Episode 26: Season 6 Episode 26- Colton Susen- You either Hit The Standard or Your Don’t

In this episode of the Central Virginia Sport Performance Podcast, host Jay DeMayo welcomes East Carolina University Men's Basketball Strength Coach Colton Susen. They delve into Colton's journey through various coaching roles at universities like Michigan and Southern Illinois. The discussion focuses on the importance of individualized training programs for athletes, emphasizing risk profiling and the use of objective measures to tailor workouts. Colton shares insights on progression and regression in training, particularly in squatting techniques, and the role of technology like flywheels in enhancing performance. The conversation also touches on the significance of building a culture of accountability among athletes and the challenges of adapting training methods to the evolving sports environment. The episode concludes with reflections on the importance of maintaining standards and the continuous pursuit of improvement in coaching practices.

Key topics:

• The significance of initial risk profiling using injury predictors like previous surgeries, neuromuscular control tests, and basic movement screens.
• Implementation of standardized strength testing (e.g., goblet squat, Zercher, front, and back squat) to establish clear progression benchmarks.
• The role of objective data in removing guesswork and enhancing athlete buy-in through visual progress tracking.
• Programming structure: balancing bilateral and unilateral exercises across the season with emphasis on progression and regression.
• Integration of flywheel training to improve bilateral force output and address plateaus.
• The importance of foundational strength, mobility, and correct exercise depth to prevent compensation and injury.
• How to adjust training based on athlete training age, season phase, and individual needs.
• Using objective metrics to guide load adjustments and mitigate stagnation or plateauing.
• The potential for such data-driven methods to inform return-to-play and injury prevention strategies.
• The value of fostering athlete accountability and leadership through performance tracking.
• Tips for coaches on developing flexible, responsive training systems that adapt over time and seasonality.