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Episode Summary:
Cody Hughes joins Justin on Rapid Fire to talk about his next chapter—building one of the most innovative performance facilities in the country from the ground up. From training 10-year-olds to 10-year NFL vets, Cody breaks down how foundational principles never change, regardless of level. We dive into youth development, parent education, tech integration and training philosophy.
Key Takeaways:
- Youth Training Principles: Coordination over output. Layer in motor control, skipping, games and fundamental movement patterns.
- Common Mistakes: Overloading young athletes too early. Lack of recovery. Too much organized sport, not enough play.
- Tech at Farm & Forge: Vitruve VBT, Keiser, 1080 Sprint, Hawkin Dynamics, Z-Tread, FiyrPod GPS & Rock Daisy AMS.
- Private Sector Potential: Opportunity to build deeper athlete relationships over time, track long-term development and prioritize longevity in pros.
Notable Quotes:
- “The way we train some of our 10-year-olds and a 10-year NFL vet looks very similar.”
- “Specificity is about knowing when to apply stimulus, not doing something that just looks sport-specific.”
- “You don’t see results if you don’t recover—training adaptation doesn’t happen in the session, it happens after.”
- “Parents want advanced too early. But if your training age is low, you shouldn’t skip the foundational work.”
- “Your facility might be five-star, but if the steak is bad, nobody’s coming back. The product matters.”
Timestamps:
00:00 – Intro & Pacers fandom
01:30 – Cody’s move to Nashville and Farm & Forge Club
03:20 – Non-negotiables in youth development
06:00 – Common training mistakes for kids
09:00 – Navigating tough conversations with parents
11:00 – The myth of advanced training for youth
13:00 – Full tech breakdown at the new facility
18:30 – Assessment process & AMS integration
22:00 – Training youth vs. pros: principles & adjustments
27:00 – Why training a 10-year-old is more like training an NFL vet than you’d think
29:00 – Where to find Cody & facility updates
Connect with Cody Hughes:
- Instagram / Twitter: @CLH_strength
- Website: clhstrength.com
- Facility: @thefarmandforgeclub