EP 14: Anthony Cockrill | The Epidemic of the Underprepared Athlete

Director of Volleyball Sports Performance at SMU, Anthony Cockrill joins the show to unpack what real athlete development looks like—and what many people get wrong. We dive into how the transfer portal has reshaped long-term development, why so many athletes show up underprepared, and how constantly adjusting the plan to make athletes “feel good” can become a dangerous long-term strategy. Anthony also shares his thoughts on load management, kinesthetic awareness, and where the collegiate strength and conditioning field is headed.

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Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Anthony Cockrill

06:45 The Evolution of Strength and Conditioning in College Sports

12:23 Understanding Athlete Development

17:19 Balancing Short-Term Gains with Long-Term Development

27:29 Building Trust with Coaching Staff

33:39 Capacity Meets Demand in Training

42:52 Characteristics of High-Performing Athletes