Cheeky Mid Weeky

Michelle Pifer is the Associate Director of Strength and Conditioning at Rutgers University, where she works directly with Field Hockey and Women’s Rowing. She joined Rutgers in 2021 and was promoted to Associate Director in 2023.Michelle brings eight years of collegiate strength and conditioning experience, with an emphasis on athlete performance, long-term development, and sport science integration. At Rutgers, she utilizes technologies including Catapult GPS, WHOOP, Hawkin Dynamics force plates, EliteForm VBT, and Whistle Performance to help guide training and athlete monitoring.Prior to Rutgers, Michelle coached at the University of Pennsylvania and Swarthmore College, working across a wide range of collegiate sports. She earned both her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Exercise Science from Bloomsburg University and holds the CSCS and RSCC*D credentials through the NSCA.Michelle has also presented at the 2025 CSCCa National Conference and 2026 NSCA National Conference, sharing her applied approach to strength and conditioning and sport science.___Learn about CEUs to the NSCA and CSCCa:https://www.strengthcoachnetwork.com/pricingCONNECT WITH US: 🌎Site: https://strengthcoachnetwork.com/From our sponsors: Hawkin Dynamics 🌎Site: https://www.hawkindynamics.com/Hawkin Dynamics is the world leader in force plate solutions. Wireless hardware, intuitive software, and powerful analysis make Hawkin Dynamics the best choice for any coach or trainer. Make sure you check them out in the link above.Power Lift🌎Site: https://www.powerliftusa.com/ Power Lift is an industry-leading designer and manufacturer of American-made strength and conditioning equipment. They understand that your Brand is important and offer several diverse ways to incorporate that Brand into your strength equipment. For more about Power Lift click the link above. Dashr🌎Site: https://www.dashrsystems.com/Dashr is a performance testing company best known for its laser timing, but also integrates with Teambuildr and offers a free Player Profile app used by 6k+ athletes. Beyond timing, they provide a full suite of testing solutions including verticals, broad jumps, RSI, biometrics, reaction, and AMS. For more about Dashr click the link above.PlayerData🌎Site:https://www.playerdata.com/en-usPlayerData is Strength Coach Network’s trusted GPS provider and a FIFA Quality–certified system, used by coaches at every level to quantify training load and understand movement demands. PlayerData delivers reliable, actionable data at a strong value point, with seamless syncing that saves coaches precious time—so the focus stays on coaching, not managing technology. For more about PlayerData click the link above.

What separates great strength coaches from those who simply write programs? Justin Lima sits down with AK for an unfiltered conversation about coaching, athlete development, and the importance of context in strength and conditioning.AK explains why she openly shares her training programs, challenges the industry's obsession with normative data, and discusses how she incorporates isometrics, tendon loading, and individualized programming with collegiate volleyball athletes.They also discuss training male and female athletes, building trust, using competition to increase training intent, and why coaches need to stop overcomplicating the weight room. At the center of the conversation is one message: great coaching requires understanding the person behind the athlete.___SCN CEUs to the NSCA, CSCCa, and BOC:https://www.strengthcoachnetwork.com/pricing___Learn about the Admin Dashboard:https://www.strengthcoachnetwork.com/institutions___From our sponsors: Hawkin Dynamics 🌎Site: https://www.hawkindynamics.com/Hawkin Dynamics is the world leader in force plate solutions. Wireless hardware, intuitive software, and powerful analysis make Hawkin Dynamics the best choice for any coach or trainer. Make sure you check them out in the link above.Power Lift🌎Site: https://www.powerliftusa.com/ Power Lift is an industry-leading designer and manufacturer of American-made strength and conditioning equipment. They understand that your Brand is important and offer several diverse ways to incorporate that Brand into your strength equipment. For more about Power Lift click the link above. Dashr🌎Site: https://www.dashrsystems.com/Dashr is a performance testing company best known for its laser timing, but also integrates with Teambuildr and offers a free Player Profile app used by 6k+ athletes. Beyond timing, they provide a full suite of testing solutions including verticals, broad jumps, RSI, biometrics, reaction, and AMS. For more about Dashr click the link above.PlayerData🌎Site:https://www.playerdata.com/en-usPlayerData is Strength Coach Network’s trusted GPS provider and a FIFA Quality–certified system, used by coaches at every level to quantify training load and understand movement demands. PlayerData delivers reliable, actionable data at a strong value point, with seamless syncing that saves coaches precious time—so the focus stays on coaching, not managing technology. For more about PlayerData click the link above.

