Every athlete desires to be the best on the field. Sports breed competition and spark the need to be first string, get the most playing time, and receive recognition for all their hard work on and off the field (or court). The question is how do they get there? How do they rise above their peers and become an athlete that consistently performs well? The answer is, it starts outside of their sport. It starts outside of the skill sets and techniques that their sports require of them. Whether it be hitting a baseball, catching a football, or kicking a soccer ball, the player needs to be stronger, faster, and more resilient. Strength, speed, and jump training takes an athlete to that next level.
Strength training improves the power of a player and the explosiveness of their movements, which then translates to their speed and first step. It has also proved to reduce injury to less than one third as well as cutting overuse injuries in half. Of course there is risk of injury in every sport, but strength training has the ability to lessen the severity of those freak accident injuries.
Agility training activates and aids our fast twitch muscle fibers. This enhances your muscle’s reaction time and allows for powerful, quick movements. This is acquired through resistance band training, plyometric training such as box jumps, and continuing to push through fatigue in a workout to force your body to recruit more fast twitch muscle fibers. Agility training also improves recovery time. It strengthens the musculoskeletal system which leads to shortened recovery times so athletes can perform at 100% and not burn out.
Strength and speed paired with plyometric training continues to reinforce all of the above. Plyometric exercises improve strength, speed, endurance, and reduce injury by strengthening tendons in your body. They require effort from the entire individual and utilize most muscle groups, combining strength and cardiovascular exercise. This type of training done on a consistent basis is what makes an athlete. Continued strength, speed, and jump training shows up every practice and every game day. Where sometimes technique and skill in your sport can fail, these things never will.
Author Nya Bettis
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