I know this is a bit off topic... but if you're reading this blog you're likely a football coach or player who is looking to get better.
We all know how important that off-season training is for building strength, speed, power, flexibility, and injury prevention.
I picked up a book today at the book store ("Born to Run: a Hidden Tribe, Superathletes and the Greatest Race the World has Never Seen" ) and it reminded me of my days working at the Parisi Speed School in NJ.
Martin Rooney (Twitter account: @martinrooney1), the lead trainer and NFL combine preparation coordinator at Parisi's first introduced to me the concept of training athletes barefoot to help improve the strength and flexibility in their feet and lower extremities.
I came home and Googled the concept to try to find out a little more... and I found this interesting article that just came out today.
Go to: http://www.thepilot.com/news/2010/mar/03/rubber-gloves-for-the-feet-trendy-running-shoes/
Keep your athletes conditioned and injury free (and obviously be careful doing any barefoot running training - it should be done only on clean artificial surfaces or exceptionally well groomed natural grass) ... and keep spreading e'm!
--Mark
www.SpreadOffense.com