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Aug. 28, 1997

Cal Volleyball Gets Strength from Rice

An integral part of Cal volleyball is the strength and conditioning program under the direction of Todd Rice and his staff, who supervise the comprehensive operation. The program's philosophy is geared towards helping each student-athlete achieve the highest level of athletic development.

By teaching how all the components of strength and conditioning fit together, student-athletes understand how to maximize force production. This includes enhancement of speed, strength and flexibility which results in improved power. Motivating, educating and helping to reach maximum athletic development is the primary focus of the Cal program.

The newly designed Cal weight room includes eight Olympic platforms, more than 5,000 pounds of Olympic bars and bumper plates, and an array of aerobic and anaerobic equipment. The picturesque facility offers panoramic views of the entire region, including San Francisco and the Bay. Originally opened in Memorial Stadium in 1983 as part of the Cal Sports 80s facility project, the facility now has expanded to more than 2,000-square feet of space for Cal's volleyball team and other athletic squads.

The training regimen at Cal is a year-round process that emphasizes the speed, strength and flexibility. With closely monitored workouts that involve a great deal of individual instruction and attention, student-athletes are taught the correct techniques to increase their ability to perform at their peak during competition.

Cal's program stresses comprehensive training in order to improve both strength and speed. Flexibility is a key component because it is essential for proper lifting. It also improves the running mechanics needed for acceleration and deceleration, both essential for playing volleyball.

Athlete workouts are closely monitored by the conditioning staff, who work in collaboration with the entire sports medicine team (doctors, athletic trainers, physical therapists, nutritionists, etc.) to ensure the health and safety of all of student-athletes.

In this way, Cal's strength and conditioning program is a vital component linking the "full circle" of a student-athlete's physical development from conditioning through rehabilitation and re-conditioning.

Todd Rice begins his first year as head strength and conditioning specialist at Cal after joining the Golden Bear staff this past June. He and his staff oversee the strength and conditioning program for all 26 sports at Cal.

Rice comes to Berkeley after spending the previous three years as head strength coach at Yale. Prior to accepting that position in 1994, Rice worked in the Big Ten at both Illinois and Wisconsin and in the Mid-American Conference at Ball State.

A 1987 graduate of Wisconsin-Platteville, Rice earned a master's degree in kinesiology from Illinois.