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💪 Is Your Athlete Training like a Body Builder or and Athlete? Strength Training: What It Is and What It’s Missing
Traditional strength training, especially what you might see in a general gym, often focuses on building muscle size (hypertrophy) or...
Laura Baden
Oct 6, 20253 min read


Injury Prevention and Performance in Young Athletes: Why the Right Training Matters
Youth sports are one of the best investments in a child’s future teaching discipline, teamwork, and resilience. But as competition ramps...
Laura Baden
Sep 29, 20254 min read


Jump Training for Volleyball and Basketball: Building Explosiveness Without Risking Injury
When you watch a volleyball player explode off the floor for a block or a basketball player rise for a rebound, it’s easy to think that...
Laura Baden
Sep 22, 20253 min read


Balancing Sports, School, and Sanity: A Parent’s Guide to Time and Stress Management
Between practices, games, homework, and everyday family responsibilities, life as a parent of a young athlete can feel like a constant...
Laura Baden
Sep 15, 20253 min read
Winning vs. Long-Term Growth: Why Process-Focused Athletes Thrive
Every parent wants to see their child succeed in sports—whether that means scoring the winning goal, making the travel team, or...
Laura Baden
Sep 8, 20253 min read


Mental Training: The Game-Changer for Young Athletes—As Crucial As Physical Training
Sports often focus on physical skills—speed, strength, agility—but what truly separates good athletes from great ones? Their mental game:...
Laura Baden
Sep 2, 20252 min read


🦵 Patellar Tendinopathy in Youth Athletes: What Parents Need to Know
If your child plays basketball, volleyball, soccer, football, or track & field, chances are they’ve complained of knee pain just below...
Laura Baden
Aug 25, 20254 min read


⚠️ Youth Back Pain Isn’t Normal: What Parents of Athletes Need to Know
When adults complain of back pain, we often chalk it up to long workdays or aging. But when a 12- or 15-year-old athlete complains of...
Laura Baden
Aug 18, 20253 min read


🛡️ ACL Injuries Strike Without Warning: Why Movement Quality and Prevention Must Start Early
“But they never complained of knee pain…” “She looked fine the day before…” “He just landed wrong once—and that was it.” We hear these...
Laura Baden
Aug 4, 20253 min read


🚨 ACL Injuries in Youth Sports: Why They’re Happening Younger and How to Prevent Them
What every parent needs to know during the critical years of growth and development. ❗ The Alarming Rise of ACL Injuries in Young...
Laura Baden
Jul 28, 20253 min read


Unlocking Potential: The Importance of Motor Development & Learning in Athletes Ages 9-14
As a sports medicine and performance professional, one of the most critical—and often overlooked—windows in athletic development is...
Laura Baden
Jul 21, 20253 min read


⚠️ Before the Barbell: What Parents Should Know About Olympic Lifting for Youth Athletes
Athlete adding weighted plates to a barbell for strength training As a parent, you want to support your child’s athletic goals—and that...
Laura Baden
Jul 14, 20253 min read


Beyond the 10,000 Hour Rule: Why Foundational Athleticism Should Come First
The “10,000 Hour Rule” has become a well-known benchmark in the pursuit of excellence. Popularized by Malcolm Gladwell, it suggests that...
Laura Baden
Jul 7, 20253 min read


Youth Athletes and Weight Lifting: What Parents Need to Know
At Earn the Edge Performance , one of the most common questions we get from parents is: "Is weight lifting safe for my young athlete?"...
Laura Baden
Jun 30, 20254 min read


Blog Title: Reflecting on the Performance Combine — What’s Next in Your Athlete’s Performance Journey
The 1ST Earn the Edge Performance Combine is officially in the books—and what an incredible two days it was. From the energy and effort...
Laura Baden
Jun 23, 20252 min read


Speed. Power. Purpose. Why Movement + Mindset Matter in Sport Performance
When it comes to athletic success, most people focus on what they can see: speed on the field, verticals at the net, big plays under...
Laura Baden
Jun 9, 20252 min read


Girls Belong Here: Why Flag Football Athletes Deserve a Seat at the Combine Table
Flag football is on the rise—and girls are leading the charge. Across the country and right here in Western PA , more girls are stepping...
Laura Baden
Jun 2, 20252 min read


Game-Day Ready: How Combine Training Translates Directly to Sport Performance
At first glance, combine testing might look like it’s all about numbers—40-yard dash times, vertical jump heights, shuttle runs. But what...
Laura Baden
May 27, 20252 min read


Why Performance Testing Matters for Young Athletes
And Why Our Combine Experience Is Unlike Anything Else in the Region When most people hear “combine,” they think of the NFL. Timed...
Laura Baden
May 19, 20253 min read


Fuel Like a Pro: Nutrition Tips Leading Into Combine Day
Why What You Eat Matters Before—and After—you Compete As athletes, we train our speed. We train our strength. We train our mindset. But...
Laura Baden
May 12, 20252 min read
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