Handicapping the Perform Better Summit in Chicago
Handicapping the Perform Better Summit in Chicago
On June 24-26 the second installment of the best in education for strength and conditioning, rehab and fitness professionals resumes. As I say every time, if you don’t get to one of these seminars every year you are making a huge mistake. The biggest complaint from attendees at a Perform Better Summit is that with four sessions going on at one time it is tough to decide who to see. It’s so tough that some people are buying the Perform Better Seminar Pass http://www.performbetter.com/catalog/matriarch/OnePiecePage.asp_Q_PageID_E_385_A_PageName_E_PBSeminarPass
and attending two Summits. It’s always tough for me too but, just like you I have to choose. You can download the schedule first
so you can follow along. Here are my recommendations on a session-by session basis:
Note- I will almost always choose lectures over hands-on. I’m here to learn, not to get exercise. I may go to a hands-on but, not to get a workout. Save your workout for another day and get some knowledge to help your clients and athletes
Friday June 24rd
9:15- Mark Verstegen on Barefoot Training or Michol Dalcourt? I think Michol is a great speaker and one of the guys here who might be a little under the radar. You also have two great hands-on sessions with Martin Rooney and Jason Brown but, my guess is standing room only for Mark. If you aren’t interested in barefoot training go see Michol.
10:45- My hands on will be dealing with updates on all our warm-up progressions ( we’ve developed some great FMS based stuff) as well as our strength progressions. I think it will a great hands-on learning experience. Just FYI the hands-on and the lecture are totally different. You two three other great talks to pick from and Brian Grasso’s hands-on..
1:00- After lunch you are simply going to have to pick based on your interest. Mark Verstegen is a personal favorite of mine. I enjoy watching him talk but, it is always tough to skip a Gray Cook talk. If you work with athletes you have to get to Al Vermeil’s talk. Al is a living legend. One thing you can count on is that the best coaches at the seminar will be in Al’s.
2:30- I have to admit, I hope I get a big crowd for my lecture but based on the competition I’m not sure. I think My Success Secrets talk might be the most valuable one I’ve ever given. I’m going to be honest. If you haven’t heard it come. It will make you better at your job. If you want something else, Brian Grasso lectures and Lee Burton and Michol Dalcourt have hands-on.
4:00- This is the first toss up. As I said, I prefer lectures and think both Lee and Martin’s will be good. Gray is always good. Once again you have another chance to see Al Vermeil. I’ll be at both of Al’s.
5:30- The great Thomas Plummer runs unopposed as usual. Do not head to the bar early. The beer is free after. Thomas always makes me think. I’ll be there.
Saturday June 25th
8:00- Thomas Myers is just an interesting speaker. His talk last year was one of the best attended. In addition Chris Poirier has scheduled two hands–on sessions that I know will be popular. John Brookfield doing ropes and Jason Brown doing kettlebells. This might split the crowd up a bit. I think John Graham has the toughest draw of the weekend.
9:45- 11- Toughest choice yet. Two great lectures and two great hands-ons. For the first time ever Alwyn Cosgrove might not be my top choice. I’d probably opt for one of the two lectures. Todd Wright and Darcy Norman are to of may favorite guys. Talk about a tough pick?
11-12:15- Another tough one. As I mentioned before, Thomas Myers had the highest attendance of any lecture last year that I saw. I saw Brett Jones this year at the Austin One Day and really liked his talk. I also think Todd Wright is one of the best hands-on guys I know. John Graham is a great coach so I’m sure his hands-on will be excellent also.
1:15-2:30- This is a tough choice but, if you have not seen Todd Durkin’s Impact talk go. He is an outstanding motivator. Todd is a guy who “walks the talk”. Very motivational. You also can’t lose with any of the other three. Dos is just a great guy, funny and smart. If you are a science geek, go see Thomas Myers. Interested in kettlebells? See Brett. Saturday might be some of the toughest choices in Summit history.
2:45-4 – Alwyn Cosgrove is both smart and funny. You can never lose seeing him. If you want nutrition info, see John Berardi. John is one of my go-to guys for nutrition info. If you want to get a workout, see Todd. Interested in rehab? See Darcy. Too many choices and I don’t think I am being much help.
4:35- Q+A. Get your questions answered at the end of the day, great opportunity.
Sunday June 26th
8- Sunday is a pretty good day. The same six guys fill three time slots. I don’t know John Perry so I can’t really give an opinion. Eric Beard killed it in Providence by all accounts. Robb Rogers is just plain funny. Great start to a great day.
9:30-10:45- This is without a doubt another difficult time slot. I am going to say hit the lectures. I love listening to Greg Rose and, Charlie Weingroff will be a household name in our industry in a few short years.
11- 12:45- The weekend ends the way it began with tough choices. As I said, people raved about Eric’s lecture and you again have Greg and Charlie doing hands-on. I think Chuck Wolf gets the toughest draw of the weekend with this Sunday group.
Truth is, I can see why a few attendees come more than once. By coming three times I might see everything I want. You will not be so lucky. Hope my recommendations help.
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