29 Years in Power Four Athletic Performance & Sport Science | MSCC, CSCS | Thyroid Cancer Survivor | Coach | Founder, MVP Coaching & Consulting
Michigan, USA
Joined December 2013
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๐ฌ๐ผ๐ ๐๐ผ๐ปโ๐ ๐ก๐ฒ๐ฒ๐ฑ ๐๐ป๐ผ๐๐ต๐ฒ๐ฟ ๐๐ถ๐ฒ๐
If youโve been dealing with thyroid disease, thereโs a good chance youโve already tried changing the way you eat.
Maybe you cut carbs.
Maybe you went gluten-free.
Maybe you tried intermittent fasting.
Maybe you tracked every calorie.
Maybe you eliminated entire food groups.
Maybe some of it helped for a while.
Maybe none of it did.
But for a lot of people, the problem isnโt that they need another diet.
๐ง๐ต๐ฒ๐ ๐ป๐ฒ๐ฒ๐ฑ ๐ฎ ๐ฏ๐ฒ๐๐๐ฒ๐ฟ ๐๐๐๐๐ฒ๐บ.
One that considers training, nutrition, sleep, recovery, stress, medical care, and consistency together.
And just as important, one that allows for small victories along the way.
You donโt have to overhaul your entire life on Monday.
You donโt need to change your diet, double your workouts, fix your sleep, eliminate every food you enjoy, and somehow reduce all your stress at the same time.
That can become overwhelming very quickly.
Sometimes progress starts with one or two changes you can actually sustain.
Then another.
Then another.
๐ฆ๐บ๐ฎ๐น๐น ๐๐ถ๐ฐ๐๐ผ๐ฟ๐ถ๐ฒ๐ ๐ฏ๐๐ถ๐น๐ฑ ๐บ๐ผ๐บ๐ฒ๐ป๐๐๐บ.
And momentum makes the bigger changes much more achievable.
For someone dealing with thyroid disease, rebuilding health doesnโt have to mean diving in headfirst and trying to fix everything at once.
It can mean establishing a few wins.
Building confidence.
Creating consistency.
Then moving forward from there.
Thatโs a big part of how I think about the MVP Rebuild System:
๐ฆ๐๐ฎ๐ฏ๐ถ๐น๐ถ๐๐ฒ โ ๐๐๐ถ๐น๐ฑ โ ๐ข๐ฝ๐๐ถ๐บ๐ถ๐๐ฒ.
The goal isnโt to find the perfect diet.
๐ง๐ต๐ฒ ๐ด๐ผ๐ฎ๐น ๐ถ๐ ๐๐ผ ๐ฏ๐๐ถ๐น๐ฑ ๐ฎ๐ป ๐ฎ๐ฝ๐ฝ๐ฟ๐ผ๐ฎ๐ฐ๐ต ๐๐ผ๐ ๐ฐ๐ฎ๐ป ๐ฎ๐ฐ๐๐๐ฎ๐น๐น๐ ๐น๐ถ๐๐ฒ ๐๐ถ๐๐ต.
mikevorkapich.com
#BeyondTheDiagnosis #MVPRebuildSystem #ThyroidHealth #BecomingYouAgain
One piece of the ASU hockey discussion that shouldnโt get lost is this:
๐ง๐ฅ๐๐ก๐ฆ๐๐ง๐๐ข๐ก ๐ฃ๐๐ฅ๐๐ข๐๐ฆ ๐ ๐๐ง๐ง๐๐ฅ.
The joint CSCCa/NSCA consensus guidelines identify transition periods as higher-risk and recommend reduced training demands when athletes return from time away, detraining, travel or other periods of reduced activity.
But educating strength coaches and athletic trainers isnโt enough.
๐ฆ๐ฝ๐ผ๐ฟ๐ ๐ฐ๐ผ๐ฎ๐ฐ๐ต๐ฒ๐ ๐ฎ๐น๐๐ผ ๐ป๐ฒ๐ฒ๐ฑ ๐๐ผ ๐๐ป๐ฑ๐ฒ๐ฟ๐๐๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐ฏ๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ฐ ๐ด๐๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ฑ๐ฟ๐ฎ๐ถ๐น๐ ๐๐ต๐ฎ๐ ๐ฐ๐ฒ๐ฟ๐๐ถ๐ณ๐ถ๐ฒ๐ฑ ๐ฆ&๐ ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ ๐ฎ๐๐ต๐น๐ฒ๐๐ถ๐ฐ ๐๐ฟ๐ฎ๐ถ๐ป๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐ฝ๐ฟ๐ผ๐ณ๐ฒ๐๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป๐ฎ๐น๐ ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ฒ ๐ฒ๐
๐ฝ๐ฒ๐ฐ๐๐ฒ๐ฑ ๐๐ผ ๐ณ๐ผ๐น๐น๐ผ๐.
They donโt need to become exercise scientists or athletic trainers. But they should understand the bare minimum well enough to know why transition periods matter, why workload progression matters, and why certain limits exist.
โThose guidelines are for the strength staffโ is not a sufficient mindset if the sport coach can influence or initiate physical training.
๐๐ผ๐ผ๐ฑ ๐๐๐๐๐ฒ๐บ๐ ๐ฑ๐ผ๐ปโ๐ ๐ท๐๐๐ ๐ฒ๐ฑ๐๐ฐ๐ฎ๐๐ฒ ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐ฝ๐ฟ๐ผ๐ณ๐ฒ๐๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป๐ฎ๐น๐ ๐๐ต๐ผ ๐ต๐ฎ๐๐ฒ ๐๐ผ ๐ณ๐ผ๐น๐น๐ผ๐ ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐ด๐๐ถ๐ฑ๐ฒ๐น๐ถ๐ป๐ฒ๐.
๐ง๐ต๐ฒ๐ ๐ฎ๐น๐๐ผ ๐ป๐ฒ๐ฒ๐ฑ ๐๐ผ ๐ฒ๐ฑ๐๐ฐ๐ฎ๐๐ฒ ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐ฝ๐ฒ๐ผ๐ฝ๐น๐ฒ ๐๐ต๐ผ ๐ต๐ฎ๐๐ฒ ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐ฝ๐ผ๐๐ฒ๐ฟ ๐๐ผ ๐ถ๐ด๐ป๐ผ๐ฟ๐ฒ ๐๐ต๐ฒ๐บ.
@CSCCa @NSCA @NACDA
Iโve been following the Arizona State hockey situation closely.
The more Iโve read, the more I keep coming back to two questions:
๐๐ผ๐ ๐๐ฎ๐ ๐๐ต๐ถ๐ ๐๐ผ๐ฟ๐ธ๐ผ๐๐ ๐ฎ๐น๐น๐ผ๐๐ฒ๐ฑ ๐๐ผ ๐๐ฎ๐ธ๐ฒ ๐ฝ๐น๐ฎ๐ฐ๐ฒ?
๐๐ป๐ฑ ๐๐ต๐ผ ๐ต๐ฎ๐ฑ ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐ฎ๐๐๐ต๐ผ๐ฟ๐ถ๐๐ ๐๐ผ ๐๐ฎ๐ ๐ป๐ผ?
I am not commenting on the medical care Matthew Mayich did or did not receive after he collapsed. My questions are about the structure and decisions that preceded the workout.