In this week's Supertraining in a year pod Yosef and Justin pivot from the book and talk with Robert Heiduk. Robert is an author and researcher who went to Japan to learn from the creator of KAATSU Dr. Yoshiaki Sato. KAATSU is the original BFR and in his episode Yosef and Justin dig into KAATSU and how coaches can put KAATSU into their practice in the weight room and on the field. Robert is a wealth of knowledge. Learn more about KAATSU:https://kaatsu-education.com/https://kaatsu-education.com/journal/https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0753332220300895https://journals.physiology.org/doi/full/10.1152/japplphysiol.01267.2005https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7002872/https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4522335/___SCN CEUs to the NSCA, CSCCa, and BOC:https://www.strengthcoachnetwork.com/pricing___Learn about the Admin Dashboard:https://www.strengthcoachnetwork.com/institutions___From our sponsors: Hawkin Dynamics 🌎Site: https://www.hawkindynamics.com/Power Lift🌎Site: https://www.powerliftusa.com/ Dashr🌎Site: https://www.dashrsystems.com/PlayerData🌎Site:https://www.playerdata.com/en-usThorne🌎Site: https://www.thorne.com/u/PR2094749TeamBuildr 🌎Site:https://www.teambuildr.com/en

Breanne Rowe, MS, CSCS, TSAC-F, RSCC is a strength and conditioning coach currently supporting the 13th Air Support Operations Squadron in Colorado. Her experience spans tactical performance, personal training, higher education, and human performance, with a strong focus on helping athletes and military personnel improve performance and resilience.Prior to her current role, Rowe worked as a strength and conditioning coach with LMR Technical Group and spent more than six years as a personal trainer at PRO Sports Club. She earned both her bachelor's degree in Clinical Physiology and master's degree in Integrative Human Physiology from Central Washington University and holds multiple certifications, including CSCS, TSAC-F, RSCC, and USAW Level 1.___Learn about CEUs to the NSCA and CSCCa:https://www.strengthcoachnetwork.com/pricing___CONNECT WITH US: 🌎Site: https://strengthcoachnetwork.com/From our sponsors: Hawkin Dynamics 🌎Site: https://www.hawkindynamics.com/Hawkin Dynamics is the world leader in force plate solutions. Wireless hardware, intuitive software, and powerful analysis make Hawkin Dynamics the best choice for any coach or trainer. Make sure you check them out in the link above.Power Lift🌎Site: https://www.powerliftusa.com/ Power Lift is an industry-leading designer and manufacturer of American-made strength and conditioning equipment. They understand that your Brand is important and offer several diverse ways to incorporate that Brand into your strength equipment. For more about Power Lift click the link above. Dashr🌎Site: https://www.dashrsystems.com/Dashr is a performance testing company best known for its laser timing, but also integrates with Teambuildr and offers a free Player Profile app used by 6k+ athletes. Beyond timing, they provide a full suite of testing solutions including verticals, broad jumps, RSI, biometrics, reaction, and AMS. For more about Dashr click the link above.PlayerData🌎Site:https://www.playerdata.com/en-usPlayerData is Strength Coach Network’s trusted GPS provider and a FIFA Quality–certified system, used by coaches at every level to quantify training load and understand movement demands. PlayerData delivers reliable, actionable data at a strong value point, with seamless syncing that saves coaches precious time—so the focus stays on coaching, not managing technology. For more about PlayerData click the link above.Thorne🌎Site: https://www.thorne.com/u/PR2094749Thorne is a global leader in high-quality nutritional supplements and health testing. Trusted by professional sports teams, the U.S. military, and practitioners around the world, Thorne is known for rigorous ingredient sourcing, third-party testing, and science-backed formulations. Whether supporting performance, recovery, or overall health, Thorne provides products coaches and athletes can trust. For more about Thorne click the link above to see the supplements Justin recommends.

