Certainly strength and its various permutations is a key performance factor. The question is how big a performance factor is it and how do you develop strength you can use in the particular sport? I have been struggling with this issue for 42 years of coaching and before that ten more years as an athlete. At various times I have over emphasized it and at other times I shortchanged it.
Generally when we think of strength we think of measurable strength as expressed in a one rep maximum in a weight room setting. The one thing I know I have learned over the years is that is not the answer, it is not the answer in the throws, american football or rugby, definitely not the answer in tennis swimming, baseball or similar sports. The goal needs to be strength you can use and apply in the competition arena. Tough to measure, but easier to see if you have trained eye, this is where you need to be a coach. The trained eye is acquired through practice, observation and experience. Look at the time invested in the strength training area – Is the return commensurate with the time and effort? I recently saw a situation where a national record holding long jumper was made to take eight months to learn the double knee bend technique in the power clean! In my world more that eight minutes and I would have moved on and found another exercise that the would yield better return and that the athlete could master – hint how about trying a dumbbell jump shrug. Not complicated but possibly the return would be commensurate with the time invested.
We need to redefine strength training. I have adapted Frans Bosch's definition of strength training as coordination training with appropriate resistance to handle bodyweight, resist gravity, optimize ground reaction forces & overcome external resistance. It is fairly simple definition with complex applications. If you parse out all the parts of the definition it will fit every sport and every individual. In addition we need to expand our vista in regard to mode of strength training, get out from under a bar and expand the possibilities of developing strength using a variety of appropriate modes.
So what is the answer ? It is very individual and sport specific, I do know that if I analyze the trends over my 42 year career and what I have seen in the last six weeks of travels, less is more!
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Generally when we think of strength we think of measurable strength as expressed in a one rep maximum in a weight room setting. The one thing I know I have learned over the years is that is not the answer, it is not the answer in the throws, american football or rugby, definitely not the answer in tennis swimming, baseball or similar sports. The goal needs to be strength you can use and apply in the competition arena. Tough to measure, but easier to see if you have trained eye, this is where you need to be a coach. The trained eye is acquired through practice, observation and experience. Look at the time invested in the strength training area – Is the return commensurate with the time and effort? I recently saw a situation where a national record holding long jumper was made to take eight months to learn the double knee bend technique in the power clean! In my world more that eight minutes and I would have moved on and found another exercise that the would yield better return and that the athlete could master – hint how about trying a dumbbell jump shrug. Not complicated but possibly the return would be commensurate with the time invested.
Jeff
“Frans Bosch’s definition of strength training as coordination training with appropriate resistance to handle bodyweight, resist gravity, optimize ground reaction forces & overcome external resistance.”
What a great quote. One of my favorite things I’ve seen as a coach is young coaches over complicate things. Want to show off their knowledge to anyone who will listen. Experienced coaches want to say as much as possible in the fewest words they can. I aspire to do the same.