Athlete readiness matters too: sleep, hydration, nutrition, alcohol, supplements, recovery, acclimatization and honest communication should all factor into workload decisions.
ASUโs preliminary review says the hockey staff received permission for an outside consultant to participate, but the training plan was not submitted to ASUโs Strength & Conditioning staff for review beforehand.
That distinction is critical.
The issue is not simply whether an outside consultant was approved. It is whether the actual physical training being prescribed was reviewed by the qualified professionals responsible for physical preparation and athlete readiness.
๐๐ฝ๐ฝ๐ฟ๐ผ๐๐ฎ๐น ๐ผ๐ณ ๐ฎ ๐ฝ๐ฒ๐ฟ๐๐ผ๐ป ๐ถ๐ ๐ป๐ผ๐ ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐๐ฎ๐บ๐ฒ ๐ฎ๐ ๐ฝ๐ฟ๐ผ๐ณ๐ฒ๐๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป๐ฎ๐น ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐๐ถ๐ฒ๐ ๐ผ๐ณ ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐๐ฟ๐ฎ๐ถ๐ป๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐ฝ๐น๐ฎ๐ป.
The NSCA and CSCCa have transition-period guidelines addressing volume, intensity, work-to-rest ratios, environmental conditions, emergency planning and credentialed S&C professionals.
But:
๐ฃ๐ฟ๐ผ๐ณ๐ฒ๐๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป๐ฎ๐น ๐ด๐๐ถ๐ฑ๐ฒ๐น๐ถ๐ป๐ฒ๐ ๐ฑ๐ผ ๐ป๐ผ๐ ๐ฎ๐๐๐ผ๐บ๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ฐ๐ฎ๐น๐น๐ ๐ฐ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ฎ๐๐ฒ ๐ถ๐ป๐๐๐ถ๐๐๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป๐ฎ๐น ๐ฎ๐๐๐ต๐ผ๐ฟ๐ถ๐๐.
Those guidelines cannot prevent a sport coach from bypassing or overruling a performance professional unless the institution gives that professional meaningful authority.
I spent nearly three decades in collegiate Strength & Conditioning, Athletic Performance and Sport Science. Sometimes the job requires telling a sport coach:
No. We are not doing that today.
That athlete is not participating.
That workload needs to change.
๐ง๐ต๐ฎ๐ ๐ถ๐ ๐ป๐ผ๐ ๐ถ๐ป๐๐๐ฏ๐ผ๐ฟ๐ฑ๐ถ๐ป๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป. ๐๐ ๐ถ๐ ๐ฝ๐ฟ๐ผ๐ณ๐ฒ๐๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป๐ฎ๐น ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐๐ฝ๐ผ๐ป๐๐ถ๐ฏ๐ถ๐น๐ถ๐๐.
Matt Tenan & Bob Alejo argue for transdisciplinary collaboration. That philosophy should extend to leadership and hiring.
Searches should consider qualified leaders from Sports Medicine, S&C/Athletic Performance, Sport Science, Nutrition, Psychology, rehabilitation and other performance disciplines.
Whoever is selected should be treated as a senior-level administrator โ with real authority, direct access to senior athletic leadership and institutional support when professional standards conflict with a coachโs wishes.
๐ง๐ต๐ถ๐ ๐ฐ๐ฎ๐ป๐ป๐ผ๐ ๐ฏ๐ฒ ๐ฎ ๐๐ถ๐๐น๐ฒ ๐๐ถ๐๐ต๐ผ๐๐ ๐ฎ๐๐๐ต๐ผ๐ฟ๐ถ๐๐.
Who had authority over physical preparation?
Who could modify or stop the workout?
Would administration have supported that professional over the Head Coach?
๐ฅ๐ฒ๐๐ฝ๐ผ๐ป๐๐ถ๐ฏ๐ถ๐น๐ถ๐๐ ๐๐ถ๐๐ต๐ผ๐๐ ๐ฎ๐๐๐ต๐ผ๐ฟ๐ถ๐๐ ๐ถ๐ ๐ป๐ผ๐ ๐ฎ๐๐ต๐น๐ฒ๐๐ฒ ๐ฝ๐ฟ๐ผ๐๐ฒ๐ฐ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป.
NSCA/CSCCa:
nsca.com/media-room/press-reโฆ
Joint Consensus:
ovid.com/10.1519/SSC.0000000โฆ
Tenan & Alejo:
DOI 10.4085/1062-6050-0580.23
@FriedgeHNIC
@MikeMcMahonCHN
@KatieJStrang
@CSCCa
@NSCA
@NACDA
ESPNโs โSabanโ documentary brought back memories of my early years at Michigan Stateโand of Dr. Lonny Rosen, a pioneer in โsport psychiatryโ (yes, psychiatry) and one of the most influential resources in my coaching career.
Dr. Rosen helped Coach Saban shape โThe Processโ: focus on your responsibility, execute the play in front of you, and reset for the next one. Those lessons extend far beyond football.
The photo shows our 1996 MSU football staff with Coach Saban, when I served on the strength and conditioning staff. Thirty years later, Iโm grateful to see Dr. Rosen recognized for his lasting impact on student-athletes, coaches, and my own career. He quietly went about his work on our East Lansing campus, while his influence reached far beyond Michigan Stateโoften without people realizing it. Thank you, Dr. Rosen!
I want to come back to the Arizona State hockey situation and something from my original post about ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐๐ฝ๐ผ๐ป๐๐ถ๐ฏ๐ถ๐น๐ถ๐๐ ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ ๐ฎ๐๐๐ต๐ผ๐ฟ๐ถ๐๐:
๐ฐ๐ต๐ฒ๐ฐ๐ธ๐ ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ ๐ฏ๐ฎ๐น๐ฎ๐ป๐ฐ๐ฒ๐.
A good reporting structure should do more than show who reports to whom. It should create independent voices and real authority when someone needs to say no.
In many athletic departments, a sport administrator may technically oversee a program without having much real authority over the head coach.
That matters.
And if senior administrators are going to oversee an integrated performance structure, those roles should be filled by people with the experience and judgment to lead across those disciplines.
๐ง๐ต๐ฒ ๐๐๐๐๐ฒ๐บ ๐๐ต๐ผ๐๐น๐ฑ ๐ฏ๐ฒ ๐๐๐ฟ๐ผ๐ป๐ด๐ฒ๐ฟ ๐๐ต๐ฎ๐ป ๐ฎ๐ป๐ ๐ผ๐ป๐ฒ ๐ฝ๐ฒ๐ฟ๐๐ผ๐ปโ๐ ๐ฎ๐๐๐ต๐ผ๐ฟ๐ถ๐๐.
Maybe the better question isnโt just, โWho was responsible?โ
Itโs:
๐ช๐ต๐ผ ๐๐ฎ๐ ๐ฒ๐บ๐ฝ๐ผ๐๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ฑ ๐๐ผ ๐ฝ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐๐ฒ๐ป๐ ๐ถ๐?
