My name is Eric Cressey. I have a Master’s Degree in Kinesiology with a concentration in Exercise Science from the #1 Ranked Graduate Program in the country. I’ve authored close to 100 articles relating to health and human performance in some of the industry’s most respected magazines. I’ve set state, national, and world records as a competitive powerlifter. And, I’ve been an invited guest speaker all over the country.
What does this product claim?
Quote:
I won’t beat around the bush here; The Ultimate Off-Season Training Manual isn’t for everyone. If you’re an athlete or coach who is content with mediocrity, don’t even bother. This isn’t a casual read; it’s designed for coaches and athletes who can’t wait to rip the plastic wrap off the manual to find out what it takes to perform at all new levels. It’s not the random collection of ineffective tips that you get in so many products today. It’s not flavor of the week garbage that you’ll discard within days of reading it. It’s not just a book for your coffee table. The Ultimate Off-Season Training Manual is a cohesive, no-nonsense SYSTEM designed to build ELITE athletes.
Where can I get it and how much does it cost? $100 Don't worry about the special limited offer, that's just a script that changes every month. Or it has for the past year any way.
Review:
Binding\Design\Paper Quality
Another 3-Ring binder. Binders suck, nuff said. Paper is decent enough.
Layout\Format
On the bright side there isn’t a lot of white space. On the bad side, their isn’t a lot of words. You’ve got 3” margins on the top and bottom, 2” on the sides with double spaced Arial 12 font. With more appropriate spacing the pages could have been cut in half.
Content Usability
For an athlete with an off-season there’s a decent bit of information that can springboard your ideas of what you should be doing during your off season. You’re not going to be an expert at training, but you’ll have a little more base to focus your training in reference to the time that you have to work with (recovery, strength, conditioning).
What the manual doesn’t cover in enough detail is what tests you should be doing and why\how to do something about it. He mentions movement patterns but doesn’t say what patterns to check or why or how to read them or react to them.
There are some fairly detailed tests on static\dynamic strength. It goes through the tests but doesn't really give a compelling reasoning on why any individual person should care in reference to the sport\position that they're playing.
It doesn't tell you how to set up a program in reference to your goals, sport, position, time, present state.
Does it do what it says\Final Thoughts\Value
Think of this is a manual that tells you what to do but not how to do it. The devil is in the details (or lack of) where you may very well not be able to use the concepts presented because you don’t know “how” to evaluate, create strength\EST programs. If you already know how to do all that in reference to your sport and are an athlete or coach that has a definite off-season this is an OK buy (assuming that you don't already know how to plan your off season at this point). It’ll give you concepts that you can build on and areas to search as far as scheduling and planning what your off-season blocks will look like (think Charlie Francis’ Vertical Integration model).
If you not an athlete with a DEFINITE off season (as in you’re an every day Joe that farts around on the weekend or a runner or compete year round) then get a training manual that focus’ on your sport or a general reference book because this isn’t going to help you at all. The training concepts “get stronger” and testing for static\dynamic strength deficiencies are not worth $100. Even the "example workouts" if you're just curious are odd to the point of including band\thick bars\other equipment that are just "odd" for most young athletes\non-advanced lifters. It's an odd book...well, binder.
I don't recommend this to anyone.
Last edited by gobbla : 06-12-2007 at 01:30 PM.
Reason: forgot the title
I had never considered this product because I am always in season. So, I guess I won't be buying it anyway.
Thanks for taking the time, G. I would think any well thought-out feedback from members of one's target audience (or a surrogate, such as yourself) would be helpful to an author/professional.
BTEA is way different. The first one is a manual and BTEA is a DVD set and a manual. The manual is basically the powerpoints that Eric and Mike used for their seminar, so that you can follow along while you are watching tyhe DVD.
BTEA goes through alot more of the functional anatomy, testing( how to do the test, why they are doing them in the first place and what to look for to identify different waek or tight muscles or faulty movement patterns)
BTEA is alot more applicable to the general public than the off season manual. If you don;t learn something from BTEA either you forgot to watch it or you know everything already and everyone knows the second option doesn't exist.
I think products in binders should be photographed and displayed in the ads as such. I always thought this was an actual book based on the images, although now I see they're just flat rectangular graphics.
BTEA is way different. The first one is a manual and BTEA is a DVD set and a manual. The manual is basically the powerpoints that Eric and Mike used for their seminar, so that you can follow along while you are watching tyhe DVD.
