Happy Monday! Here are a few thoughts bouncing around in my head after a week of reading, podcasts and other continuing ed. Enjoy!

1. One thing I have been thinking about more and more is the value of bench pressing and wonder if it is something that most athletes need to be doing. Yes, we can move more weight when we bench press then we can when we are performing dumbbell pressing variations or push ups, but I also think we check more boxes with dumbbell pressing variations or push ups. The straight bar locks us in one plane – dumbbells allow our shoulders to work through a natural range of motion. 1DB Bench adds a huge core/shoulder stability component to the movement that we don’t get with the straight bar. Alternating DB bench also has a large core/shoulder stability component to it. Eric Cressey has written a lot about the benefits of loaded push ups. Seems like other movements check a few more boxes then benching with the straight bar.
2. I find it funny that some coaches scoff at the idea of other coaches putting themselves out there on social media. It is without a doubt the best way for coaches to show the world what they are doing, share their thoughts with other coaches, and help develop the field. It is a great way to connect with other coaches and build relationships with coaches you would otherwise never get to know. I have learned so much from people I never would have known existed if it wasn’t from social media and been able to tweak what I do based on their thoughts. Also – its funny that these same coaches that complain about social media and don’t put out any content are online consuming everyone else’s content as a means of continuing education – can’t have it both ways.
3. Though this time of the year is much slower in the weight room, its fun because I get more time to catch up on some reading, listen to a few more podcasts, and its seminar/conference season. It seems like every weekend there is a conference somewhere with great speakers sharing their thoughts. My Twitter feed is full of quotes from speakers in real time by attendees of the conference. Its great – I obviously can’t get to every single conference but I still get a few takeaways thanks to the people in attendance. Its a fun time of the year where a lot of learning takes place.