๐ง๐ต๐ฎ๐โ๐ ๐๐ต๐ฎ๐ ๐ฐ๐ต๐ฒ๐ฐ๐ธ๐ ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ ๐ฏ๐ฎ๐น๐ฎ๐ป๐ฐ๐ฒ๐ ๐๐ต๐ผ๐๐น๐ฑ ๐ฝ๐ฟ๐ผ๐๐ถ๐ฑ๐ฒ: ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ฎ๐น ๐ฎ๐๐๐ต๐ผ๐ฟ๐ถ๐๐ ๐๐ต๐ฒ๐ป ๐๐ผ๐บ๐ฒ๐ผ๐ป๐ฒ ๐ป๐ฒ๐ฒ๐ฑ๐ ๐๐ผ ๐๐ฎ๐ ๐ป๐ผ.
๐ฅ๐ฒ๐๐ฝ๐ผ๐ป๐๐ถ๐ฏ๐ถ๐น๐ถ๐๐ ๐๐ถ๐๐ต๐ผ๐๐ ๐ฎ๐๐๐ต๐ผ๐ฟ๐ถ๐๐ ๐ถ๐ ๐ป๐ผ๐ ๐ฎ๐๐ต๐น๐ฒ๐๐ฒ ๐ฝ๐ฟ๐ผ๐๐ฒ๐ฐ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป.
@NACDA
@CSCCa
@NSCA
@TurnkeyZRG
Iโve been following the Arizona State hockey situation closely.
The more Iโve read, the more I keep coming back to two questions:
๐๐ผ๐ ๐๐ฎ๐ ๐๐ต๐ถ๐ ๐๐ผ๐ฟ๐ธ๐ผ๐๐ ๐ฎ๐น๐น๐ผ๐๐ฒ๐ฑ ๐๐ผ ๐๐ฎ๐ธ๐ฒ ๐ฝ๐น๐ฎ๐ฐ๐ฒ?
๐๐ป๐ฑ ๐๐ต๐ผ ๐ต๐ฎ๐ฑ ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐ฎ๐๐๐ต๐ผ๐ฟ๐ถ๐๐ ๐๐ผ ๐๐ฎ๐ ๐ป๐ผ?
I am not commenting on the medical care Matthew Mayich did or did not receive after he collapsed. My questions are about the structure and decisions that preceded the workout.
Athlete readiness matters too: sleep, hydration, nutrition, alcohol, supplements, recovery, acclimatization and honest communication should all factor into workload decisions.
ASUโs preliminary review says the hockey staff received permission for an outside consultant to participate, but the training plan was not submitted to ASUโs Strength & Conditioning staff for review beforehand.
That distinction is critical.
The issue is not simply whether an outside consultant was approved. It is whether the actual physical training being prescribed was reviewed by the qualified professionals responsible for physical preparation and athlete readiness.
๐๐ฝ๐ฝ๐ฟ๐ผ๐๐ฎ๐น ๐ผ๐ณ ๐ฎ ๐ฝ๐ฒ๐ฟ๐๐ผ๐ป ๐ถ๐ ๐ป๐ผ๐ ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐๐ฎ๐บ๐ฒ ๐ฎ๐ ๐ฝ๐ฟ๐ผ๐ณ๐ฒ๐๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป๐ฎ๐น ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐๐ถ๐ฒ๐ ๐ผ๐ณ ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐๐ฟ๐ฎ๐ถ๐ป๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐ฝ๐น๐ฎ๐ป.
The NSCA and CSCCa have transition-period guidelines addressing volume, intensity, work-to-rest ratios, environmental conditions, emergency planning and credentialed S&C professionals.
But:
๐ฃ๐ฟ๐ผ๐ณ๐ฒ๐๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป๐ฎ๐น ๐ด๐๐ถ๐ฑ๐ฒ๐น๐ถ๐ป๐ฒ๐ ๐ฑ๐ผ ๐ป๐ผ๐ ๐ฎ๐๐๐ผ๐บ๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ฐ๐ฎ๐น๐น๐ ๐ฐ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ฎ๐๐ฒ ๐ถ๐ป๐๐๐ถ๐๐๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป๐ฎ๐น ๐ฎ๐๐๐ต๐ผ๐ฟ๐ถ๐๐.
Those guidelines cannot prevent a sport coach from bypassing or overruling a performance professional unless the institution gives that professional meaningful authority.
I spent nearly three decades in collegiate Strength & Conditioning, Athletic Performance and Sport Science. Sometimes the job requires telling a sport coach:
No. We are not doing that today.
That athlete is not participating.
That workload needs to change.
๐ง๐ต๐ฎ๐ ๐ถ๐ ๐ป๐ผ๐ ๐ถ๐ป๐๐๐ฏ๐ผ๐ฟ๐ฑ๐ถ๐ป๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป. ๐๐ ๐ถ๐ ๐ฝ๐ฟ๐ผ๐ณ๐ฒ๐๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป๐ฎ๐น ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐๐ฝ๐ผ๐ป๐๐ถ๐ฏ๐ถ๐น๐ถ๐๐.
Matt Tenan & Bob Alejo argue for transdisciplinary collaboration. That philosophy should extend to leadership and hiring.
Searches should consider qualified leaders from Sports Medicine, S&C/Athletic Performance, Sport Science, Nutrition, Psychology, rehabilitation and other performance disciplines.
Whoever is selected should be treated as a senior-level administrator โ with real authority, direct access to senior athletic leadership and institutional support when professional standards conflict with a coachโs wishes.
๐ง๐ต๐ถ๐ ๐ฐ๐ฎ๐ป๐ป๐ผ๐ ๐ฏ๐ฒ ๐ฎ ๐๐ถ๐๐น๐ฒ ๐๐ถ๐๐ต๐ผ๐๐ ๐ฎ๐๐๐ต๐ผ๐ฟ๐ถ๐๐.
Who had authority over physical preparation?
Who could modify or stop the workout?
Would administration have supported that professional over the Head Coach?
๐ฅ๐ฒ๐๐ฝ๐ผ๐ป๐๐ถ๐ฏ๐ถ๐น๐ถ๐๐ ๐๐ถ๐๐ต๐ผ๐๐ ๐ฎ๐๐๐ต๐ผ๐ฟ๐ถ๐๐ ๐ถ๐ ๐ป๐ผ๐ ๐ฎ๐๐ต๐น๐ฒ๐๐ฒ ๐ฝ๐ฟ๐ผ๐๐ฒ๐ฐ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป.
NSCA/CSCCa:
nsca.com/media-room/press-reโฆ
Joint Consensus:
ovid.com/10.1519/SSC.0000000โฆ
Tenan & Alejo:
DOI 10.4085/1062-6050-0580.23
@FriedgeHNIC
@MikeMcMahonCHN
@KatieJStrang
@CSCCa
@NSCA
@NACDA
๐ฑ๐พ๐ป๐๐๐
๐ฝ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐พ๐บ๐
๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐
๐ฝ๐โ๐ ๐ป๐พ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐บ๐๐๐๐.
๐จ๐ ๐๐๐๐๐
๐ฝ ๐ป๐พ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐บ๐ป๐๐
๐๐๐.
๐ณ๐๐บ๐โ๐ ๐๐๐พ ๐๐ฝ๐พ๐บ ๐ป๐พ๐๐๐๐ฝ ๐๐๐พ ๐ ๐ฉ๐ฃ ๐ฅ๐ฒ๐ฏ๐๐ถ๐น๐ฑ ๐ฆ๐๐๐๐ฒ๐บ.
