The GymAware Best Practices and Article Anthology

Coaches who are investing in GymAware and FLEX have asked SimpliFaster for a complete list of articles that dive into the details of the system. Included here are several blogs and articles that highlight the best ways to apply velocity-based training (VBT) and weight room tracking. We included all of the relevant articles that showcase what is possible with the hardware and cover key concepts that are extremely useful for coaches. We will update this list of articles periodically, so it will include new blog pieces written by coaches and sport science professionals. If the list doesn’t include what you are looking for, feel free to contact us, as we can always answer questions if you need more information.

8 Techniques for Better GymAware Training and Testing Sessions

This article expands on the best ways—eight ways, specifically—to use the GymAware system in a professional or high school setting. The article covers topics like integrating with AMS (athlete management system) solutions, as well as reviewing the simple practices of barbell path and squat depth. If you are a coach, you may find practical ways of using GymAware for Nordic hamstring exercise testing and for one repetition max assessment.

Getting Started with Velocity-Based Training and GymAware

If you are interested in GymAware and want to learn what you need to get started with the system, this article is for you. The blog post expands on all of the necessary steps to implement velocity-based training in a gym setting, including mounting the unit properly. Also included are small details such as understanding what the GymAware Cloud subscription is and how to use the iPad app. Coaches who just purchased the system will find this piece a good primer to get the most out of the product and onboard efficiently.

Finding Money for Your Strength and Conditioning Program

Coaches who are interested in GymAware but are restricted because of budgeting will want to read this blog post immediately. Any high school coach who needs technology funding should review the article and see what is possible when you organize your requirements into a grant or similar. The article is written by a high school strength and conditioning coach and demonstrates several different possibilities with regard to fundraising. Doug Gle is a fan of the GymAware system, and he offers several ways to make budgeting for technology possible.

How to Improve Your Athletes Instantly with Biofeedback

If you want to get the most out of each rep in the weight room, Shane Davenport covers the details of why GymAware is an excellent option for athletes. While the article includes other sports technology options, he explains why barbell speed and other variables are indispensable for his situation. Coaches who want to raise the intensity or accountability in the weight room will love this blog post because it is written by a professional who works with athletes ranging from the middle school to professional levels.

Instilling Practical Sport Science in a Team Setting

College coaches and professional teams are likely interested in the pragmatic benefits of GymAware. Devan McConnell, a professional strength coach for ice hockey, covers how he integrates the GymAware system with his athletes. Coaches who test and train will want to learn how functions like monitoring fatigue and power during the course of a season can be done simply and quickly with the barbell tracking system.

Why Coaches Should Bring Back Weightlifting Tempo Methods

Tempo, or repetition speed, is a popular method of presenting strength training. This article covers the details of strength training tempo and illustrates the value of GymAware for measuring compliance with athletes. If you prescribe tempo or want to know how athletes are performing specific exercise, this blog piece goes into the details of why you may want to use GymAware to add more precision to the method. Any level of athlete can benefit from tempo training, and coaches who want to ensure that athletes are strict will enjoy this article.

What Does the Science Say About VertiMax Training?

Vertimax training is popular with coaches, and this article examines the science behind the training equipment. Included is the available research in detail, along with how to use GymAware to track training. With half the training research using a VBT device, it only makes sense that coaches use the same methods to benchmark changes over time. If you are already a Vertimax user or wish to invest in other systems, such as the kBox, this article balances both the science and practice with flywheel and velocity-based training.

Why the Jerk Lift Is the Crown Jewel in Weightlifting

When coaches think of VBT training, they commonly think of squats and cleans, but the jerk can be monitored with the GymAware. If you are a fan of the Olympic lifts and are curious about the jerk movement scientifically, this article covers the known science and includes videos on how to implement the exercise with athletes. Coaches who have a GymAware can see example case uses for measuring barbell speed and motion with the jerk exercise.

Cluster Training: How to Navigate Through the New Science

Arguably the best use case for velocity-based training, cluster sets are ways to program power training through very precise rest periods with barbell training. This article explains cluster sets in detail, and GymAware has a specific feature in the app to improve the user experience. Coaches looking to maximize VBT must consider cluster sets as a primary option, as the scientific research supports the method and the GymAware enables coaches to monitor the power output of the bar.

Olympic Lifts: The Importance of Peak Velocity and Recommended Guidelines

Bryan Mann, a pioneer in VBT, outlines a case to move away from mean velocity to peak velocity with Olympic lifts. In this blog post, Mann shares the available science and his experience measuring barbell speed with both the snatch and clean. If you are a coach and use the Olympic lifts, this article lists reference values and explains them in detail. In addition to the science, Mann covers important practical considerations for why you should use barbell tracking in your training.

Bryan Mann Responds to Velocity Based Training Round Table

Another resource from Bryan Mann, this interview covers multiple topics related to velocity-based training. In addition to VBT, the interview dives into hormones, jump testing, and even genetics. If you are a fan of Mann, you will love this interview, and if you are not familiar with his work, this article is a great starting place. This roundtable-format interview outlines a few use cases of GymAware, such as estimating one repetition maximum.

Velocity Based Training

Coaches who want to get started with velocity-based training should read the history and practice of this method first. Most articles on VBT don’t include the origins of and changes to the methodology of barbell tracking over the years and reading this blog article is an excellent foundational starting point. Velocity-based training is a term coined by Bryan Mann, but it’s not new or limited to bar speed. If you are interested in going beyond barbell speed and want to know where the technology is heading, this post is a great reference.

Review of GymAware Velocity Based Training

If you want to hear another coach’s experience with the GymAware system, this blog post is a perfect read. Drew Cooper, a sports performance coach, highlights the features and benefits of using velocity-based training methods and the benefits of GymAware. If you are new to VBT or want to get the most out of the training option, Drew’s article is an excellent read. Included are different methods and features of the product and some timeless ways to use barbell tracking smarter with training.

Top 10 Power Measurement Tools in Strength and Conditioning

In this older but still relevant article, Carl Valle outlines how technology is changing the game with weight room training. Some of the companies are no longer in business and some are still viable, but GymAware is still a leader in VBT. In addition to the list of companies that have helped shape velocity-based training, the article covers the importance of knowing how the hardware works so coaches can make better informed decisions on what to invest in.

How to Use Barbell Trajectory Analysis to Improve Performance

Barbell path is the tracing of the motion of the exercise, and it is an instrumental part of training and testing. How the bar moves in time and space is a major benefit of the GymAware system, and this article explains the details of barbell tracking. If you want to get more out of your GymAware system, and you work with intermediate to advanced level athletes, this blog post is a perfect resource for understanding the value of bar path tracking.

Why Bar Displacement Is a Hidden Gem in the Weight Room

Similar to the barbell path article listed immediately before this, this blog post covers the very simple benefits of knowing the precise distance of the exercise movement. Barbell distance is now a metric used for monitoring work in the weight room, and this article precedes the research and explains why using GymAware for barbell distance is great for teaching young athletes and monitoring the weight room.

This anthology was last updated on September 25, 2019.

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