Good Solid Questions For The Coaching Profession

Ralph Cornwell is a Ph.D. candidate in health promotion/human performance at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. Prior to pursuing his Doctoral Degree he was a collegiate strength coach.

1). Why do the majority of schools in the United States do little if any neck strength training?

2). Why do the majority of the schools who train their athletes necks use manual resistance, that is, train this area of the body with their hands?

3). Is it important to move the head quickly in athletics?

4). Why is it important for coaches ‘not to train the neck‘ to improve athletic performance?

5). Does having a smaller neck improve athletic performance?

6). Is strengthening the musculature that surrounds the cervical spine important?

7). If an athlete injures their neck do they use weight training to return to activity?

8). If an athlete injures their neck what strength level is necessary to return to play and how do you know what level to bring their strength to?