Archive for May, 2009

Venus and Serena Williams are phenomenally successful tennis masters. Their homeschooling background enhances their exceptional professional expression. They are the progeny of their self taught father and coach, Richard Williams.

Lawrence Rudner PhD, led a landmark investigation into the benefits of homeschooling circa 1998-99. In his association with the University of Maryland, he surveyed more than 20000 participants in schooling networks throughout the United States. In this respected study, Rudner revealed the beneficial profile of the home-school genre. His research demonstrated high academic proficiencies of the home-schoolers. he found that the majority of the students showed eighty to ninety percent competencies in their studies at home.

Key to these academic outcomes is the one on one tutorial aspects to instruction. Adventures in Learning k-12 is a in home tutorial approach that includes these successful principles for home-schooling.

The 2007 Rand Corporation study conducted for the US Department of Education re-enforced the findings of the Rudner study. The one on one tutorial-instructional approach leads to higher academic proficiency. So the findings of the 1998 Rudner research are strengthened again in 2007 by the Rand Corporation research for the US Department of Education. Other high achievers like the Williams’ sister include politicians, like Franklin D Roosevelt. Scientists Booker T Washington and George Washington Carver were home schooled. Military leader Douglas MC Arthur also home schooled. Contemporary pop music stars such as the Jonas Brothers and Hansen also were home instructed. Add comedian Whoopi Goldberg to these ranks as well.

Acceleration training has been gaining a lot of creditability the past couple of years. Acceleration training can be a great tool for gaining speed and quickness especially when it is incorporated and works with a speed ladder training program. Acceleration training is simple making your legs move faster than they can normally go. In that process the athlete actually builds fast twitch muscles because of the fast movement that the legs are going through. The athlete is also training the brain into thinking the legs can actually move that fast.

There are many ways to perform acceleration training drills or exercises. One exercise is to use a treadmill. Yes a treadmill can be a great way to simulate acceleration training and incorporate it into a speed ladder training program. The best way to perform this acceleration training on a treadmill is to start out by walking fast and every two minutes turn the treadmill to the fastest mode you can run for 20 seconds. Slow back down to a fast walk and repeat. If this is part of a speed ladder program then only do about 10 sprints. If this is the only type of training the athlete is doing the athlete should perform about 25 sprints. Do these 3 times a week.

Another acceleration drill that can be performed is by using a bungee cord. This takes two participants. The trainer should simply wrap the bungee cord around the athlete pull it as tight as possible while the athlete stays in place. When the bungee is as tight as possible the athlete should start the sprint towards the trainer holding the cord. Once the athlete gets even with the trainer the trainer should drop the bungee. This exercise actually pulls the athlete faster than the athlete can normally run. A bungee that can stretch at least 10 yards should be used. Do these 3 times a week.