While nominally focused on Track and Field, the primary focus is Long Term Athletic Development for athletes in all sports. The LTAD model is based on the following premises:
*Physical literacy (basic skills of running, jumping, throwing, sliding, swimming, and areal sports) is an important part of human development and lifetime enjoyment of movement and healthy lifestyles.
*There stages of growt
h and development from birth to death. At each stage, a range of physical, psychological, social, and environmental factors affect the ability to participate, train, and compete in physical activity. The training at NOTC is based on developing this physical literacy, in speed, skill, strength, suppleness, and stamina. Movement and speed are skills that can be taught. Athletes will learn to run, change direction, stop, jump, throw, hit, and strike. When appropriate, the concept of doing these skills with more force and in less time, which includes the concept of strength training. In addition, appropriate recovery strategies and psychological and mental skills will be introduced. Greg Halberg is the NOLT director. Greg has had the privilege of working with some of the greatest coaches and athletes in the world in various sports including track and field, tennis, basketball, football, and baseball. Greg's credentials include positions with innovative athletic performance centers including IMG Academies and Speed Quest/Speed City, working primarily with youth athletes and age appropriate athletic development. He as also worked on the collegiate level as both a Track and Field coach and Director of Strength and Conditioning. In both roles, athletes performed at a high level, including National Champions, All-America status, and matriculating to professional rosters. This level of performance across all sports vastly exceeded previous results. Most important, athletes showed tremendous improvement through the course of the time Greg was able to work with them. Among the many coaches and athletes that Greg has worked closely with include Randy Huntington, head coach Athletics China and several world record holders; Dan Pfaff, Coach at Altis, and coach of several world record holders; Brent McFarlane, Canadian National Team Head Coach 2000; Tara Nott (2000 and 2004 Olympic Weightlifting Medalist); Mark Verstegen, President EXOS; and Paul Longo, Strength Coach for Notre Dame. Greg earned a Master's Degree in Exercise Physiology with an emphasis in Motor Learning in December 2001. His thesis topic was the neurological development of speed and agility. In addition to earning a CSCS from the NSCA (now lapsed) he is certified by USA Track and Field as a Level II coach in the multi events and attended Level III certification courses in the sprints, jumps, and throws. In 2016 he became certified in NeuroKeneticTherapy ™ Level I, which is a missing link to integrating rehab into performance. He is also a Certified BioForce HRV Pro Trainer. None of that technical knowledge is useful with without effective communication. In an effort to connect more deeply Greg has extensive training in compassionate communication (NVC). Greg has been a part of bringing success and winning attitudes to programs and athletes at all level of sport.
