What is the Number 1 Reason that athletes do not get any faster?
This is a reoccurring them with many of the athletes we train. We often ask them what they have been doing for speed training and the usual reply is gassers or 40 yard sprints. However, they do not understand why they have not seen their 40 yard time’s decrease. Coaches we consult with often do not understand why their sled sprints, multiple sprints, and laps are not translating to faster teams. The biggest problem is they are not training for speed at all. Speed training must be about running at your fastest speed, recovering fully, and running again.

Many athletes or coaches usually run their athletes in a state of fatigue for fear that the athletes will just be standing around. Also, they think that is what will make them tough. The problem is they create well-conditioned teams that are not very fast. We ensure that our athletes get the required rest periods in between sprints to ensure every effort is their fastest effort. There are guidelines of how much rest an athlete should get depending on the distance of the sprint. The purpose of the rest period is for the energy reserves to be replenished so the athlete can give their fastest effort on the following sprint.

Our program also ensures that each athlete individualizes their workout within a group setting. We do this by electronically timing each sprint. This is a great tool to make the athlete sprint their fastest and be ready to compete. Also, it ensures that our timing is accurate and efficient. We know these athletes are being timed the same way every time and there is not as much room for error as with a stop watch. How many athletes have coaches told that they run 4.4 40 yard dashes until to run 4.7 at a football camp? Furthermore, when an athlete’s time decreases passed their 95% threshold we stop them from continuing. This ensures we are sprinting and not conditioning. Our aim is to run quality efforts by maximally sprinting every time.


We also emphasize that the athletes take the time out to stretch muscles that need to be stretched. Our goal is to individualize the stretching as well as some athletes are more flexible than others. Also, some are flexible in the wrong areas. Stretching is as important as any other part of the program and we ask that athletes perform it daily. The difference you can make in stretching can be significant for many athletes. For instance, if your muscle has elongated to a point where you can finish your sprint in 23 steps instead of 25 this can make a difference in your time. We hope these blogs are helping athletes educate themselves on the process of developing as an athlete. Also, if you have any topics you would like to see discussed please suggest them in the comment box.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

50 Cent's Trainer Talks Fitness with Fast Youth Athlete

Image
1) Hi Jay. Thanks for taking the time out of your busy schedule to do this interview. Can you tell us a little bit about yourself and how you were introduced to strength training? I am a Professional Strength and Conditioning Coach, as well as a Nutritionist. I have coaching since 1996-we're I started off as a Volunteer Assistant Track and Field Coach at Montclair State University. I began coaching after suffering a career-ending spinal injury, which occurred while I was competing as a Long Jumper at the University of Arkansas. 2) A lot of people know you as 50 Cent’s trainer and believe that he is able to stay in shape because he constantly has you around. I believe it still is the will of the person. What are your thoughts? It is fear and lack of self-confidence that usually keeps an individual from achieving any sort of success. We as coaches have to work with that fear, and turn it into belief. Once, there's self-belief-anything is possible. 3) I know that like my self yo
Read more
Image
Is the weight room helping or hurting you during the season? 1    1.    Manage outside stressors The body does not know the difference between a weight, practice, long night of studying, or lack of nutrition. It just knows that the body is stressed and adjustments need to be made. We believe in holding our athletes accountable for their lives outside the field or weight room. Our sheet holds the athletes accountable for sleeping 8 hours a night, eating for performance, managing stressors, stretching, and staying hydrated. Feel free to email us to receive a copy of our M.A.P (Mental Advantage Plan) regeneration sheet. 2   2.  Program Design We structure weight room with activity that will not add soreness to the athlete. We do not change the exercises around during the in season, so the body will not get sore while being introduced to a new stimulus. We do not load the back as much during the season as many athletes compress the spine during collisions in the game. We p
Read more
Image
Four Games Left: A Coach’s Story I have to thank my youngest son Micah for helping me to decide what I would write about this week. It is something that helps me to relate to our athletes. Many athletes on this journey of football run into difficult patches. It may be that they are not getting much playing time, are injured, team is losing, or they are not getting recruited. The easy decision is to quit or become negative. And, I can’t say I did not contemplate quitting or start crying at home due to my circumstances. However, none of these negative reactions will help. In fact, they will just further delay your blessings and make you unproductive. The answer is to become hopeful, ask your coach questions, continue to practice with tremendous effort, and never lose heart. This is my story and I hope it helps another athlete stay encouraged for the next chapter of their life. My story begins in beautiful Miramar, FL where the best football team ever assembled resided. I pla
Read more