LSU Sports Dietitian Allison Wade joins the podcast to break down what performance nutrition actually looks like when working with athletes every day.Allison and Justin discuss the relationship between strength coaches and dietitians, sweat testing and hydration, fueling different sports, body composition, supplements, blood testing, nutrition during injury and return to play, and why nutrition has to be individualized to the athlete.They also dive into something that goes beyond macros and meal plans: food is cultural. Allison explains why understanding an athlete’s background, preferences, and relationship with food is critical to creating buy-in and ultimately helping them perform. A practical conversation for strength coaches, sports dietitians, and anyone responsible for athlete performance.___Learn about CEUs to the NSCA and CSCCa:https://www.strengthcoachnetwork.com/pricing___CONNECT WITH US: 🌎Site: https://strengthcoachnetwork.com/📝Blog: https://strengthcoachnetwork.com/blog/___From our sponsors: Hawkin Dynamics 🌎Site: https://www.hawkindynamics.com/Hawkin Dynamics is the world leader in force plate solutions. Wireless hardware, intuitive software, and powerful analysis make Hawkin Dynamics the best choice for any coach or trainer. Make sure you check them out in the link above.Power Lift🌎Site: https://www.powerliftusa.com/ Power Lift is an industry-leading designer and manufacturer of American-made strength and conditioning equipment. They understand that your Brand is important and offer several diverse ways to incorporate that Brand into your strength equipment. For more about Power Lift click the link above. Dashr🌎Site: https://www.dashrsystems.com/Dashr is a performance testing company best known for its laser timing, but also integrates with Teambuildr and offers a free Player Profile app used by 6k+ athletes. Beyond timing, they provide a full suite of testing solutions including verticals, broad jumps, RSI, biometrics, reaction, and AMS. For more about Dashr click the link above.PlayerData🌎Site:https://www.playerdata.com/en-usPlayerData is Strength Coach Network’s trusted GPS provider and a FIFA Quality–certified system, used by coaches at every level to quantify training load and understand movement demands. PlayerData delivers reliable, actionable data at a strong value point, with seamless syncing that saves coaches precious time—so the focus stays on coaching, not managing technology. For more about PlayerData click the link above.

The conversation covers current adaptation reserve (CAR), protein synthesis, the sarcoplasmic reticulum, contractile and mitochondrial proteins, supercompensation, and the different cellular responses that occur when developing speed, strength, endurance, and speed endurance.But the practical message is much simpler: cut the noise.More training isn't automatically better training. Justin and Yosef discuss finding the appropriate dose of stress, giving athletes enough time to adapt, resisting the urge to constantly change programs, and understanding why high-intensity methods can't be used all the time.___Learn about CEUs to the NSCA and CSCCa:https://www.strengthcoachnetwork.com/pricing___Buy Supertraining to Read Along with Us - use code STRONGER20 to save 20%https://uaconcepts.com/product/supertraining___CONNECT: 🌎Site: https://strengthcoachnetwork.com/📝Blog: https://strengthcoachnetwork.com/blog/___From our sponsors: Hawkin Dynamics 🌎Site: https://www.hawkindynamics.com/Hawkin Dynamics is the world leader in force plate solutions. Wireless hardware, intuitive software, and powerful analysis make Hawkin Dynamics the best choice for any coach or trainer. Make sure you check them out in the link above.Power Lift🌎Site: https://www.powerliftusa.com/ Power Lift is an industry-leading designer and manufacturer of American-made strength and conditioning equipment. They understand that your Brand is important and offer several diverse ways to incorporate that Brand into your strength equipment. For more about Power Lift click the link above. Dashr🌎Site: https://www.dashrsystems.com/Dashr is a performance testing company best known for its laser timing, but also integrates with Teambuildr and offers a free Player Profile app used by 6k+ athletes. Beyond timing, they provide a full suite of testing solutions including verticals, broad jumps, RSI, biometrics, reaction, and AMS. For more about Dashr click the link above.PlayerData🌎Site:https://www.playerdata.com/en-usPlayerData is Strength Coach Network’s trusted GPS provider and a FIFA Quality–certified system, used by coaches at every level to quantify training load and understand movement demands. PlayerData delivers reliable, actionable data at a strong value point, with seamless syncing that saves coaches precious time—so the focus stays on coaching, not managing technology. For more about PlayerData click the link above.

