Athlete / Sports Performance Training
What precisely is sports performance training?
Athletes and coaches are increasingly using the term “sports performance training.” While it may appear to be just another way of describing working out, there’s a lot more to it.
We’ll go over all you need to know about sports performance training in this article (from the definition to the benefits). By the time you’ve finished reading it, you’ll know why it’s so effective and why you should start doing it right away.
What Is Sports Performance Training and How Does It Work?
In the realm of sports, a lot of emphasis is placed on developing general fitness and completing drills that imitate game situations. While such factors are crucial, sports performance training can help players go to the next level while still leaving potential for improvement.
This type of training is designed to improve your general agility and prepare you for the challenges that your sport will provide. It’s all about preparing your body for the activities you’ll be participating in on the field.
Sports performance training is unique in that it is tailored to your personal demands. Many athletes encounter an issue where their skills stagnate at some time during their career. This is especially true among athletes under the age of thirty. These young athletes will spend several years pushing their bodies to their limits in an effort to become the strongest, fastest, and most capable player on the field.
Unfortunately, taking that way leaves little room for future growth. It ultimately stifles their advancement. While those athletes may achieve some success in their chosen activity, much of their training to get there is focused on improving general fitness rather than performance.
You prepare your body for success in a specific competitive context with sports performance training. Of course, athletes must maintain a high level of overall fitness. All sports, however, are distinct. Even within the same sport, various positions require distinct talents in order to thrive.
That is the crux of the issue with basic fitness training. For example, if agility or speed are the most crucial skills for your activity, it’s pointless to spend the majority of your time growing muscular mass.
Routines for sports performance training are intended to increase your general athleticism while also preparing you for your sport. Many trainers may devise workout regimens that mimic the movements you’ll make throughout a game. Your performance training regimen will contain workouts to assist you notice improvements in those important areas, whether your sport requires exceptional agility, impressive coordination, or raw strength.
Customized sports performance training is also available. Not just in terms of your sport, but also in terms of who you are as a person. A good personal trainer will take the time to learn about your present talents and fitness levels. They’ll take into account your age, gender, and other factors to build a tailored plan that will help you both on and off the field.
This high level of personalization may prove advantageous in the long run. As your talents evolve, your trainers will continue to alter the training program. Athletes will be constantly challenged, avoiding the dreaded plateau effect.
Why is it superior to traditional sports training methods?
The name is the most significant distinction. Sports performance training focuses on motions and exercises that translate directly to on-field actions. It’s laser-like in its focus.
Your on-field abilities are built on the foundation of your performance capabilities. It goes without saying that physical health and a thorough understanding of the game are critical. But what good would they be if your body isn’t ready to go through the motions required by your sport?
Sports performance training concentrates on a few main areas. Your strength, power, coordination, balance, speed, and other attributes are among them. In any sport, all of these factors are critical. The problem with traditional training is that routines often take a fairly limited approach to dealing with such issues.
Let’s imagine you’re a lacrosse player who wants to increase his shooting ability. Coaches may ask you to practice shooting motions with resistance bands or a weighted stick in traditional training. The idea is that when you go through the motions, the extra weight will help you gain strength. It’s not uncommon to see golfers practicing swings for hours on end.
While that may appear to be beneficial, you’re simply teaching yourself to use a different stick. It doesn’t go after the source of the issue. To make matters worse, it has the potential to screw with your shooting mechanics and stick sensitivity. When you return to your regular stick, this type of training can actually impair your performance.
Strength and coordination training would be used in sports performance training to overcome this issue. The idea is to prepare your body so you can generate more force when swinging. Coaches would work with you to improve your technique and devise exercises to help you show results in that area.
The beautiful thing about sports performance training is that instead of just going through the motions, you’re working on improving essential athletic traits. Participating in sports is more complicated than most people realize. It’s not about being the fittest or the strongest. You must increase your overall athleticism and strengthen key performance areas to have a competitive advantage.