BTEA goes through alot more of the functional anatomy, testing( how to do the test, why they are doing them in the first place and what to look for to identify different waek or tight muscles or faulty movement patterns)
BTEA is alot more applicable to the general public than the off season manual. If you don;t learn something from BTEA either you forgot to watch it or you know everything already and everyone knows the second option doesn't exist.
Although I respect Gobbla's opinion I strongly disagree with his final conclusion.
I do need to keep in mind that Gobbla is not a professional so this product may not have a direct impact on his personal programming, but as a professional I personally got a lot out of OST that helped me design better programs for my clients.
As Alwyn once said (or was it Bill? Or was it Bill quoting Alwyn?), "I never got stupider [sic] from reading a book."
Gobbla has been absorbing a massive amount of info recently reading all these offerings by our various resident experts. My opinion is that if he ever makes the transfer to professional that his perspective on this product will change.
If you are a trainer, especially if you train athletes, I highly recommend this book.
A professional might get more out of the Off-Season Manual, but it's nice to get a review that isn't oriented towards what professionals read. Professionals should be reading basically everything they can get their hands on to further their development - it's their livelihood. If it's not the way you make your living, you may have a different conception of value. I'm not sure you can expect the same from non-professionals. There are different needs.
Just wanted to say again that I really appreciate Gobbla taking the time to do these reviews.
Your point is taken Zambro, but I think that a review should be given in the context for whom the product is designed for.
For example, you can't review a great "B" movie like Terminator based on how it compares to The English Patient. If you are out to watch a high-brow artsy film you can't say that First Blood stinks because of the acting.
If you are an average consumer, Eric himself advises you against buying this product. This is for coaches or competitive athletes. If you review it from a coaches point of view, it's golden!
Thanks for the review - I've never really considered this product as it's not aimed at me and I think my limited buget would be better spent elsewhere e.g his mobility DVD etc.
I take your point about the 'not worring about the special offer' it's a clever marketing tool especially considering the vehicle of sale. When I read these kinds of adds I always skip down to the bottom to see how much the product is.... the aim of the add is to attempt to add value but once you read enough of them you begin to become immune to it
__________________
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Walk on
With hope in your heart
And You'll Never Walk Alone
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There's no free lunch, especially when it's served with special sauce (lostdog)
***************************** My Log - PC Plod
In addition to teaching you how to plan so that you and your athletes perform at all new levels, this manual will make you an instant expert in the field!
Quote:
Originally Posted by Jean-Paul
If you are an average consumer, Eric himself advises you against buying this product. This is for coaches or competitive athletes. If you review it from a coaches point of view, it's golden!
Quote:
Originally Posted by slimsaw00
Since you've read the manual I had a question for ya and was looking for your opinion. It seems that you are an athlete and I was simply wondering how the manual would help a non-athlete such as myself in simply working out.
Matt
*Eric*
Matt,
I received this inquiry on another forum recently; here was my response:
Good question - and I've actually received the same inquiry from a few people now. Here's my (admittedly-biased) take on things:
If you've read stuff from Mike, Alwyn, Kelly Baggett, and me (among a few others), I hope one message you've taken away from the articles is that the ordinary weekend warrior would be a lot better off if he'd train more like an athlete. The strength work athletes do helps you move bigger weights and build more muscle while burning more calories to stay lean. The movement training keeps you functional and helps you with energy system work to keep your body composition in check. The mobility work keeps you healthy and functional so that you can stand up to all the challenges in your training programs without getting injured.
This manual shows you how all those pieces fit together at different times of year, and it also provides a lot of "stuff you just ought to know" if you train. Another cool thing is that you'll actually start to watch sports on TV in a different light; you'll begin to pick up on the little things that make each athlete unique.
And, if all that isn't enough, you've got 30 weeks of sample programming to keep things interesting.
I don't train for a particular sport so don't have an off season, however, I'd love to follow some of your routines, is it worth the investment? Is it still applicable to someone who just wants to become a better athlete in general?
*eric*
Definitely. The programming touches on a lot of the things I discussed in my FitCast interview. In the Early Off-Season section, I go into a lot of detail on self-tests you can use to determine your weaknesses. From there, you can look over the sample programming to get an idea of what you need to do to bring up those weaknesses. I guess you could say that it's somewhat of a "choose your own adventure" manual.
If you are an average consumer, Eric himself advises you against buying this product. This is for coaches or competitive athletes. If you review it from a coaches point of view, it's golden!
I think the majority here are "average consumers". That's certainly not how it was presented.
__________________
"A government big enough to give you everything you want is a government big enough to take from you everything you have."
It is useful for anyone who is serious about improving athletic performance. There are some lay-people out there who are more educated about fitness and hardcore than the typical gym member. Hell, just look at this forum.
