Articles & Resources

Olympic Lifts and Triple Extension by Sam Reffsin

Posted by Boston Sports Medicine and Performance Group on Nov 26, 2011 7:41:00 AM

 

 

by Sam Reffsin CSCS, USAW

 


Although there are many attributing factors to the mastering of an Olympic Lift, the main focus of this article centers on the Triple Extension factor.

As strength and conditioning coaches, we strive to address the main objective with Olympic movements and to teach our athletes how to achieve triple extension (ankles, knees and hips).  We cannot let our athletes develop poor extension or to acquire flawed habits when working with the Olympic lifts. For example, while we should all encourage our athletes to “move the bar fast” when performing these movements, we can’t fall into the trap of being distracted by the bar speed and ignoring any extension.

Over the course of the past few months I have taken a new approach in my progressions and have taught my athletes the proper way to execute these complex lifts by exercising a stronger emphasis on the “scoop” technique. 

The following videos should provide an accurate depiction of the correct and incorrect Olympic lift movements.

Video of Zero Extension

I am clearly achieving zero extension at the ankles, knees and hips.  I am developing poor motor patterns in this video.  When I see an athlete doing this I ask them if this is how they jump or tackle in a game and I make sure they understand the importance of triple extension in order to get that carry over effect during competition. 

I put together a progression that has worked with my athletes.  I’ll leave the amount of time in each phase up to your coaching judgments.

Phase One
Once your athlete is proficient in the conventional deadlift, he/she will be prepared to learn the power shrug. 

Power Shrug Video

You’ll notice once I clear my knees in my “first pull”, I violently extend my hips by banging the bar off my mid thighs.  This is called “the scoop”.  If there is one idea I would like you to take away from this article, it’s understanding how vital the scoop is during Olympic movements.  I believe a violent scoop is the only true way to achieve consistent extension at the hips.  Athletes understand how to extend their ankles and knees quick enough, but without teaching a proper scoop, it is hard to expect them to fully extend their hips through every Olympic movement.   Initially, athletes will slow down right when the bar comes in contact with their mid thighs because they are timid of the pain, and it might hurt at first but they will get used to it and eventually scoop hard and violently.  At the peak of the scoop, I encourage my athletes to squeeze their glutes together as if they were holding a coin between their cheeks for a split second.  I also teach my athletes to keep their toes in contact with the ground at all times for the simple reason that once you leave the ground, you lose the ability to generate force.  Once my athletes have mastered the scoop on the power shrug I then move them onto a power high pull.

Phase Two

Power High Pull Video

Good hard scoop and then pull up.  Once they master the power high pull, I then get into power snatch progressions.  I choose power snatch instead of power clean because you must emphasize the scoop for the power snatch more so than a power clean.  Don’t get me wrong, you can scoop hard and have a beautiful power clean, but I think athletes tend to cheat the power clean more so than the power snatch. 

Phase Three

I’ll bring them back to basics on a power shrug using a snatch grip.  This will get them familiar with the wider grip.

Power Shrug Snatch Grip Video

Phase Four

Once they get some experience with that snatch grip I will then bring them into a power snatch.  At first it will look and feel awkward, which is why I use lighter weight with them for the first 3-5 weeks to ensure safety, but if they still apply that violent scoop than they should get right into it with ease. 

Power Snatch Video

I cannot stress enough how important it is to master the scoop while training athletes in the art of Olympic Lifts.  Without a hard and violent scoop, the athlete will never be able to generate the maximal force they are capable of.

If anyone has any further thoughts, or a more successful way of getting triple extension, please do not hesitate to contact me via e-mail at sreffsin@gmail.com.

Sam is currently the Men’s Basketball and Women’s Softball Strength & Conditioning Coach at Webber International University located in Babson Park, FL.  He can be reached at sreffsin@gmail.com.

Topics: Strength Training, Guest Author

Ready for Blast Off - An Interview with Jennifer Jones

Posted by Boston Sports Medicine and Performance Group on Nov 14, 2011 7:41:00 AM

 

 

Click HERE to read this article originally published in Training & Conditioning featuring BSMPG advisory board member and  Strength Coach for the 2011 NCAA Women's Basketball National Champions.

Topics: Strength Training, Strength & Conditioning, Jennifer Jones

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Posted by Boston Sports Medicine and Performance Group on Oct 22, 2011 6:27:00 PM

 

 

Click HERE to read this article by Jay DeMayo, Strength Coach for the Richmond Spiders.

 

 

 

Topics: Strength Training, Jay DeMayo, Vertical Jump Training

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Posted by Boston Sports Medicine and Performance Group on Sep 10, 2011 7:11:00 AM

 

Coach McCormick really knocks this one out of the park!

Read his article by clicking HERE.

Topics: Brian McCormick, Strength Training

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Posted by Boston Sports Medicine and Performance Group on Sep 3, 2011 7:20:00 AM

 

Click HERE to read Jay's article.

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Posted by Boston Sports Medicine and Performance Group on Jul 30, 2011 9:16:00 AM

 

Click HERE to read this article by Jay DeMayo, Strength and Conditioning Coach at the University of Richmond.

Topics: Strength Training, Jay DeMayo

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Posted by Boston Sports Medicine and Performance Group on May 15, 2011 7:06:00 AM

I know Eric Cressey is known as "the baseball guy" but in his latest article outlining his top 5 single leg exercises he demonstrates 5 strength training exercises that are sure to take your basketball training this summer to another level.

Click HERE to read Eric's article.

 

 

Topics: Strength Training, Guest Author

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Posted by Boston Sports Medicine and Performance Group on Apr 24, 2011 8:41:00 AM

 

Click HERE to read this article by Jay DeMayo, University of Richmond Strength and Conditioning Coach.

Topics: Strength Training, Jay DeMayo

DeMatha Basketball 1st Off-Season Strength Workout

Posted by Boston Sports Medicine and Performance Group on Apr 23, 2011 2:41:00 PM

 

The Off-season is upon us! Watch DeMatha Basketball 1st Off-season strength workout.

Click HERE to view this video.

Topics: Strength Training, Alan Stein

Real World Strong: The Press by Jay DeMayo

Posted by Boston Sports Medicine and Performance Group on Apr 16, 2011 8:38:00 AM

 

Click HERE to view Jay DeMayo's artice, REAL WORLD STRONG: THE PRESS.

Topics: Strength Training, Jay DeMayo