By Ernie Atkins, CSCS, Head Strength and Conditioning Coach at the Spooner Sports Institute
When people think about strength and conditioning, they usually picture football players, baseball pitchers, or track sprinters. Swimming? It doesn’t always come up in that conversation. And that’s honestly one of the biggest missed opportunities I see at the youth […]
By Austin Kitteringham, CSCS, FAFS, TPI-Certified Trainer
If you play golf, you may not know that your swing is not just about your hands or your clubs. It is about how your whole body moves together. Your hips, core, shoulders, balance, and how well you can rotate all matter.
That is why I built this golf […]
Every year, I help athletes prepare for the NFL Combine and Pro Day leading into the NFL draft. It’s one of the most exciting and challenging training phases because everything is measured, and the margin for error is small. The goal is to train specifically for the tests, keep athletes […]
By: Austin Kitteringham, CSCS, FAFS, Titleist Performance Institute Power 2 Certified professional
Most golfers have felt that shift. The body starts to feel a little tighter; rotation does not come as easily, and swings that felt smooth early in the round takes more effort as fatigue builds. Or maybe, they are beginners that can’t quite […]
By Payson Staats, FIT Trainer
What’s better than training with a pro who knows wrestling, not just from books, but from stepping onto the mat and knowing the work firsthand? Payson Staats wrestled the majority of his life, pushing through tough practices and training. Now, as a Performance and Personal Trainer at Spooner, he combines […]
If you’re trying to juggle school, club, and training, you’re not alone. A lot of athletes feel like they have to pick one or the other. The truth is, you can do all three. You just need a plan. Let’s walk through what that actually looks like, step by step. […]
By: Payson Staats, Spooner Scottsdale Personal Trainer
Starting your fitness journey can feel overwhelming—like there’s a “right” way to do it or a checklist you have to follow. But most of those plans fall apart because they don’t leave room for real life. Building healthy habits doesn’t have to be rigid or intimidating, it can […]
By: Molly Ahlemeier, CSCS and Alix Sigrist, PT, DPT, CSCS, ATC, LAT
Even the greats don’t do it alone. Serena Williams, Michael Jordan, Lionel Messi, and Simone Biles had a team behind them, coaches, strength and conditioning coaches, trainers, and physical therapists who kept them performing at their best in the most […]
Let’s be honest
We’re excited to introduce Ernie, our new Head Sports Performance Coach at the Spooner Sports Institute, to the community. With years of experience training athletes across multiple sports, Ernie brings a deep passion for helping athletes become the best versions of themselves. We sat down with him to learn more about his journey, his approach […]