๐ฅ๐๐ ๐๐พ๐๐๐
๐พ ๐ฝ๐พ๐บ๐
๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ฝ ๐ฝ๐๐๐พ๐บ๐๐พ, ๐๐โ๐ ๐พ๐บ๐๐ ๐๐ ๐ฟ๐พ๐พ๐
๐
๐๐๐พ ๐๐๐ ๐๐พ๐พ๐ฝ ๐๐ ๐ฟ๐๐ ๐พ๐๐พ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐บ๐ ๐๐๐ผ๐พ.
๐ซ๐๐๐พ ๐๐๐พ ๐๐พ๐๐๐๐.
๐ฆ๐พ๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐พ๐๐พ๐๐๐ ๐ป๐บ๐ผ๐.
๐ฒ๐
๐พ๐พ๐ ๐ป๐พ๐๐๐พ๐.
๐ณ๐๐บ๐๐ ๐๐บ๐๐ฝ๐พ๐.
๐ค๐บ๐ ๐๐พ๐๐ฟ๐พ๐ผ๐๐
๐.
๐ฑ๐พ๐ฝ๐๐ผ๐พ ๐๐๐๐พ๐๐.
๐ฅ๐พ๐พ๐
๐
๐๐๐พ ๐๐๐๐๐๐พ๐
๐ฟ ๐บ๐๐บ๐๐.
๐ณ๐๐บ๐ ๐ผ๐บ๐ ๐ป๐พ๐ผ๐๐๐พ ๐๐๐พ๐๐๐๐พ๐
๐๐๐๐ ๐๐พ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ผ๐๐
๐.
๐ฒ๐ ๐๐๐๐๐พ๐บ๐ฝ, ๐จ ๐
๐๐๐ ๐บ๐ ๐๐พ๐ป๐๐๐
๐ฝ๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐พ๐พ ๐๐๐บ๐๐พ๐:
๐ฆ๐ง๐๐๐๐๐๐ญ๐
๐ฒ๐๐บ๐๐ ๐ป๐ ๐ผ๐๐พ๐บ๐๐๐๐ ๐ผ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐พ๐๐ผ๐.
๐ด๐๐ฝ๐พ๐๐๐๐บ๐๐ฝ ๐๐๐พ๐๐พ ๐๐๐ ๐บ๐๐พ.
๐ก๐๐๐
๐ฝ ๐บ ๐ฟ๐๐๐๐ฝ๐บ๐๐๐๐ ๐บ๐๐๐๐๐ฝ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐, ๐๐๐๐พ๐๐พ๐๐, ๐๐
๐พ๐พ๐, ๐๐พ๐ผ๐๐๐พ๐๐, ๐บ๐๐ฝ ๐๐๐๐พ๐๐.
๐ฑ๐พ๐ฝ๐๐ผ๐พ ๐๐๐พ ๐๐๐๐๐พ.
๐ฒ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐ผ๐๐บ๐๐๐พ ๐พ๐๐พ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐บ๐ ๐๐๐ผ๐พ.
๐๐จ๐๐๐
๐ฎ๐๐ผ๐พ ๐๐๐ ๐๐บ๐๐พ ๐บ ๐๐๐บ๐ป๐
๐พ ๐ฟ๐๐๐๐ฝ๐บ๐๐๐๐, ๐ป๐พ๐๐๐ ๐ป๐๐๐
๐ฝ๐๐๐ ๐ผ๐บ๐๐บ๐ผ๐๐๐.
๐ฒ๐๐๐พ๐๐๐๐.
๐ฅ๐๐๐๐พ๐๐.
๐ก๐พ๐๐๐พ๐ ๐๐พ๐ผ๐๐๐พ๐๐.
๐ฌ๐๐๐พ ๐ผ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐พ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐.
๐ฌ๐๐๐พ ๐ผ๐๐๐ฟ๐๐ฝ๐พ๐๐ผ๐พ ๐๐ ๐๐๐บ๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐ป๐๐ฝ๐ ๐ผ๐บ๐ ๐ฝ๐.
๐ข๐ฃ๐ง๐๐ ๐๐ญ๐
๐ณ๐๐พ๐ โ ๐บ๐๐ฝ ๐๐๐
๐ ๐๐๐พ๐ โ ๐๐๐บ๐๐ ๐๐พ๐ฟ๐๐๐๐๐.
๐ณ๐๐บ๐๐๐๐๐.
๐ญ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐.
๐ฑ๐พ๐ผ๐๐๐พ๐๐.
๐ก๐๐ฝ๐ ๐ผ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐.
๐ฏ๐พ๐๐ฟ๐๐๐๐บ๐๐ผ๐พ.
๐ง๐ต๐ฒ ๐ด๐ผ๐ฎ๐น ๐ถ๐๐ปโ๐ ๐ฝ๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ณ๐ฒ๐ฐ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป.
๐ง๐ต๐ฒ ๐ด๐ผ๐ฎ๐น ๐ถ๐ ๐ฝ๐ฟ๐ผ๐ด๐ฟ๐ฒ๐๐ ๐๐ต๐ฎ๐ ๐๐ผ๐ ๐ฐ๐ฎ๐ป ๐ฎ๐ฐ๐๐๐ฎ๐น๐น๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ฎ๐ถ๐ป.
๐ฆ๐๐ฎ๐ฏ๐ถ๐น๐ถ๐๐ฒ โ ๐๐๐ถ๐น๐ฑ โ ๐ข๐ฝ๐๐ถ๐บ๐ถ๐๐ฒ.
๐ธ๐๐ ๐ฝ๐๐โ๐ ๐๐บ๐๐พ ๐๐ ๐๐พ๐ป๐๐๐
๐ฝ ๐พ๐๐พ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐พ๐๐๐๐๐๐.
๐ธ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐บ๐๐พ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐พ๐๐พ ๐๐ ๐๐๐บ๐๐.
๐๐ฒ๐น๐ฝ๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐๐ผ๐ ๐๐๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ ๐๐ต๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ฒ ๐๐ผ๐ ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ฒ โ ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ ๐ฏ๐๐ถ๐น๐ฑ ๐ณ๐ผ๐ฟ๐๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ฑ ๐ณ๐ฟ๐ผ๐บ ๐๐ต๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ฒ.
mikevorkapich.com
#BeyondTheDiagnosis #MVPRebuildSystem #ThyroidHealth #BecomingYouAgain
๐ช๐ต๐ฒ๐ป ๐ฌ๐ผ๐ ๐ฆ๐๐ถ๐น๐น ๐๐ผ๐ปโ๐ ๐๐ฒ๐ฒ๐น ๐๐ถ๐ธ๐ฒ ๐ฌ๐ผ๐
One of the most frustrating things about living with thyroid disease can be difficult to explain.
๐ฌ๐ผ๐ ๐ท๐๐๐ ๐ฑ๐ผ๐ปโ๐ ๐ณ๐ฒ๐ฒ๐น ๐น๐ถ๐ธ๐ฒ ๐๐ผ๐๐ฟ๐๐ฒ๐น๐ณ.
Your energy isnโt what it used to be.
Youโre exercising, but your body isnโt responding the way you expect.
Your recovery takes longer.
Your weight and body composition become harder to manage.
And sometimes, despite doing everything you think youโre supposed to be doing, you still feel like something is missing.
That can be incredibly frustrating.
Your lab work may indicate that your thyroid hormone levels are within the appropriate range.
