Roundtable Question:  Besides standard strength training equipment, what are your favorite training devices or  "toys" and how do you utilize them?  What device have you had trouble with or just don't really like using?

Zach Dechant: Equipment that we have begun utilizing extensively are foam rollers.  We now put as much emphasis on recovery and restoration throughout our cycles as our actual training modalities.  I believe that recovery is a very under utilized aspect of the training process, and up until the last year or so neglected it somewhat myself.  Not only do we use foam rollers for soft tissue work, but also include lacrosse balls, tennis balls, baseballs, etc.   I believe this has help to reduce our injuries greatly, as well as increase mobility in our hips and ankles. 

Another equipment addition that we use frequently are the new mini mini bands for lack of a better term.  These are orange bands that are about pencil thin from jump stretch I believe.  When we first acquired a pair of these bands, I thought we'll never find a use for these tiny things.  They were too thin and the tension was too light. However, they have quickly exceeded our expectations and we utilize these bands more than any others.  The majority of the exercises addressed with these bands are for the shoulder girdle. 

The last piece of equipment that has had a positive effect on our program is the Coreboard.  Several years ago I would have kicked my own ass for saying that, but we have found some great uses for the Coreboard in the past 6 months.  We basically had them laying around collecting dust before pulling them out to see what we could come up with.  Now don't get me wrong we still train to be strong, explosive, and fast but the Coreboard does have some application for mobility work, as well as torso and hip strengthening.   A year ago the Coreboard would've made the list as a piece of equipment I would never use.  Now it's in our program every week. 

I believe virtually everything has a place in training and can be utilized at some point in the training process.  I really don't have a list of equipment that I don't like or don't use.  The only thing I shy away from and never use are standard machines.  I truly feel machines have no place in the sports traning process.  Other than that, we can find application in every thing at some point. 

Zach Dechant
Asst. Strength and Conditioning
Texas Christian University

Red Wakeham:  What I like….

Keiser Functional Trainer for high speed exercise (continuous crossovers, resisted/assisted shuffles, various jumping exercises).

Free Motion Cable Crossover for resisted backpedals, acceleration sprints, cariocas, ground based presses, pulls and push/pulls.

Mini-bands put above knees on various exercises (squat 'n' press, squat, abduction and adduction).
Log Bars for squat and press and front squats.

Uni (Weight) Vests for added resistance on lunges, and step-ups.

Plyo Safe G2 Boxes (Adjustable Jumping Mats) so we don't have to jump over cones/hurdles etc. We can jump onto these foam boxes thereby reducing landing forces.

Jump Stretch Bands for stretching and resisted jumping.

Kytec Accelerator Bands for resisted/assisted running at a 20 yard distance.

Cynch Strap Belts to use with the cable pieces for the running drills.


What I’ve had trouble with….

None.

Red Wakeham
Director of Strength and Conditioning/Olympic Sports
Michigan State University

Rob Schwartz:  One of our core philosophies is to utilize variety in our training.  We have several different implements ranging from light to heavy medballs, sandbags, chains, bands, stability balls, tires, slideboards, kegs, The Tug and sleds that we have modified to resemble the Prowler, to name a few.  Having said that; these implements are only used as they appropriately fit into the athlete’s progression.  In my opinion one of the worst mistakes a coach can make is having athletes perform activities they aren’t prepared for.  We have set progressions for everything we do and how we utilize these implements is no different.  Mostly these implements are used as parts of circuits or to create a competitive environment.  Especially during a long off-season phase athletes need to compete in Strength and Conditioning since they aren’t getting that aspect from their sport.  While these toys and others only make up a small percentage of our training volume, they do help to keep our athlete’s bodies and minds stimulated. 

As for devices that we don’t use; it really comes down to whether or not they’ll fit into our current situation.  Often I look at products and realize that we could design/build it or utilize something we already have to accomplish the same training goal. 

Rob Schwartz

Head Strength and Conditioning Coach

Northern Arizona University

Matt Saey: I find that rings or something of the like (we use the TRX system) are very useful.  They provide variety to upper and lower body workouts by adding another means of challenging joint stabilization.  They are useful when you need a change from traditional exercises, such as pull ups, and add a different challenge.

As for equipment I could do without...I'm not a big fan of the BOSU ball.  If we need to challenge athletes balance, we can make other changes in surface, footwear, sight, etc.

Matt Saey, CSCS
Assistant Strength and Conditioning Coach
University of Illinois at Chicago