A show dedicated to all things long-term athlete development.
Learn how to help your athlete get faster, stronger, more explosive, healthier, and prepared for game-day and real-world success.
Join Dr. Zach Guiser as we talk about youth sports, sports physical therapy, sports performance training, strength and conditioning, and everything else around long-term athletic development.
A show dedicated to all things long-term athlete development.
Learn how to help your athlete get faster, stronger, more explosive, healthier, and prepared for game-day and real-world success.
Join Dr. Zach Guiser as we talk about youth sports, sports physical therapy, sports performance training, strength and conditioning, and everything else around long-term athletic development.

In this episode, Zach Guiser and John Tropeano tackle some of the most common physical and mental challenges that athletes face.
First, they dive into a specific arm care routine for volleyball players dealing with "hitter's shoulder," breaking down the key exercises for the rotator cuff, serratus anterior, and low trap. Then, they answer a parent's question about helping a discouraged freshman football player with low playing time, using the story of Jalen Hurts as a prime example of character and being a great teammate.
The conversation shifts to the psychology of performance, discussing how to help an athlete break through self-made barriers by stacking small wins. They also explore the "High Expectation, High Support" coaching model as the key to motivating young people. Finally, they provide strategies for building confidence and assertiveness in a young basketball player who is hesitant on the court.
IN THIS EPISODE:
01:00 - How to Manage Hitter's Shoulder in Volleyball
07:00 - When to Push Through Pain vs. When to Rest an Injury
08:53 - Helping a Discouraged Athlete with Low Playing Time
09:50 - The Jalen Hurts Story: Being the Ultimate Teammate
16:59 - How to Break an Athlete's Self-Made Mental Barriers
20:10 - The "High Expectation, High Support" Coaching Method
23:24 - Using a "Cookie Jar" of Past Wins to Build Confidence
25:55 - How to Help a Young Athlete Who Isn't Aggressive