In March 2008, SPARQ Mag hooked up with Olympic decathlete Bryan Clay to see how he’d compare to some top rated athletes we’ve tested.

Athletes who train and compete to do the decathlon- the 10-sport track & field event that includes 110-meter hurdles, long jump, pole vault, and javelin, among others -are often dubbed the World’s Greatest Athlete. In a recent round of SPARQ Testing, the current world-champion decathlete, Bryan Clay, proved he deserves that lofty title.

U.S. Soccer is on a mission to change the way young players train and compete. More kids are playing on more teams in more competitive tournaments, but U.S. Soccer believes a focus on wins and losses has shifted the focus on youth play away from player development.

Sometimes in sports, you find a concept that’s brilliant in its simplicity: you can’t hit what you can’t see.

Todd Norman continues his series on strength training advice.

When you stop conditioning you become more prone to injury. Rick Scarpulla explains why you must continue to work at speed and strength in order to maintain the gains you have made.

Ladder drills are simple and effective, and extremely easy to modify. One drill can be done in many different ways by simply adding extra steps, adding a ball toss, or by going in a different direction.

In Part 2 of this article, SPARQ Trainer Rick Scarpulla shares tips No. 6 thru No. 10 for becoming faster and more explosive.

To improve core stability, which helps quickness and your ability to change direction!

Tips from USA Softball’s Amanda Freed

Trainer Todd Norman explains the important roles a dynamic warm-up and full range of motion training play in performance enhancement.