But you still donโt feel right.
๐ฌ๐ผ๐๐ฟ ๐น๐ฎ๐ฏ ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐๐๐น๐๐ ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ฒ ๐ถ๐บ๐ฝ๐ผ๐ฟ๐๐ฎ๐ป๐. ๐๐๐ ๐๐ต๐ฒ๐ ๐ฑ๐ผ๐ปโ๐ ๐๐ฒ๐น๐น ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐ฒ๐ป๐๐ถ๐ฟ๐ฒ ๐๐๐ผ๐ฟ๐ ๐ผ๐ณ ๐ต๐ผ๐ ๐๐ผ๐ ๐ณ๐ฒ๐ฒ๐น.
For more than 30 years, Iโve worked in environments where performance was constantly evaluated.
Training.
Nutrition.
Recovery.
Sleep.
Stress.
Body composition.
And one of the biggest lessons Iโve learned is that none of those things operate independently.
They work together.
The same is true when rebuilding your health after thyroid disease, alongside appropriate medical care.
Sometimes the answer isnโt another restrictive diet.
It isnโt simply exercising harder.
And it isnโt chasing another supplement or quick fix.
Sometimes itโs about understanding where you are, what your body needs, and consistently addressing the factors that influence how you feel and perform.
๐ฌ๐ผ๐ ๐ฐ๐ฎ๐ปโ๐ ๐ฎ๐น๐๐ฎ๐๐ ๐ฐ๐ผ๐ป๐๐ฟ๐ผ๐น ๐๐ผ๐๐ฟ ๐ฑ๐ถ๐ฎ๐ด๐ป๐ผ๐๐ถ๐.
๐๐๐ ๐๐ผ๐ ๐ฐ๐ฎ๐ป ๐๐ฎ๐ธ๐ฒ ๐ฎ๐ป ๐ฎ๐ฐ๐๐ถ๐๐ฒ ๐ฟ๐ผ๐น๐ฒ ๐ถ๐ป ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ฏ๐๐ถ๐น๐ฑ๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐๐ผ๐๐ฟ ๐ต๐ฒ๐ฎ๐น๐๐ต.
Because sometimes the goal isnโt simply managing a diagnosis.
๐๐โ๐ ๐ฏ๐ฒ๐ฐ๐ผ๐บ๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐๐ผ๐ ๐ฎ๐ด๐ฎ๐ถ๐ป.
mikevorkapich.com
#BeyondTheDiagnosis #ThyroidHealth #ThyroidCancerSurvivor #BecomingYouAgain
๐ค Made with AI
๐๐๐๐๐๐ฅ๐ฆ๐๐๐ฃ ๐ฅ๐๐ฉ๐๐๐๐ฆ ๐๐ง๐ฆ๐๐๐ ๐๐จ๐ฅ๐๐ก๐ ๐๐๐ฉ๐๐ฅ๐ฆ๐๐ง๐ฌ
Iโve spent nearly three decades working in collegiate athletics, and one thing Iโve learned is that you find out who your real leaders are when things get uncomfortable.
After reading the letter submitted to ASU President Michael Crow by seven members of the menโs hockey team concerning their teammate Matthew Mayich, I want to recognize something that deserves attention.
๐๐ป๐ผ๐ป๐๐บ๐ถ๐๐ ๐ฑ๐ผ๐ฒ๐ ๐ป๐ผ๐ ๐ฑ๐ถ๐บ๐ถ๐ป๐ถ๐๐ต ๐ฐ๐ผ๐๐ฟ๐ฎ๐ด๐ฒ.
These players raised serious concerns through their attorney while expressing fear of retaliation. Protecting their identities publicly doesnโt diminish their willingness to come forward. Their allegations deserve a fair, independent examination.
I also wouldnโt automatically characterize everyone who remains silent as a coward. We donโt know everyoneโs circumstances, what they witnessed or whether theyโve spoken privately.
But I will say this.
Throughout my career, Iโve watched people who speak endlessly about leadership, integrity, accountability and doing whatโs right suddenly become very quiet when those principles are put to the test. Iโve seen firsthand how quickly self-preservation can take priority over professional responsibility when speaking up means potentially upsetting someone in authority.
Nobody wants to jeopardize a career or find themselves on the wrong side of a powerful coach or administrator. I understand those pressures.
But while I understand the pressures involved, Iโve always believed that doing whatโs right shouldnโt depend on whether itโs professionally convenient.
๐๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ฑ๐ฒ๐ฟ๐๐ต๐ถ๐ฝ ๐ถ๐๐ปโ๐ ๐ฎ๐ฏ๐ผ๐๐ ๐ฑ๐ผ๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐๐ต๐ฎ๐โ๐ ๐ฟ๐ถ๐ด๐ต๐ ๐๐ต๐ฒ๐ป ๐ถ๐โ๐ ๐ฐ๐ผ๐ป๐๐ฒ๐ป๐ถ๐ฒ๐ป๐. ๐๐โ๐ ๐ฎ๐ฏ๐ผ๐๐ ๐ฑ๐ผ๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐๐ต๐ฎ๐โ๐ ๐ฟ๐ถ๐ด๐ต๐ ๐๐ต๐ฒ๐ป ๐๐ต๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ฒ ๐บ๐ฎ๐ ๐ฏ๐ฒ ๐ฐ๐ผ๐ป๐๐ฒ๐พ๐๐ฒ๐ป๐ฐ๐ฒ๐.
Leadership doesnโt require a title.
Players shouldnโt have to fear for their place on a team when raising legitimate concerns. Neither should strength coaches, athletic trainers, assistant coaches or other staff fear professional repercussions for speaking up about athlete welfare.
That responsibility belongs to institutional leadership: provide a credible process, protect people from retaliation and examine the facts without prejudging the outcome.
๐ฌ๐ผ๐ ๐ฐ๐ฎ๐ปโ๐ ๐ฝ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ฐ๐ต ๐ฎ๐ฐ๐ฐ๐ผ๐๐ป๐๐ฎ๐ฏ๐ถ๐น๐ถ๐๐ ๐๐ต๐ถ๐น๐ฒ ๐ฐ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐ฎ ๐ฐ๐๐น๐๐๐ฟ๐ฒ ๐๐ต๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ฒ ๐ฝ๐ฒ๐ผ๐ฝ๐น๐ฒ ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ฒ ๐ฎ๐ณ๐ฟ๐ฎ๐ถ๐ฑ ๐๐ผ ๐ต๐ผ๐น๐ฑ ๐ผ๐๐ต๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ ๐ฎ๐ฐ๐ฐ๐ผ๐๐ป๐๐ฎ๐ฏ๐น๐ฒ.
To these seven young men: I respect your willingness to come forward and stand alongside your teammate. Whatever the investigation ultimately establishes, your concerns deserve to be heard without fear of retaliation.
๐ง๐ต๐ฎ๐โ๐ ๐๐ต๐ฎ๐ ๐น๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ฑ๐ฒ๐ฟ๐๐ต๐ถ๐ฝ ๐น๐ผ๐ผ๐ธ๐ ๐น๐ถ๐ธ๐ฒ ๐๐ต๐ฒ๐ป ๐ถ๐ ๐บ๐ฎ๐๐๐ฒ๐ฟ๐.
