By Aaron "Coach" Vickers · 8 Min Read
It's the Spring of 2009 — He's a senior-soon-to-be-freshman at a college he hasn't even decided on yet. He's got 1 offer to play basketball at a JUCO but he'd rather take his chances at becoming a walk-on at a low level NCAA school.
Forward
He's a 6'2" skinny kid who can run and jump but he's far from elite. College coaches don't even know who he is —
What does he do?
He grinds… He realizes that his stats, his school and his skill are secondary to how hard he's willing to work on building his body to play at the next level. He makes a commitment to himself to train — everyday after school, on weekends, on holidays and every time his competition sleeps.
And it works. By the time he steps on campus, nobody can push him around. He's an under-skilled player but he's strong and confident — even the seniors respect him. He makes the team and plays 20+ minutes per game his freshman year. The rest is history.
That kid became Coach Vick.
The Foundation
AVT Was Built On Many Iterations On How To Train And How Not To Train.
My name is Aaron "Coach" Vickers. I've trained and competed in athletic competition all my life. I've spent thousands of dollars on fitness education, certifications and physical therapy. I've led and observed thousands of training sessions and worked with hundreds of athletes, clients and teams.
I've written stories about my injuries, surgeries and recovery… I could go on and on about my credentials and where I worked and how awesome it was or what my clients said about me — but nobody cares!!
The Problem
People Want Something That Works.
And this is the reason why I spent so much time building our game. After nearly two decades of research, training, observation and coaching my conclusion is this:
Most people in the gym don't go hard enough. They seem to be lost on top of a plateau of progress and ultimately — they aren't having fun..
Source: Instagram @chakabars
The Discovery
AVT Was A Game Before I Knew It Was A Game.
Games are fun — but only when they challenge our capabilities. If a game was too easy you'd lose interest and stop playing. The truth is people want to have fun but they need to be challenged.
Most people are seeking motivation because their version of exercise isn't all that exciting to begin with. There are people who want to be fit but they lack the knowledge, structure or discipline to actually reach their physical goals. My belief is that exercise should be fun, challenging and deliver the results you desire.
So what if we turned your individual workout into a game and had you compete against everyone else in the gym? Allow me to tell you about the AVT experience and why it works.
The Game
AVT Is The Gameplay Of Exercise.
Think back to the last time you went to the gym. Yesterday or last year.
Who won? ….👀
It wasn't you — but what if we could look at the stats and know who won that day, 'that game'. Our system fundamentally answers the question of —
"Who Won?"
We use a stat called Volume Average Percentage to determine the winner of every game. VA% is a measurement of a player's score against their points available at 100% completion. We measure effort relative to an athlete's programmed potential so that multiple players can play their personalized game (workout) against the field of players.
The Scoring
Reps Are Points.
According to the National Academy of Sports Medicine there are (5) Training Phases: Phase 1 Stabilization, Phase 2 Muscular Endurance, Phase 3 Hypertrophy, Phase 4 Max Strength and Phase 5 Power.
We've added to this model and outfitted our scoring system so that each training phase has a designated rep scheme, total rep volume, target number of sets plus bonus sets, rest interval duration, time under tension duration, progression method, tempo and phase-specific group of modalities.
Players can compete in different training phases simultaneously in the same game.
The System
AVT Volume Intensity Feedback System
Our Volume Intensity Feedback System is the reason our game produces great results. It forces progressive overload safely, efficiently and specifically to each player. It asks the one question most people in the gym hardly ever answer:
"Was the last set I performed too easy? Was it just right? Or was it too hard??"
After every set we want to know if it was "too easy" [ YELLOW ], "just right" [ GREEN ] or "too hard" [ RED ]. Based on what feedback you give, one of the following adjustments are made —
| Signal | Feedback | Adjustment |
|---|---|---|
| Yellow | Too Easy | Increase weight, resistance, T.U.T. or difficulty (+1) next set. |
| Green | Just Right | Maintain (+0). After 2 consecutive greens, increase (+1) next set. |
| Red | Too Hard | Decrease weight, resistance, T.U.T. or difficulty (-1) next set. |
These adjustments ensure every player is challenged during every round, every game — because every rep counts!
How To Win
How To Win The Game
At the conclusion of every game we recognize both an individual player winner and the winning team. During every game you are competing against yourself, the opposing team and ultimately every other player on the field.
Bonus Points
To be eligible to score bonus points a player must complete all available reps in prior sets AND give 1–2 yellow feedback responses, increasing their weight, resistance, T.U.T. or difficulty (+1/+2) leading up to the bonus set. The Bonus Set automatically triggers an additional increase (+1). Otherwise a player who is ineligible for bonus reps may complete reps during the bonus round at 1/2 value or .5 reps per rep.
T3 = Target 3 Sets, T4 = Target 4 Sets — Some Training Phases are T3's and others are T4's.
Players who earn enough bonus points will inevitably score over 100% in Volume Average Percentage. The maximum score in any Training Phase is 121%.
How To Win
Laps
Players have the option to run laps around the field to score additional points for their team during rest intervals. These points do not count toward player VA% but they are added to their team's overall VA% Score. All laps must be completed before the next set/round begins. Laps completed after the Rest Interval timer ends do not count.
The Format
How Many Players Can Play?
The number of players ranges from 1–30. A single player can play AVT alone because every player is playing a personalized game where they are competing against their own potential. Our AVT Games "Super Bowl" version hosts 30 players in two formats: 3 teams of 10 players and 30 individual players.
How Long Is The Game?
The standard version lasts 52 minutes total — one 2-minute activation, six 8-minute exercises and a 2-minute finisher. Our 5-exercise game lasts exactly 44 minutes. The AVT Games competition begins with a 15-minute cardio period, features eight 8-minute exercises and spans 90 minutes.
Because each player is playing their own individual game, we utilize smart watches to display their work and rest time intervals.
The Format
No More Stations!
Each player is assigned to a numbered pod that is fitted with all of the equipment necessary for their assigned exercises. Players may opt to leave their pod to run laps during their Training Phase's rest interval period.
Adjustable Kettlebells and Dumbbells are used to allow players to make set to set adjustments based on their Volume Intensity Feedback decisions.
The Invitation
AVT was designed for Men, Women and Athletes. Whether you're a working professional who's lost that competitive edge, a student-athlete chasing a scholarship or a roster spot, or someone who just wants to feel strong and capable again — there's a pod with your name on it.
Our scoring and feedback systems neutralize both level of competition and fitness level so that a 60-year-old man can outperform a collegiate athlete if he plays harder. Our game is fun, our game is competitive, our game rewards effort and our game guarantees improved performance — but there's one thing I haven't told you about our game yet.
OUR GAME IS HARD.
Join us when you feel mentally and physically ready for a challenge. When you feel that urge to compete and burn off some steam we have a pod waiting for you, a training program designed specifically for you and a community of players who can relate to you. Because our sport is YOU —
The Invitation
Wanna Play?
The gameplay of exercise is here. Join us when you're ready.
AI says; a gym is a dedicated facility or indoor space equipped for sports, physical training, and exercise.
