STRENGTH & CONDITIONING PHILOSOPHY
The University of Evansville Strength and Conditioning Department works with every student-athlete and sport coach on campus year round. The overall philosophy of our department is to integrate safe and effective programs while developing each student-athlete’s physical potential. There are no standard programs or pre-set prescriptions; every program is customized to the needs of each team individually and collectively. Athletic development is viewed by this department not as a sprint but as a marathon, and it takes persistent, directed efforts coupled with lengthy amounts of time to realize physical potential. This process begins with every student-athlete being administered loaded and unloaded movement screens, explosive strength and general strength tests.
The Functional Movement Screen (FMS) and Loaded Movement Screen allow the Strength & Conditioning department to quickly identify key areas of potential injury and performance inhibitors. Movement quality and body weight strength are the building blocks of the program. Once specific movement patterns and limit strengths have been improved and/or corrected, progressive and specific loading occurs relative to the demands of the athlete’s sport. Movement limitations due to local muscular weakness/stability and/or High Threshold Syndrome are commonly addressed in this process. The timetable is dependent on each athlete’s personal progress. Anaerobic and aerobic conditioning programs, static and dynamic flexibility routines, and recovery methods are continually addressed with all teams. The Strength & Conditioning department strives for each athlete to have structural balance, gains in both explosive strength and relative strength, and overall increases in athletic performance. The strength coaches, athletic trainers, team doctors and physical therapists work hand in hand to quickly identify, treat, and rehabilitate injuries in order to return our athletes to competition and training.
At the University of Evansville, we utilize proven scientific methods of training and skill-level appropriate exercises. Exercises are chosen to match preparedness levels, and intensities are programmed to promote the desired change or adaptation. Strength & Conditioning will classify our athletes and their respective programs based on several factors: body weight movement and externally loaded movement quality, months/years of continual formal strength training, and time allocated per sport to the strength and conditioning facility throughout the year. Our department values and promotes team structure and cohesion, daily accountability, and dedicated work ethics while training year round.
