Vern Gambetta
Hyper Wear Advisor - Functional Sports Training Specialist
Vern is an internationally renowned coach, author and speaker who is recognized as a pioneer in functional training.
Visit Vern on his website at: http://www.gambetta.com/
Education and Certification:
Master of Arts in Education with an emphasis in Physical Education, Stanford University, 1974 Calif. Standard Secondary Teaching Credential, History and Physical Education, UC Santa Barbara, 1969. Coaching Minor, University of California, Santa Barbara, 1969 Bachelor of Arts, Fresno State University, Social Science major, Physical Education minor, 1968 USAT&F Level II Sprint & Hurdle Coach and Jumps Coach USA Weightlifting Club Coach.
Books:
Editor TAC Coaching Manual Authored of seven books "Hurdling and Steeplechasing", "How Women Runners Train", "The Complete Guide to Medicine Ball Training", "The Gambetta Method", "The 3S System – Soccer Speed", "Sport Specific Speed - The 3S System", and "Athletic Development".
What Drives Vern Gambetta?
Right now, in your business, with your clients, your friends or even in the world, what is one major thing you are trying to make happen?
Help people to understand that the body is not a machine or a computer. It is self-organizing and will respond if we give it challenging movement problems to solve.
If you were going to renovate the fitness industry, what would you do first?
Get rid of the hype and marketing and focus on results. Is what you are doing really making people better or it making them tired and getting them hurt. Train with a purpose and goal in mind.
How do you measure success personally?
The pursuit of excellence has it’s own rewards. Just strive to be the best I can be each day.
How do you measure success professionally?
No different than in my personal life, can’t separate the two. Try to be a good person and be the best at what you do.
"Pictures from this morning workout with the beach volleyball players I work, Kristen Batt and Megan Wallin. Used the Hyper Vest weight vests and SandBell for medicine ball workout. Wearing the Hyper Vest adds another dimension. Has been a very positive addition. significantly raised the intensity." - Vern Gambetta
Credentials
Professional Credentials:
42 years of coaching, deeply rooted in track and field. Made the transition into athletic development (S&C) in the mid-eighties but have always kept connected with track and field, track and field is my foundation.
Business Credentials (projects worked on, organizations run/worked at/with):
Worked with teams in NFL, NBA, MLB, MLS, but most proud of my work as a high school and junior high school coach where I know I have been able to have the biggest impact. Also, starting the GAIN Apprentorship program to define the field of athletic development has been a huge professional goal for me.
Personal Credentials (cool projects or activities):
One of the founders and first Director of the USA Track & Field Coaching education program.
Q&A
What type of people do you work with (athletes / weight loss / therapy / general)?
Athletes both health and those recovering from injury during the reconditioning process.
What is lighting your fire right now at work?
The challenge to keep innovating and learning.
Favorite thing you love about what you do?
The daily challenge of helping to guide the athlete’s to be better.
Least favorite thing about what you do?
Anything administrative and business related.
Your thoughts on the Hyper Vest PRO:
Best ever and I have tried them all over the years.
Favorite Exercise: Use it for all sorts of activities that require intrinsic loading.
Your thoughts on the SandBell:
Great tool. Use it in place of medicine balls and dumbbells. Durable, doesn’t leak. Very portable and versatile.
Favorite Exercise: Mini leg circuit with a sandbell 20 percent of bodyweight.
Your thoughts on the Hyper Vest COOL:
A much needed tool.
Favorite Use: Precompettion cooling
Your thoughts on the SteelBell:
I love it!
Favorite Exercise: One arm snatch throws and Squat, throw Catch
Your Favorite Hyper Activity Overall:
Combining the Hyper Vest PRO with the SteelBells.
Getting to Know You Better
If you could trade places with any other person for a week, famous or not famous, living or dead, real or fictional, with whom would it be?
Kind of happy being who I am with all my foibles and faults, never really wanted to trade places with anyone.
What kind of workout would this person enjoy with Hyper Wear products?
Since it is me, I think the Hyperwear products are great. they are great because of the people who are designing and them who are willing to listen to coaches and athletes.
What is the last book you read?
Just finished Strange Beauty – Murray Gell-Mann and the Revolution in Twentieth Century Physics by George Johnson. Trying to so a lot of reading on Complexity Theory, hope I can connect it to human movement and coaching.
Did you read it while wearing a Hyper Vest PRO?
Not this one. Book was heavy enough!
How would you describe yourself in three words (You can leave out ‘SandBell Lover’ because everybody says that, right)?
Solution in search of a problem (Not good at math, I know that's more than three words).
If you had only six months left to live, what would you do with your SandBell?
More leg circuits.
If you won $20 million in the lottery, what would you do with the money?
Make sure my family was taken care of and the help other people.
Why are manhole covers round, like a SandBell?
Because they both made to be lifted!
What would I find in your refrigerator right now, besides the Hyper Vest COOL?
Too much junk food.
If Hollywood made a movie about your life, (and why haven't they yet?) whom would you like to see play the lead role as you?
Not Bruce Jenner! Willie Nelson because he one cool dude!
Would you insist that he or she wears a Hyper Wear shirt in every scene – just to stay true to real life?
All scenes except when swimming.