When are you getting more athletic?

When we watch sports—any sport, at any level—we can usually identify and appreciate who the best athletes on the field are. You can just see it. They're athletically ahead of the other players. They're faster, stronger, and get to the play more efficiently than their opponents.

Presumably, if you're also an athlete, you want to be in that echelon of players. You know that if your first step is faster, your jump is higher, and your ability to out-position other players is greater, you'll become a better player.

Perhaps you're an educated athlete who understands there's a physical practice you can engage in that will help you get there: strength and conditioning. You know that by training your body separately from your sport, you can perform better during practices and games.

It's been a recent trend, in my experience at STS, for athletes or their parents to stop training altogether because their practice and game schedule doesn't allow sufficient time for strength and conditioning. While I wholeheartedly support athletes prioritizing their practices and games, I find the complete cessation of training for the sake of attendance at practices and games to be a bit backwards.

Returning to the beginning of this post, we're operating under the assumption that athletes want to become a more athletic version of themselves so they can stand out in their sport. If all you're doing is practicing and playing, when are you going to become more athletic?

Practicing and playing your sport in a well-thought-out fashion will certainly improve your sport-specific skills, but it won't really make you a better athlete. Sure, practicing your sport creates more efficient movement patterns that can marginally improve your athleticism. But those improvements in movement won't move the needle nearly as much as a proper strength and conditioning program.

For long-term athletic development to occur, athletes must consistently engage in an appropriate strength and conditioning program. You can't just practice and play your sport and expect to develop into the best athlete you can be.

Look at the top players in your sport. Do they lack muscle? Do they have just an okay first step? Do they move like everyone else? Probably not. These athletes understand the value of strength and conditioning and the difference it makes in their performance. What makes you think your situation is so unique that you can skip it?

Every college and professional team has a strength and conditioning program. They all make time in their schedules for training. But your high school athlete who can't do a push-up needs more and more sport practice? They're too busy to get to the gym twice a week?

When are they getting more athletic?

Best of luck with your training today!

With Thanks,