Ask the Coach: S&C Q&A Live at the Soldiers to Sidelines Summit

Live from the 2nd Annual Soldiers to Sidelines Coaching Summit, this episode drops you into the Ask the Coach panel: real questions from coaches in the room, answered on the spot by Tex, Nate Palin, and Kat Oswald, moderated by Johannah Zabal.

No script. No pre-written questions. Just four coaches thinking out loud about the stuff that actually comes up in the gym, on the field, and downrange.

What's covered in this episode:

→ When kids should start lifting weights (and why growth plates aren't the real concern)
→ Criteria-driven vs. calendar-driven progression for first-time lifters
→ Resistance bands vs. free weights - does the implement even matter?
→ Splitting training time between sport skill, strength, and endurance
→ Why football is a "maintain" sport in-season, and the rep max model that makes it work
→ Preventing athlete burnout through cognitive recovery and intentional time blocking
→ Creative play as a driver of long-term athletic development
→ How the military tracks athlete health with no off-season - force plates, asymmetry testing, and why attendance is still the most predictive metric there is
→ Mental imagery and visualization - and why it only works if you've earned the reps

If you coach, train, or lead athletes at any level, this is a front-row seat to a conversation you don't usually get to hear.