Vern Gambetta & Functional Training

Vern Gambetta, coaching legend, was in Scotland this past week, and Australia earlier that month. You will see a link to his blog on the right of this posting, and he has been an influence to many more skilled & thoughtful practitioners than us at SPACE over the years, but to hear him is a rare privilege.




We plan to implement some of his functional training ideas into rehab sessions for patients and sportspeople attending Space Clinics here in Edinburgh.






His focus is on function, and on functional training: he describes these below (from his website www.gambetta.com)

What is Function? Full spectrum work, in multiple planes, using multiple joints, incorporating full range of motion that is proprioceptively demanding.
What is Functional Training? Training that incorporates a full spectrum of training methods, designed to elicit optimum adaptive response appropriate for the sport or activity being trained for.

• No one system of the body is emphasized to the exclusion of another.
• No one training method or physical quality becomes an end unto itself.
• Each athlete is a case study of one–
  respect the individual.
• Be real – Avoid artificial restraints and positions.

The goal of Functional Training is to develop Athleticism, the ability to perform athletic movements (Run, Jump, Throw, & Lift) with sound technique at optimum speed, with precision, style and grace within the context of your sport. 

Now you can see why these principles seem attractive to SPACE physios, and their long-held interests in total body movement and fascial fitness.

Mission Statement: 
To follow the functional path to "Building the Complete Athlete" or if the athlete is injured by "Rebuilding the Complete Athlete."

The Gambetta Method is based on the following functional path principles:

• Dynamic Postural alignment and balance are the foundation for all training.
• Train movements not muscles.
• Train fundamental movement skills before sport specific skills.
• Train core strength before extremity strength.
• Train with body weight before external resistance.
• Train joint integrity before joint mobility.
• Train synergistic muscles before prime movers.
• Train strength before strength endurance.
• Train speed before speed endurance.

So why do we rate him so highly?


He's a personable and engaging speaker. His knowledge is impressive. He still reads widely, and he meets specialists in the academic & applied worlds of science in sport & medicine. Often whah he says or writes or describes just makes good sense.


He has a wealth of experience: just clock this incredible CV:

Track & Field:
Specializes in Coaching Multi-Events, Decathlon and Heptathlon. Consultant coach for Nike Oregon Project. Edited Track Technique, the technical journal of USA Track & Field. Associate editor of the IAAF technical journal, New Studies in Athletic. Co-founder of USA Track & Field coaching education program.
Baseball:
Director of Athletic Development, New York Mets. As Director of Conditioning pioneered conditioning for baseball with model program for Chicago White Sox. Consultant to Cincinnati Reds. University of Texas.
Basketball:
Assistant conditioning coach for Chicago Bulls. Conditioning coach for Canadian National men’s team and the Canadian women’s team.
Soccer:
Conditioning coach for Tampa Bay Mutiny. Conditioning Coach for US Men’s World Cup team. Conditioning coach for New England Revolution. Consultant to Chicago Fire. Consultant, University of Virginia Women’s Soccer. Consultant, University of North Carolina Women’s Soccer.
Hockey: 
Consulted with San Jose Sharks.
Tennis:
Conditioning coach for Monica Seles. Consultant Billy Stearns Tennis Academy, Sarasota, FL.
Softball:
Consultant to Australian women’s softball, bronze medalists Olympics.
Swimming:
Consultant to the Carmel Swim Club, Harvard University Women's Swimmimg. Consultant to University of Michigan women’s swimming, Consultant, Kenyon College Swimming. Consultant to Mission Viejo Natadores.
Football:
Consultant to San Francisco Forty Niners. Kansas City Chiefs.

Teaching: 

First Director of USA Track & Field coaching education program. Developed successful seminar series “Building and Rebuilding the Athlete” which is directed to physical therapists, athletic trainers, conditioning coaches, personal trainers and sport coaches. Served on Faculty of the National Coaching Institute in Canada.

Books:
Editor TAC Coaching Manual Authored of seven books "Hurdling and Steeplechasing", "How Women Runners Train", "The Complete Guide to Medicine Ball Training", "The Gambetta Method", "The 3S System – Soccer Speed", "Sport Specific Speed - The 3S System", and "Athletic Development".
Education & Certification:
Master of Arts in Education with an emphasis in Physical Education, Stanford University, Calif. Standard Secondary Teaching Credential, History and Physical Education, UC Santa Barbara. Coaching Minor, University of California, Santa Barbara, Bachelor of Arts, Fresno State University, Social Science major, Physical Education minor, USAT&F Level II Sprint & Hurdle Coach and Jumps Coach USA Weightlifting Club Coach.

For further information on The Gambetta Method which represents a unique and innovative approach to training and rehabilitating athletes based on thirty+ years of experience working with a multitude of sports at all levels of competition, then check out his website or blog.