Chris Martin is the Strength and Conditioning Coach for the Louisiana State University Baseball, where he helped guide the Tigers to the 2025 National Championship in his first season in Baton Rouge.Before joining LSU, Martin spent six seasons with the Houston Astros, serving in multiple roles including Minor League Strength and Conditioning Coordinator and Rehab Strength & Conditioning Coordinator. He oversaw performance training throughout the Astros' minor league system, played a key role in redesigning return-to-play protocols for injured athletes, and helped support the development of numerous future Major League players.A former pitcher at Kent State University, Martin earned both his bachelor's and master's degrees in Exercise Physiology. His background combines high-performance training, player development, and rehabilitation, making him one of the rising strength and conditioning coaches in professional and collegiate baseball.___Learn about CEUs to the NSCA and CSCCa:https://www.strengthcoachnetwork.com/pricing___CONNECT WITH US:🌎Site: https://strengthcoachnetwork.com/From our sponsors:Hawkin Dynamics🌎Site: https://www.hawkindynamics.com/Hawkin Dynamics is the world leader in force plate solutions. Wireless hardware, intuitive software, and powerful analysis make Hawkin Dynamics the best choice for any coach or trainer. Make sure you check them out in the link above.Power Lift🌎Site: https://www.powerliftusa.com/Power Lift is an industry-leading designer and manufacturer of American-made strength and conditioning equipment. They understand that your Brand is important and offer several diverse ways to incorporate that Brand into your strength equipment. For more about Power Lift click the link above.Dashr🌎Site: https://www.dashrsystems.com/Dashr is a performance testing company best known for its laser timing, but also integrates with Teambuildr and offers a free Player Profile app used by 6k+ athletes. Beyond timing, they provide a full suite of testing solutions including verticals, broad jumps, RSI, biometrics, reaction, and AMS. For more about Dashr click the link above.PlayerData🌎Site:https://www.playerdata.com/en-usPlayerData is Strength Coach Network’s trusted GPS provider and a FIFA Quality–certified system, used by coaches at every level to quantify training load and understand movement demands. PlayerData delivers reliable, actionable data at a strong value point, with seamless syncing that saves coaches precious time—so the focus stays on coaching, not managing technology. For more about PlayerData click the link above.

BONUS Cheeky Mid Weeky episode for all the football S&C coaches out there! 🏈Dr. Thomas Stallworth II joins the show to share lessons from more than 20 years in strength and conditioning across HBCUs, Power 5 football, and the NFL.We discuss leadership, culture, mental toughness, psychology, relationships with athletes, sports science, and why strength coaches may be making training more complicated than it needs to be.Coach Stallworth also shares stories from the New York Giants and Atlanta Falcons, Mississippi State's rise to No. 1, developing Chris Jones, and what he's learned about what really matters in coaching.___CONNECT WITH US: 🌎Site: https://strengthcoachnetwork.com/___From our sponsors: Hawkin Dynamics 🌎Site: https://www.hawkindynamics.com/Hawkin Dynamics is the world leader in force plate solutions. Wireless hardware, intuitive software, and powerful analysis make Hawkin Dynamics the best choice for any coach or trainer. Make sure you check them out in the link above.Power Lift🌎Site: https://www.powerliftusa.com/ Power Lift is an industry-leading designer and manufacturer of American-made strength and conditioning equipment. They understand that your Brand is important and offer several diverse ways to incorporate that Brand into your strength equipment. For more about Power Lift click the link above. Dashr🌎Site: https://www.dashrsystems.com/Dashr is a performance testing company best known for its laser timing, but also integrates with Teambuildr and offers a free Player Profile app used by 6k+ athletes. Beyond timing, they provide a full suite of testing solutions including verticals, broad jumps, RSI, biometrics, reaction, and AMS. For more about Dashr click the link above.PlayerData🌎Site:https://www.playerdata.com/en-usPlayerData is Strength Coach Network’s trusted GPS provider and a FIFA Quality–certified system, used by coaches at every level to quantify training load and understand movement demands. PlayerData delivers reliable, actionable data at a strong value point, with seamless syncing that saves coaches precious time—so the focus stays on coaching, not managing technology. For more about PlayerData click the link above.Thorne🌎Site: https://www.thorne.com/Thorne is a global leader in high-quality nutritional supplements and health testing. Trusted by professional sports teams, the U.S. military, and practitioners around the world, Thorne is known for rigorous ingredient sourcing, third-party testing, and science-backed formulations. Whether supporting performance, recovery, or overall health, Thorne provides products coaches and athletes can trust. For more about Thorne click the link above.