🎧 Building Youth Super Athletes With Mark McLaughlin
You’re in for another illuminating week on the BluePrint.
Today, get ready to shift your mindset about developing young athletes. Mark McLaughlin, founder of Performance Training Center, distills nearly 20 years of expertise training Olympians to middle schoolers’ into simple but powerful tactics. This conversation tackles the keys to long-term athletic development that most coaches miss.
If you want to build muscle without wasting time or risking injury in the gym tune into Wednesday’s episode. I breakdown the science of how to optimize your workout technique to maximize strength and hypertrophy (muscle) gains.
And, Friday, retired Navy SEAL Commander, Mark Divine, discusses the pivotal experiences that forged his mental resilience. In this revealing conversation, Mark traces his journey from nature child to warrior monk. He discusses how solo wilderness adventures built grit and self-reliance from a young age, and how a martial arts grandmaster awakened his intuition to leave Wall Street and answer the warrior’s call — all this and more coming up this week on The BluePrint.
Get ready to shift your mindset on developing young athletes. Mark McLaughlin, founder of Performance Training Center, distills over 19 years of expertise training Olympians to middle schoolers into simple but powerful tactics. This conversation tackles the keys to long-term athletic development that most coaches miss.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
Why unstructured free play before puberty builds capacity and durability.
When to introduce formal movement training for squatting, hip hinging.
How to dose age-appropriate intensity before growth plates close.
The #1 easiest physical quality to progress in adolescence.
Bodyweight “contrast” leg circuits to prepare joints and tendons.
Why calf strength sets the foundation for more power.
How to structure reactive, high-velocity training with limited space.
Mark has trained more than 700 competitors — from NFL stars to enthusiastic beginners — to unlock their potential while staying healthy. This guide to nurturing lifelong athleticism, without burnout, is packed with insights that get results.
You can learn more about Mark McLaughlin or work with him at the Performance Training Center. And, connect with Mark on Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn.
Want to build muscle without wasting time or risking injury in the gym? In this episode, I break down the science on how to optimize your workout technique to maximize strength and hypertrophy (muscle) gains.
I discuss the latest research on four often-overlooked technique factors: repetition tempo, range of motion, exercise mechanics, and strict vs momentum reps. You’ll discover new tempo guidelines to follow, insights on partial range training, when to ditch ego lifting, and more.
In this episode you’ll learn:
A reasonable tempo for all exercises to safely stimulate growth.
Why partial reps on a stretched muscle can boost results.
How to tweak exercises to best target muscles and joints.
The downsides of using momentum instead of strict form.
My #1 rule for safe, effective technique.
Whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned lifter, this episode will help refine your training approach. Apply these technique optimizations to build more muscle in less time while preventing painful injuries.
Please connect with me on Instagram, LinkedIn, X or YouTube. Try AIM7 for FREE and then the first month for only $1 using the code: BLUEPRINT at checkout. And, please share my Adaptation newsletter with friends and family who would benefit from science-backed wellness tips to enhance mind, body, and recovery. Tailored for the busy. Effective for all. Dive in – it's delivered to inboxes free each Friday.
What were the pivotal experiences that forged retired Navy SEAL Commander Mark Divine’s mental resilience? In this revealing conversation, Mark traces his journey from nature child to warrior monk.
He recalls how solo wilderness adventures built grit and self-reliance from a young age. Learn how a swim coach introduced him to the power of visualization, and how a martial arts grandmaster awakened Mark’s intuition to leave Wall Street and answer the warrior’s call.
This rare glimpse into Mark’s formative journey shows how our mission in life can change, if we are introspective.
You can learn more about Mark at unbeatableteam.com, unbeatablecoaching.com and live the Sealfit life. Listen to Mark's podcast, and connect with him on Instagram, Facebook and YouTube.
Yours in Wellness,