Seven Arizona State menโs hockey players asked the universityโs president to place the Sun Devilsโ coaching staff on administrative leave pending further investigation into the workout that left sophomore transfer Matthew Mayich on life support.
More details: nyti.ms/4ABHzr1
Having your thyroid removed doesnโt remove your desire to perform.
You still want to feel strong.
You still want energy.
You still want to train, work, think clearly, recover well, and feel comfortable in your own body.
But sometimes the way you get there has to change.
Living without a thyroid taught me that performance has to meet the person where they are.
Training matters.
Nutrition matters.
Recovery matters.
Sleep matters.
Stress matters.
Consistency matters.
And medical care matters.
There isnโt one magic workout.
One perfect diet.
One supplement.
One hack.
There is no shortcut that suddenly makes everything work again.
What matters is understanding where you are, what your body is dealing with, and what you can progressively build from there.
Thatโs one of the biggest lessons Iโve taken from both sides of my life:
More than 30 years working in human performance.
And 17 years living without a thyroid.
๐ฃ๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ณ๐ผ๐ฟ๐บ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฐ๐ฒ ๐ถ๐๐ปโ๐ ๐ฎ๐ฏ๐ผ๐๐ ๐ณ๐ผ๐ฟ๐ฐ๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐๐ผ๐๐ฟ ๐ฏ๐ผ๐ฑ๐ ๐๐ผ ๐ฏ๐ฒ ๐๐ต๐ฎ๐ ๐ถ๐ ๐๐๐ฒ๐ฑ ๐๐ผ ๐ฏ๐ฒ.
๐๐โ๐ ๐ฎ๐ฏ๐ผ๐๐ ๐๐ป๐ฑ๐ฒ๐ฟ๐๐๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐๐ต๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ฒ ๐๐ผ๐ ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ฒ ๐ป๐ผ๐ โ ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ ๐ฏ๐๐ถ๐น๐ฑ๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐ณ๐ผ๐ฟ๐๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ฑ.
Not another quick fix.
Not another restrictive diet.
A better way to rebuild.
๐ฆ๐๐ฎ๐ฏ๐ถ๐น๐ถ๐๐ฒ. ๐๐๐ถ๐น๐ฑ. ๐ข๐ฝ๐๐ถ๐บ๐ถ๐๐ฒ.
mikevorkapich.com
#BeyondTheDiagnosis #ThyroidCancerSurvivor #thyroidhealth
๐ค Made with AI
Mike Vorkapich retweeted
It wasnโt their strength coach. Hockey coach brought an outside individual in.
One more thought following my post on the Arizona State hockey situation: outside consultants and military-style team-building.
I have no problem bringing in outside expertise when it is vetted and integrated properly.
We worked with Erik Kapitulek and his staff at The Program. They were outstanding because we collaborated beforehand, understood the plan and agreed on expectations.
๐ข๐๐๐๐ถ๐ฑ๐ฒ ๐ฐ๐ผ๐ป๐๐๐น๐๐ฎ๐ป๐๐ ๐๐ต๐ผ๐๐น๐ฑ ๐ฐ๐ผ๐บ๐ฝ๐น๐ฒ๐บ๐ฒ๐ป๐ ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐ฝ๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ณ๐ผ๐ฟ๐บ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฐ๐ฒ ๐๐๐๐๐ฒ๐บ โ ๐ป๐ผ๐ ๐ฏ๐๐ฝ๐ฎ๐๐ ๐ถ๐.
Iโve also heard firsthand from athletes about questionable practices involving outside instructors.
One athlete told me that during a butterfly stretch, a martial arts instructor actually jumped into the air and landed on the athleteโs knees.
I wasnโt there, and I have no idea what the instructor was trying to demonstrate. Flexibility? Toughness? Whatever the intention, the account raised serious questions for me about supervision and oversight.
In another situation, multiple teams were using different yoga instructors. An athletic trainer and I pushed to consolidate that work under one instructor so we knew who was working with our athletes, understood their methods and maintained consistent communication.
This isnโt about excluding outside practitioners. Itโs about knowing who they are, reviewing what they plan to do and ensuring someone has the authority to intervene.
Iโm equally skeptical of extreme workouts sold as a way to identify toughness or locker-room leadership.
Want to know who really influences your team?
Ask your strength coach.
Ask your athletic trainer.
Ask your academic advisor.
Ask your equipment manager.
Ask your assistant coaches.
And ask the players themselves.
Your staff, in particular, may see a side of athletes that the head coach rarely sees. Their daily interactions can provide a more candid picture of who athletes really are and how they behave when the head coach isnโt watching.
Collectively, these people see who is dependable, who supports teammates, who cuts corners and who others trust when things get difficult.
Ask those groups independently, and Iโd expect considerable overlap in their answers.
๐ช๐ต๐ ๐บ๐ฎ๐ป๐๐ณ๐ฎ๐ฐ๐๐๐ฟ๐ฒ ๐ฒ๐
๐๐ฟ๐ฒ๐บ๐ฒ ๐ฎ๐ฑ๐๐ฒ๐ฟ๐๐ถ๐๐ ๐๐ผ ๐น๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ป ๐๐ต๐ฎ๐ ๐๐ผ๐๐ฟ ๐ผ๐๐ป ๐๐ฒ๐ฎ๐บ ๐บ๐ฎ๐ ๐ฎ๐น๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ฑ๐ ๐ธ๐ป๐ผ๐?
Well-designed team-building can add value. But purpose, workload, oversight and decision-making authority must be clear before anyone steps onto the field.
Strong programs collaborate with outside experts. They donโt surrender responsibility for their athletes.
@FriedgeHNIC
@MikeMcMahonCHN
@KatieJStrang
@CSCCa
@NSCA
@NACDA
Iโve been following the Arizona State hockey situation closely.
The more Iโve read, the more I keep coming back to two questions:
๐๐ผ๐ ๐๐ฎ๐ ๐๐ต๐ถ๐ ๐๐ผ๐ฟ๐ธ๐ผ๐๐ ๐ฎ๐น๐น๐ผ๐๐ฒ๐ฑ ๐๐ผ ๐๐ฎ๐ธ๐ฒ ๐ฝ๐น๐ฎ๐ฐ๐ฒ?
๐๐ป๐ฑ ๐๐ต๐ผ ๐ต๐ฎ๐ฑ ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐ฎ๐๐๐ต๐ผ๐ฟ๐ถ๐๐ ๐๐ผ ๐๐ฎ๐ ๐ป๐ผ?
I am not commenting on the medical care Matthew Mayich did or did not receive after he collapsed. My questions are about the structure and decisions that preceded the workout.
Athlete readiness matters too: sleep, hydration, nutrition, alcohol, supplements, recovery, acclimatization and honest communication should all factor into workload decisions.
ASUโs preliminary review says the hockey staff received permission for an outside consultant to participate, but the training plan was not submitted to ASUโs Strength & Conditioning staff for review beforehand.
That distinction is critical.
The issue is not simply whether an outside consultant was approved. It is whether the actual physical training being prescribed was reviewed by the qualified professionals responsible for physical preparation and athlete readiness.
