought California was supposed to warm!!

All in all my first week here have been amazing and a great learning opportunity and I’ve already gotten a much better understanding of the standards required of both athlete and coach at this level of performance. In my free time I’ve managed to get in a little sightseeing and believe me when I see this city is amazing!

 

Jordan at Pepperdine - Week 1

Jordan Webster at Pepperdine University

My first day was busier than I expected, there was no shortage of information or experience. On my first day, I’d met up to 100 new people I would see on an almost daily basis, helped with 4 team sessions, received an Olympic Weightlifting Presentation, shown how to administer 2 of Pepperdine’s movement screening protocols, been given a project to work on for Friday and had two workouts. The coaches at Pepperdine were passionate, informative and hard workers (12-16 hour days were the norm). There was a reason Pepperdine was renowned for being one of the best internship programs in the USA.

Ranked one of the most Beautiful Campus in USA.

Intern Education

This week the internship program had Nick, Billy and I receive an Olympic Weightlifting Presentation followed up by a practical session. This was extremely useful, particularly seeing how they coach their athletes in the Clean and how they make it so simple. Part of the education process involves the interns submitting a summary paper of everything we took from that particular module. We also were given a project to present to the other coaches on the Performance Testing, followed by a Q&A where we had to defend our methods.

Pepperdine Waves' weight room

Coach Interaction

During my first week, I was just getting to know the coaches and soaking up all the little nuggets of information they shared. I think some of the most valuable conversations I had during this week were one on one with coaches, where the topics flowed from one thing to the next. These types of conversations are where you really figure out how passionate the coach is, and how in depth their knowledge base is. The staff regularly lifts together during the day at some point. These sessions are always fun to observe as it’s a blend of great technical proficiency, positivity and “getting after it”. On Friday, I was invited to join the workout with Matt (Assistant Director of Athletics and S&C Coach for Men's Basketball and Beach Volleyball) and Adam (S&C Coach for Women’s Basketball). It wasn’t until I was warmed up they revealed the workout:

Every Minute On the Minute for 30 minute: 2 Bench Press + 2 Deadlift (Increasing weight)

It was tough but I enjoyed being put to the test and “initiated” into the Pepperdine Internship.

Team Sessions

The week was busy; it was a blend of Men’s/Women’s Basketball, Volleyball, Soccer, Water Polo and Baseball. My original plan was the mainly observe how these sessions are run, and how the coaches communicate with their athletes. What I saw was plenty of different coaching styles, ranging from quiet to loud, mellow to energetic and detailed coaching points to very simple distinct coaching cues. It was really interesting seeing how the Men’s Basketball sessions operated, and the amount of positive energy these guys brought to every session. There was constant encouragement, loud noise and raw hard work. Despite starting the week mostly shadowing and asking questions, by Friday I was spotting the guys and building more of a rapport with the athletes.

Coach Adam calling an end to a great 6am conditioning session with Women's Basketball

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California Life

4^th of July fell on Tuesday of my first week, meaning we had to day off. So I decided to go to Santa Monica and Venice Beach, and see what the area had to offer. The place was absolutely crawling with people enjoying Independence Day and spirits were high. There was a bodybuilding show on at Muscle Beach, everybody riding rental bicycles and some amazing beach homes looking out over Venice Beach. Matt (who is also an avid foodie) took me a restaurant in Malibu which was awesome. We also ticked off another “American First” by taking me for a Philly Cheese Steak.

Overall it has been an amazing first week of learning the ropes, meeting new people and enjoying sunny Malibu.

One of the beach properties overlooking Venice Beach.