Although a lay-person may get something from it though, it was still primarily designed for off-season athletes or for their coaches (hence the name). As one of those professionals, I found it to be helpful with a core of my clientele.
As an athlete with an offseason, I've found it to be a great investment. While there are some things I wish EC went into more detail, especially the tests, it has really helped me a lot. The programs work and EC has been great on answering any questions I've had. For the general public, I'm not so sure its the best option, but for those with a good background in athletics and training athletes, I highly recommend it as well.
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"Rust on a nail builds tetanus. Rust on a barbell builds character, strength, and attitude." -EC
"Don't spend your life wishing. Spend it doing." -FishrCutB8
"You're a mutant, like a snake with two heads or a cat shy one nipple. Be thankful that your mutation is helpful." - LD
On the one hand, Gobbla is a regular guy giving his opinion of a product that may not be geared to regular guys. And, regular guys are going to read his review and relate to him. Perhaps there is no problem with that, particularly if EC's manual isn't necessarily geared toward regular guys.
Particular if it is not targeted to the average guy/gal, then it seems that qualified/educated/experienced professionals probably won't care much about G's opinion, given that he is not a reviewer of their caliber.
I'd be curious to hear a qualified/educated/experienced professional tell me their opinion of the manual and why it may pertain to me, or people like me.
But I also wonder if a professonal would, publicly at least, ever criticize or put down another professional's (at least one in their general circle of association/affiliation) product or service?
Now I'm intrigued by the manual. But I won't be buying it anytime soon. I've got a son starting college in the fall.
I wonder if some of the athletes and coaches that enjoyed the product might expand a little on what they got out of it...create a little dialog...so people might be able to get a little better perspective of why this might be a good purchase for X.
I personally bought it to help me train for my PT test (annual test w\ static standards) and to help with 1/2 - full marathon training. That certainly doesn't make me an athlete, but IMO it's not out of the ballpark. Especially considering the product being geared towards athletes and coaches (never mind the knowledge gap between an athlete and a coach). But that's just from a guy that doesn't know anything about anything so take that at what ever value you want.
As a consumer, I certainly relate well to what Gobbla wrote and why he made the conclusion. I was actually surprised, given the knowledge and talent that Eric posesses, he would focus on such a narrow context to write about. For me and I think many who don't train others, most fitness products are entered as expenses. The reality for me is that the word "investment" is just a marketing euphemism.
I do understand where JP is coming from and I'm sure that the book would benefit the intended audience for which this book was written. Ashamedly, I must admit that I sold my copy because I felt I didn't get alot out of the $99 I paid. The buyer whom I still correspond with from time to time is a rugby coach in Wales, told me of the improvements in the physical abilities of his athletes following the application of what he had learned from the manual.
I like the point by bamadave. This relates to ALOT of books sold online. All products that are to be sold should be presented in the form closest to what it represents. The rectangular graphics actually made me think of a production quality similar to Muscle Revolution at the very least.
Non-athletes should train similar to athletes as periodization for health is something I agree. Plan your training as everyone needs an "offseason" even if you are just for health.
I wish Eric had gone a bit more in-depth with the tests, but he put the basic stuff out there to determine which program (static-proficient vs spring-proficient) to use based on the results. After reading the entire manual and performing the test, I went straight to the programs. He set up a solid dynamic warm-up, with specific movements to go through and also areas to focus on with foam rolling. I wish he had included descriptions of all the movements, as I didn't know all of them. Still, a quick email got me a prompt (as in a few hours later) reply with videos. That I could deal with, but I really would have preferred them being in the manual.
Other than that, the most I can offer you guys as to how I view it is my results. I've used the programs and I've only become a better athlete. I've gotten stronger, faster, more mobile, agile. I'm quicker, more powerful. I've put on muscle and lost fat. I'm in the best shape of my life and I just keeping improving. I really have enjoyed this program. I really enjoy how Eric mixes up the volume from week to week and noticed how it kept me fresh and never feeling too run down to work out the next session. Speed work is incorporated well and he includes the % of 1RM you should use. As someone who is clueless when it comes to speed work, that really helped knowing what weight to use.
A big reason I've really come to like this product is the availability of Eric. He's always answered my emails quickly and always answered my questions, often going beyond what I asked him. While I wish the manual had answered the questions I had to ask, his willingness to answer them made up for that - at least for me.
I should note that while others might be looking for the why and the how behind the training, at this point of my training, I'm just looking for the program. I know EC is a great trainer and I know his reputation working with great athletes and the results he's gotten. I know he knows what he's doing, so I trusted his programs. They've worked for me.
