Like many new coaches, Movement Lab Co-founder, Stefan Valdes, once copied more experienced coaches when training others—that is, until he entered physical therapy school. Stefan earned his Doctorate in Physical Therapy from the University of Miami, where he built and developed the critical thinking skills crucial to coaching clients and athletes. By integrating his DPT education with his experience working as a performance coach in the NBA for the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Detroit Pistons, Stefan created principles and methods that would later be used to develop Movement Lab’s assessment and training system. Stefan joins me today to share his principles on developing an off-season training program for elite NBA players. He describes how coaches can get buy-in from athletes by making them part of the program design. Stefan reveals the biggest weaknesses he sees from the athletes he works with and underscores the value of prioritizing protective training for professional athletes. He also highlights a coach’s role in building a bridge between athletic staff and players and discusses how coaching in the private sector is different from working with athletic teams.   Meet the athletes where they’re at and let them be part of the program design. Each person is different—come up with a program that’s tailored to them and their needs.- Stefan Valdes   This week on the Physical Preparation Podcast: * Stefan’s career arc and what led him to the world of physical preparation * How going to physical therapy school sharpened Stefan’s critical thinking skills * Stefan’s philosophy on training and athletic development * Getting buy-in from athletes and making them part of program design * Off-season programming and blending speed, strength, and tissue adaptations for success * The difference between protective and performance training * Rebuilding and maintaining tendon health * Building a bridge between the players and athletic staff * Career highlights and how Movement Lab has evolved through the pandemic   Connect with Stefan: * Movement Lab * Movement Lab on Instagram * Movement Lab on Facebook * Stefan Valdes on LinkedIn * Email: [email protected]   Stop the Frustration! Get the Complete Coach Certification Are you a young fitness trainer or coach? Are you frustrated by the results you’re getting or the lack of resources available to learn the skills you need to be successful? Are you struggling to get enough clients or wondering how long you’ll be able to follow your passion for helping others? It’s time to stop the frustration and stop worrying. It’s time to get certified! If you’re serious about improving your results, serious about becoming a better coach, and serious about increasing your bottom line, then you need the Complete Coach Certification. In this massive course, you’ll learn: * How to use the R7 system to create seamless, integrated and efficient programs for clients and athletes of all shapes and sizes * How to create the culture, environment and relationships with everyone you train so you can get the absolute best results * The exact progressions, regressions, and coaching cues I use in the gym – from squatting and deadlifting to pressing and pulling and everything in between * The assessment process I use to determine the best exercises for a client or athlete on...