Doug Scott is the Head Strength Coach at the Pingry School in New Jersey.  Doug writes a newsletter for the school each month called Strength & Fitness.  Doug explains, to protect your athlete prioritize by starting with the New Core. 

Training programs designed to “work the core” have populated fitness publications for years.  After all movement start from the midsection, right? The exercise industry has prioritized the abdominals, obliques and lower back (the core) above all other body areas.

The fact of the matter is that while the muscles of the midsection are important and need to be trained productively, they should not be your number one priority in training.  Neck & Trap training, the muscles that support the head and neck and attach to the cervical spine (C1) and run through the thoracic spine (T12) should be your top concern.  These are the muscles that help protect the spinal column against catastrophic injury; as well as dissipate force away from the brain to lower concussive impacts.  If you only had 10 minutes to train start with the New Core to Get strong.

Neck and Trap Routine
Neck Flexion
Neck Extension
Right & Left Side Flexion
1– Arm Shrug
2– Arm Shrug
Seated Row
The New and Improved
Core Training