Sports Performance
Mission & Vision Statement
Sports Performance is a holistic approach to preparation, working backwards from the game to improve athletes physically, psychologically, technically, tactically, and culturally to maximize performance, beginning first and foremost with sport practice. This definition of Sports Performance is our primary guiding principle. We are building an iterative and agile High-Performance Model that surrounds the student-athlete with the tools needed to succeed in each area of preparation.The Sports Performance staff strives to provide appropriate resources and guidance to all student-athletes in the way of healthy and high-performing fueling habits. This includes the broad importance of nutrition education and the role it plays in progress, preparation, recovery, and performance.
GW Sports Performance seeks to create a space where athletes are excited and confident in their ability to improve daily and push themselves to new heights. We strive to encourage and empower every student-athlete as they pursue health and performance in their career as a collegiate athlete and beyond. Our mission is to be the best part of the athlete’s day!
Guiding Principles
“Wisdom begins with a definition of terms” –Socrates. Establish a shared model of reality with all athlete stakeholders upfront (student-athletes, sport coaches, sports medicine, & administrators). This gets everyone on the same page and moving in the same direction, as well as creating a shared language of performance.“Does it make the boat go faster?” This is the filter we run all decisions through. If it helps move the athlete or the team towards the stated end-goal, we implement the intervention.
Less but Better. We will eliminate training that does not move us towards our stated end goals by reverse engineering the training process and understanding sport demands.
Principle-based decision making. We understand that all decisions have first, second, and third-order effects. By taking these into account we can make better decisions for our teams and athletes in training.
CULTURE = VALUES + BEHAVIOR – TOLERANCE. We will have clear standards and values, and positive reinforcement of said standards. Ultimately, we want training to be the best part of the athlete’s day.
The mission of the Sports Medicine Department, in accordance with the University's mission, is to provide comprehensive athletic health care services that maximize sport participation consistent with the long term well-being of each student-athlete. The GW Sports Medicine Staff consists of Team Physicians with various specialties, Certified Athletic Trainers (ATC's), as well other allied healthcare professionals both within and outside of the GW University community. Utilizing fully equipped weight rooms and athletic training facilities on both the Foggy Bottom and Mount Vernon campuses, we provide on-site medical care before, during, and after most practices and competitions.
Our philosophy is to care for the athlete as an individual and develop a sports medicine plan specific to each of their needs. We focus first on the prevention of athletic injuries through the use of total-body recovery techniques implemented following workout sessions to keep athletes at their peak physically. Through a kinetic chain approach, we utilize a mixture of traditional rehabilitation and manual therapy techniques with newer, more progressive therapies to return injured athletes quickly and safely to competition.
GW Strength and Conditioning is to successfully guide every student-athlete in their pursuit of high performance. Our “High Performance Model” merges many areas outside the scope of Strength and Conditioning in order to remain current and on the cutting-edge. Information collected from the areas of sport science, exercise physiology and human movement science help GW strength and conditioning coaches design purposeful sport specific programs. GW Strength and Conditioning coaches will motivate, educate and invest in the success of every student-athlete under their direction.