๐๐ฝ๐ฝ๐ฟ๐ผ๐๐ฎ๐น ๐ผ๐ณ ๐ฎ ๐ฝ๐ฒ๐ฟ๐๐ผ๐ป ๐ถ๐ ๐ป๐ผ๐ ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐๐ฎ๐บ๐ฒ ๐ฎ๐ ๐ฝ๐ฟ๐ผ๐ณ๐ฒ๐๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป๐ฎ๐น ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐๐ถ๐ฒ๐ ๐ผ๐ณ ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐๐ฟ๐ฎ๐ถ๐ป๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐ฝ๐น๐ฎ๐ป.
The NSCA and CSCCa have transition-period guidelines addressing volume, intensity, work-to-rest ratios, environmental conditions, emergency planning and credentialed S&C professionals.
But:
๐ฃ๐ฟ๐ผ๐ณ๐ฒ๐๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป๐ฎ๐น ๐ด๐๐ถ๐ฑ๐ฒ๐น๐ถ๐ป๐ฒ๐ ๐ฑ๐ผ ๐ป๐ผ๐ ๐ฎ๐๐๐ผ๐บ๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ฐ๐ฎ๐น๐น๐ ๐ฐ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ฎ๐๐ฒ ๐ถ๐ป๐๐๐ถ๐๐๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป๐ฎ๐น ๐ฎ๐๐๐ต๐ผ๐ฟ๐ถ๐๐.
Those guidelines cannot prevent a sport coach from bypassing or overruling a performance professional unless the institution gives that professional meaningful authority.
I spent nearly three decades in collegiate Strength & Conditioning, Athletic Performance and Sport Science. Sometimes the job requires telling a sport coach:
No. We are not doing that today.
That athlete is not participating.
That workload needs to change.
๐ง๐ต๐ฎ๐ ๐ถ๐ ๐ป๐ผ๐ ๐ถ๐ป๐๐๐ฏ๐ผ๐ฟ๐ฑ๐ถ๐ป๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป. ๐๐ ๐ถ๐ ๐ฝ๐ฟ๐ผ๐ณ๐ฒ๐๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป๐ฎ๐น ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐๐ฝ๐ผ๐ป๐๐ถ๐ฏ๐ถ๐น๐ถ๐๐.
Matt Tenan & Bob Alejo argue for transdisciplinary collaboration. That philosophy should extend to leadership and hiring.
Searches should consider qualified leaders from Sports Medicine, S&C/Athletic Performance, Sport Science, Nutrition, Psychology, rehabilitation and other performance disciplines.
Whoever is selected should be treated as a senior-level administrator โ with real authority, direct access to senior athletic leadership and institutional support when professional standards conflict with a coachโs wishes.
๐ง๐ต๐ถ๐ ๐ฐ๐ฎ๐ป๐ป๐ผ๐ ๐ฏ๐ฒ ๐ฎ ๐๐ถ๐๐น๐ฒ ๐๐ถ๐๐ต๐ผ๐๐ ๐ฎ๐๐๐ต๐ผ๐ฟ๐ถ๐๐.
Who had authority over physical preparation?
Who could modify or stop the workout?
Would administration have supported that professional over the Head Coach?
๐ฅ๐ฒ๐๐ฝ๐ผ๐ป๐๐ถ๐ฏ๐ถ๐น๐ถ๐๐ ๐๐ถ๐๐ต๐ผ๐๐ ๐ฎ๐๐๐ต๐ผ๐ฟ๐ถ๐๐ ๐ถ๐ ๐ป๐ผ๐ ๐ฎ๐๐ต๐น๐ฒ๐๐ฒ ๐ฝ๐ฟ๐ผ๐๐ฒ๐ฐ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป.
NSCA/CSCCa:
nsca.com/media-room/press-reโฆ
Joint Consensus:
ovid.com/10.1519/SSC.0000000โฆ
Tenan & Alejo:
DOI 10.4085/1062-6050-0580.23
@FriedgeHNIC
@MikeMcMahonCHN
@KatieJStrang
@CSCCa
@NSCA
@NACDA
Iโve been following the Arizona State hockey situation closely.
The more Iโve read, the more I keep coming back to two questions:
๐๐ผ๐ ๐๐ฎ๐ ๐๐ต๐ถ๐ ๐๐ผ๐ฟ๐ธ๐ผ๐๐ ๐ฎ๐น๐น๐ผ๐๐ฒ๐ฑ ๐๐ผ ๐๐ฎ๐ธ๐ฒ ๐ฝ๐น๐ฎ๐ฐ๐ฒ?
๐๐ป๐ฑ ๐๐ต๐ผ ๐ต๐ฎ๐ฑ ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐ฎ๐๐๐ต๐ผ๐ฟ๐ถ๐๐ ๐๐ผ ๐๐ฎ๐ ๐ป๐ผ?
I am not commenting on the medical care Matthew Mayich did or did not receive after he collapsed. My questions are about the structure and decisions that preceded the workout.
Athlete readiness matters too: sleep, hydration, nutrition, alcohol, supplements, recovery, acclimatization and honest communication should all factor into workload decisions.
ASUโs preliminary review says the hockey staff received permission for an outside consultant to participate, but the training plan was not submitted to ASUโs Strength & Conditioning staff for review beforehand.
That distinction is critical.
The issue is not simply whether an outside consultant was approved. It is whether the actual physical training being prescribed was reviewed by the qualified professionals responsible for physical preparation and athlete readiness.
๐๐ฝ๐ฝ๐ฟ๐ผ๐๐ฎ๐น ๐ผ๐ณ ๐ฎ ๐ฝ๐ฒ๐ฟ๐๐ผ๐ป ๐ถ๐ ๐ป๐ผ๐ ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐๐ฎ๐บ๐ฒ ๐ฎ๐ ๐ฝ๐ฟ๐ผ๐ณ๐ฒ๐๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป๐ฎ๐น ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐๐ถ๐ฒ๐ ๐ผ๐ณ ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐๐ฟ๐ฎ๐ถ๐ป๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐ฝ๐น๐ฎ๐ป.
The NSCA and CSCCa have transition-period guidelines addressing volume, intensity, work-to-rest ratios, environmental conditions, emergency planning and credentialed S&C professionals.
But:
๐ฃ๐ฟ๐ผ๐ณ๐ฒ๐๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป๐ฎ๐น ๐ด๐๐ถ๐ฑ๐ฒ๐น๐ถ๐ป๐ฒ๐ ๐ฑ๐ผ ๐ป๐ผ๐ ๐ฎ๐๐๐ผ๐บ๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ฐ๐ฎ๐น๐น๐ ๐ฐ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ฎ๐๐ฒ ๐ถ๐ป๐๐๐ถ๐๐๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป๐ฎ๐น ๐ฎ๐๐๐ต๐ผ๐ฟ๐ถ๐๐.
Those guidelines cannot prevent a sport coach from bypassing or overruling a performance professional unless the institution gives that professional meaningful authority.
I spent nearly three decades in collegiate Strength & Conditioning, Athletic Performance and Sport Science. Sometimes the job requires telling a sport coach:
No. We are not doing that today.
That athlete is not participating.
That workload needs to change.
๐ง๐ต๐ฎ๐ ๐ถ๐ ๐ป๐ผ๐ ๐ถ๐ป๐๐๐ฏ๐ผ๐ฟ๐ฑ๐ถ๐ป๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป. ๐๐ ๐ถ๐ ๐ฝ๐ฟ๐ผ๐ณ๐ฒ๐๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป๐ฎ๐น ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐๐ฝ๐ผ๐ป๐๐ถ๐ฏ๐ถ๐น๐ถ๐๐.
