Strength training is an essential element of fitness for virtually every sport. The benefits of strength training to athletic performance are enormous. Not only is it an integral conditioning component for power athletes such as football and rugby players, performance in the pure endurance events can be improved with a well-structured strength routine.
SPT Strength Training Program requires a more refined approach than simply lifting heavy weights. A physiological analysis of any game or event will confirm that most athletes require explosive power, muscular endurance, maximal strength or some combination of all three in order to excel. Rarely is pure muscle bulk the primary concern and when it is, other elements of strength are equally as important SPT Strength Training Program.
Hypertrophy.- Synonymous with most people’s perception of strength training, hypertrophy refers to increased muscle bulk and size. This is only one aspect of a sport-specific strength training. Some athletes require significant bulk to withstand very aggressive body contact. For most athletes however, too much muscle bulk is a hindrance. And remember that a larger muscle is not necessarily a stronger muscle.
Maximal Strength.- Maximal strength is the highest level of force an athlete can possibly generate. Its importance will vary between sports but this relates more to the length of the maximal strength training phase than whether it should be included or not. The greater an athlete’s maximal strength to begin with, the more of it can be converted into sport-specific strength endurance or explosive power. Maximal strength training can improve exercise economy and endurance performan
Explosive Power.- Most sports require movements that are much more rapid and demand a high power output. SPT Strength Training lays an important foundation increasing the potential for additional power development.
An athlete can be exceptionally strong but lack substantial power due to an inability to contract muscle quickly. SPT Strength training is used to improve the rate of force production and a range of methods such as plyometrics can be employed to convert maximal strength into explosive power.
Strength Endurance.- Explosive power is not always the predominant goal of the strength training program. For events such as distance running, cycling, swimming and rowing, strength endurance is a major limiting factor. Again, the greater amount of starting maximal strength, the more of it can be maintained for a prolonged period.
Periodization.- The concept of periodization is key to sport-specific strength training. Dividing the overall training plan into succinct phases or periods, each with a specific outcome, allows sport-specific strength to peak at the right times, whilst minimizing the risk of over-training.
It also allows more specific elements of strength to be built on a solid and more general fitness foundation. Athletes cannot progress week-in week-out indefinitely so periodization permits variations in intensity and volume to promote performance enhancements for as long as possible.
