How to functionally train athletes that win championships

Training athletes is serious business. A good coach can make an average/good athlete into an All-American. However, the flip side of that is that a bad coach can ruin a good athlete. Unfortunately, that happens more often than not.

Many times strength and conditioning coaches just do what they know instead of what the athlete REALLY needs. Putting an athlete through a workout just to get them sweating, grunting and cursing is a waste of time for the athlete and seeks to indulge sadistic coaches.

Do not get me wrong though. I am all for strenuous workouts WHEN APPROPRIATE for an athlete but this is after I've taken them through a comprehensive evaluation that determines what they want as well as their needs.

Yes, wants and needs can be different, and what I've found in 10 years of training and conditioning, is that the athlete will have both. It's the responsibility of the coach to differentiate AND bring them together in a program that benefit that athlete in the short and long runs.

In this series, we will look at a functional progression, that when applied to your athletes, can take them to the next level in their athletic development.

Our 4-part series will cover:

1) Functional Prep Strategies and Techniques: Making sure the neuromusculoskeletal system is in working order using various orthopedic techniques, joint mobilizations, soft tissue therapy and other modalities to properly prepare the body for the upcoming work.
2) Fundamental Movements: Focusing on movements that are necessary for the activity/skill like lunging, squatting, pushing, pulling, jumping, jogging, sprinting, etc.
3) Enhancement Movements: These are the enhancement variables that stimulate conditioning for the intended activity like functional movement, cardio training, speed conditioning, agility, quickness, complex conditioning (Power Snatch, Power Clean, Hang Cleans, etc).
4) Activity/Skill: Seamlessly integrating the athletes training and conditioning into their sport to ensure maximum results

When this progression is followed, we are better able to train our athlete for the demands that they will be required to do on the field, court, pool, etc. It is a step-by step process that is the equation for successful athletic development, but only if it is adhered too in a logical manner.

Thoughts? Questions? Comments? I'd love to hear them.

Best!

Will