Matt Tenan & Bob Alejo argue for transdisciplinary collaboration. That philosophy should extend to leadership and hiring.
Searches should consider qualified leaders from Sports Medicine, S&C/Athletic Performance, Sport Science, Nutrition, Psychology, rehabilitation and other performance disciplines.
Whoever is selected should be treated as a senior-level administrator โ with real authority, direct access to senior athletic leadership and institutional support when professional standards conflict with a coachโs wishes.
๐ง๐ต๐ถ๐ ๐ฐ๐ฎ๐ป๐ป๐ผ๐ ๐ฏ๐ฒ ๐ฎ ๐๐ถ๐๐น๐ฒ ๐๐ถ๐๐ต๐ผ๐๐ ๐ฎ๐๐๐ต๐ผ๐ฟ๐ถ๐๐.
Who had authority over physical preparation?
Who could modify or stop the workout?
Would administration have supported that professional over the Head Coach?
๐ฅ๐ฒ๐๐ฝ๐ผ๐ป๐๐ถ๐ฏ๐ถ๐น๐ถ๐๐ ๐๐ถ๐๐ต๐ผ๐๐ ๐ฎ๐๐๐ต๐ผ๐ฟ๐ถ๐๐ ๐ถ๐ ๐ป๐ผ๐ ๐ฎ๐๐ต๐น๐ฒ๐๐ฒ ๐ฝ๐ฟ๐ผ๐๐ฒ๐ฐ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป.
NSCA/CSCCa:
nsca.com/media-room/press-reโฆ
Joint Consensus:
ovid.com/10.1519/SSC.0000000โฆ
Tenan & Alejo:
DOI 10.4085/1062-6050-0580.23
@FriedgeHNIC
@MikeMcMahonCHN
@KatieJStrang
@CSCCa
@NSCA
@NACDA
Six Weeks Without Thyroid Medication
I thought the surgery was going to be the hard part.
It wasnโt.
After my thyroid was removed, I still had another part of my cancer treatment ahead of me.
Radioactive iodine.
To prepare for it, I was off my thyroid medication for six weeks.
No thyroid.
No thyroid hormone replacement.
As the weeks passed, I could feel myself changing.
I was becoming more fatigued.
I wasnโt sleeping well.
I was gaining weight.
I was irritable.
And I was still going to work.
At Michigan State, I was still training our menโs basketball players throughout the mornings, working around their class and tutorial schedules just like I always had.
One day I was working with Raymar Morgan and Derrick Nix.
Derrick looked at me and said:
๐ ๐ฎ๐ป, ๐๐ผ๐ ๐น๐ผ๐ผ๐ธ ๐ณ๐ฎ๐.
Raymar dropped his head laughing.
I laughed too.
Then I looked at Derrick and said:
๐ฌ๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ต, ๐โ๐บ ๐ณ๐ฎ๐. ๐๐๐ ๐๐ผ๐ ๐ธ๐ป๐ผ๐ ๐๐ต๐ฎ๐ ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐ฑ๐ถ๐ณ๐ณ๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ป๐ฐ๐ฒ ๐ถ๐ ๐ฏ๐ฒ๐๐๐ฒ๐ฒ๐ป ๐บ๐ฒ ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ ๐๐ผ๐?
He said:
What?
๐ฌ๐ผ๐โ๐ฟ๐ฒ ๐ณ๐ฎ๐ ๐ฏ๐ ๐ฐ๐ต๐ผ๐ถ๐ฐ๐ฒ.
We all busted out laughing.
But underneath the humor was something very real.
My body felt completely different.
At the time, I remember describing it as feeling like a wet noodle.
Weak. Drained. Almost useless.
By the end of that six-week period, it felt like I might have an hour a day where I had any real energy.
And then it was gone.
I was living without a thyroid and, for those six weeks, without the thyroid hormone replacement my body depended on.
Then came the radioactive iodine treatment.
I had been given specific radiation-safety instructions about keeping my distance from other people for a period of time after taking the pill.
I lived in a townhouse condo, so before treatment I even checked with my next-door neighbor to make sure our beds werenโt directly opposite each other on the same shared wall.
They were.
So I moved mine.
After treatment, I mostly laid low.
My brother and his girlfriend made a quick stop to pick up their tickets for the MichiganโMichigan State football game. They sat across the room from me while we talked for a few minutes, and then they were on their way.
And that was about it.
For most of my career, I had studied performance from the outside.
Training.
Recovery.
Nutrition.
Body composition.
Fatigue.
This time, I was learning from the inside.
๐๐ผ๐ฟ ๐๐ถ๐
๐๐ฒ๐ฒ๐ธ๐, ๐ ๐ด๐ผ๐ ๐ฎ ๐ณ๐ถ๐ฟ๐๐๐ต๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ ๐น๐ฒ๐๐๐ผ๐ป ๐ถ๐ป ๐ต๐ผ๐ ๐ฑ๐ถ๐ณ๐ณ๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ป๐ ๐น๐ถ๐ณ๐ฒ ๐ฐ๐ผ๐๐น๐ฑ ๐ณ๐ฒ๐ฒ๐น ๐๐ถ๐๐ต๐ผ๐๐ ๐๐ต๐๐ฟ๐ผ๐ถ๐ฑ ๐ต๐ผ๐ฟ๐บ๐ผ๐ป๐ฒ.
And that experience changed the way I understood performance forever.
Photo: Mike Vorkapich weighs Derrick Nix at Michigan State menโs basketball media day, Oct. 18, 2011.
AP Photo/Al Goldis
#BeyondTheDiagnosis #ThyroidCancerAwareness #ThyroidCancerSurvivor #ThyroidHealth
Mike Vorkapich retweeted
๐ฅ๐จHARD NEWS: On October 27, 2017, Corey Feldman who has starred in a lot of Stephen King movies including โThe Gooniesโ and โStand By Meโ Stated that there was an elite pedophile ring in Hollywood,
Feldman told Newsweek that he was living in fear of being assassinated for speaking out.
On February 22, 2020, Corey Feldman invited Stephin King to the premiere of his movie when King told Corey to "Chill" when Corey made a tweet about his tickets going on sale in 90 minutes.
The movie was titled "The Rape of Two Coreys." The film showcases allegations that Feldman and fellow actor Corey Haim were sexually abused as children to young adolescents by several men connected to the entertainment industry.
Stephen King did not respond after Corey Feldman sent his request for King to attend the film's premiere. it is worth noting that a good amount of King's movies were managed by The Weinstein Company.
Looking Back, Were the Signs Already There?
One of the questions Iโve asked myself many times since my thyroid cancer diagnosis is:
How long had something been going on?
๐งต
๐ค Made with AI
For much of my career, performance meant helping athletes push their bodies to become stronger, faster, and more resilient.
There is value in learning how to push yourself.
But there is also value in learning when to listen to your body.
Sometimes performance isnโt about asking your body for more.
Sometimes itโs about paying attention to what your body has been trying to tell you.
Thatโs one of the reasons Beyond the Diagnosis has become so personal to me.
mikevorkapich.com
#BeyondTheDiagnosis #ThyroidCancerSurvivor #ThyroidHealth