__________________
"Rust on a nail builds tetanus. Rust on a barbell builds character, strength, and attitude." -EC
"Don't spend your life wishing. Spend it doing." -FishrCutB8
"You're a mutant, like a snake with two heads or a cat shy one nipple. Be thankful that your mutation is helpful." - LD
I feel like I learned from it. I learned that I need to be stronger and more powerful. I learned how to get there, too.
I did follow the programs, sans the chains and things, since I don't access to that stuff. I did get stronger and I find myself going through the manual (in my head) when I'm deciding how to lay out my own programs.
To some degree, it's like a philosophy book. It may not give you all the specifics, but it convinces you the importance of being strong, agile, and reactive. Like many books might do, but this does it by laying out a program and convincing you by having you do it.
It's not a book for someone looking for a program to look good or get leaner. It doesn't have easy programs, either. They were hard, but good. And, they also required you to think, rather than just folllow them.
I think most beginning coaches could benefit, because they could follow this manual with very few changes and have their athletes do better. Over time, they'll learn to be better on their own, hopefully. If not, hopefully, they'll continue to use these programs.
Full disclosure. I didn't buy it. I won it at the LA Strength and Nutrition Seminar. But, it was what i was going to buy with my cash. Instead, I was lucky enough to win it and buy lots of other stuff, instead! MM and IO, for instance.
If someone has a $100 to spend and wants to learn about training for athletics *I* would recommend:
Practical Programming (kilgore) $30
Athletic Development (gambetta) $12
Functional Training For Sports (boyle) $12
Charlie Francis Training System (duh) $20
Training for Speed Agility and Quickness $20
Coffee .75
I would switch the agility book for the plyo book from Jimmy Radcliffe as the price difference will get me a latte.
Remember that information in some manuals are exclusive content. This is specialized information.
It sounds like that's the point Gobbla was making, that it was specialized information, but Eric marketed it to the "weekend warrior", which was an issue.
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Two Bears Dadda? Two Bears Benno, just two. ______________________________ ___________
There are three things in my life which I really love: God, my family, and baseball. The only problem - once baseball season starts, I change the order around a bit. ~Al Gallagher, 1971
If someone has a $100 to spend and wants to learn about training for athletics *I* would recommend:
Practical Programming (kilgore) $30
Athletic Development (gambetta) $12
Functional Training For Sports (boyle) $12
Charlie Francis Training System (duh) $20
Training for Speed Agility and Quickness $20
Coffee .75
Completely agree. 100 bucks is a shitload to spend on a 'manual.' Supertraining is only $40 for christ sake and it's the greatest book on strength training every written. For $100 it better be a thick hardcover book IMO.
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I do not workout. I TRAIN.
I do not eat. I FEED.
I do not sleep. I RECHARGE.
My greatest fear in this life is the fear of being ordinary.
Completely agree. 100 bucks is a shitload to spend on a 'manual.' Supertraining is only $40 for christ sake and it's the greatest book on strength training every written. For $100 it better be a thick hardcover book IMO.
Second that...$100 is a lot of money.
__________________
Two Bears Dadda? Two Bears Benno, just two. ______________________________ ___________
There are three things in my life which I really love: God, my family, and baseball. The only problem - once baseball season starts, I change the order around a bit. ~Al Gallagher, 1971
Determining the financial value of self published books is pretty hard to determine.
First of all, a self published book costs the author more per book than a regular book, so it is much harder to make a profit.
Second, if you consider the information that the author is providing, it could really provide crucial information to your programming, and you got it for $100 instead of paying that trainer's hourly fee, which is probably close to the same, which means that you could potentially have spent $1000 for the same information. I charge $85 per session for my services. If I spend 6 months (or longer) compiling all of my collective wisdom (which isn't much compared to these guys, believe me!), I would expect that I would charge at a very minimum my hourly rate per book, especially if I were paying $30-$40 per book.
This is a very different industry, and there is a lot of great information to be found in offerings by trainers that you just won't find in a mainstream book. Of course, I am a fitness professional, and I have spent thousands on books, DVDs, seminars (both going to them and hosting them), etc. It has been well worth it. Due to all that I have learned I have become a trainer who is worth every bit of what I charge, and I can get away with charging close to twice as much as all the other trainers in town and still have a waiting list.
So these high-priced books really can't be compared to mainstream books. They have helped me build a very successful training business, so their value is subjective. What is the saying? Something is only as valuable as what people are willing to pay or something like that. If it increases my earning power, it may be worth even MORE than what they're asking.
Ultimate Off Season Manual
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Linear Mode
