Welcome to Umberger Performance
Umberger Performance is where Pittsburgh Athletes go to for their sports training. Umberger Performance marries RJ Umberger’s extended hockey career that has taken him all over the world and the NHL along with Scott’s extensive research (Russian and Eastern Bloc Training methodologies) and in trenches real world training experience. Umberger Performance combines the industry’s latest strength/conditioning equipment and technologies with old school strength training tools (kettlebells, logs, sandbags, sledge hammers, tire flipping and dragging) to help athletes exceed their strength and conditioning goals.
I grew up with RJ and also had the opportunity to play at Ohio State with him. RJ was always the best conditioned and strongest athlete at the start of every training camp. This goes from the time we were 12 till we were 22. Some of his weight lifting records still hold today at Ohio State. The mindset and work ethic that Scott instilled in him were what set him apart from other athletes.
-JB Bittner-
The Ohio State University
Assistant Hockey Coach & Pittsburgh Hornet Alum
We are different because we do not perform “sport specific” training on athletes that are not ready to be sports specific. Does it make sense to place the hip of a hockey player into the same “unnatural” position that it is in during a skating stride 11 months a year? With 85% of hockey players incurring labral tears (hip) at some point in their careers. our job is to correct the overuse imbalances that year round sport specific causes. Sports Specific does exist in Energy System Training (cardio) because a hockey shifts lasts 45 seconds and a football play lasts 6 seconds. Our job is to #1 uncover imbalances, #2 correct the imbalances, #3 improve athleticism, #4 prepare the athlete for the specific conditioning demands of their sport, #5 dominate the competition!
We produce complete athletes. A complete athlete possesses:
- Balance
- Relative Strength(control own bodyweight)
- Strength
- Explosiveness
- Drive & determination
- Character
- Mental toughness
- Ability to set both short/long term goals and achieve them
An athlete can be taught skill. High level coaches want complete athletes. They are going to teach them the proper skills anyway. A highly skilled athlete is deadly!
“No one can completely believe that I am natural. The most important drug is to train like a madman. The people who accuse me of taking drugs are those who have never trained once in their lives as I train every day of my life.”
3X Olympic Gold Medalist in Greco Roman Wrestler, 9X World Champion and went 10 years without giving up a single point.
-Alexander Karelin PhD.-
In the Umberger Performance Training Methodology, we set priorities on the Psychological, Physical, Tactical, and Technical aspects of training (see training methodology). Through dream realization, we aim to inspire the client to achieve mastery over their mind and body. This confidence and strength is an unrealized benefit when they leave the playing field and have to make decisions daily in their lives and careers. These results can be seen on the field.(clients making news)
After the science has produced a training program that suites the specific needs of the athlete, the next step is to coach. Yes coach. Through establishing personal connections to our athletes we are able to have them commit to the workouts and buy into “working out.” Once they reap the fruits of their labor they make it a part of their athletic lives. This is essential in order to seek consistent improvements that will lead to playing at the next level whether it be making the travel club team or earning a Division I scholarship.
Greatness is not hard to achieve. It is rather simple if viewed from a distance. One must be disciplined, systematic, and driven. Is greatness being a gold medalist, a CEO, or doctor? Maybe… We believe greatness is pushing to the limit (and maybe beyond) the tools and talents that a higher power has given us. Larry Bird comes to mind, as does Lance Armstrong, Alonzo Morning, and so many others who overcame great obstacles ( – their own mortality) and did not listen to the word “can’t”!
