When you think of speed training what word comes to mind? Speed? Agility? Quickness? Sure, all of those would be perfect, but the key word in athlete performance training is… Efficiency! I have been training athletes since 1997 and from professional to youth, they all come to True Athlete Performance and me for the same thing – for us to make them a better athlete. The best way to do that is to make them more Efficient.
To improve efficiency in speed we focus on:
- Form and Technique: Proper form helps to ensure no wasted movement.
- Stride Frequency: Improved frequency increases the number of strides in a given distance.
- Stride Length: Improved length increases the distance covered each stride.
- Strength: Increasing strength will help to ensure maximum power output from the key muscle groups in sprinting form.
- Core Stabilization: A strong and stable core will help to provide the proper foundation for increasing speed.
To improve efficiency in agility we focus on:
- Form and Technique: Proper form helps to ensure no wasted movement.
- Programmed Agility: Drills help to ensure and emphasize proper form.
- Random Agility: Drills that help to develop the proper sport-specific agility needed for sport.
- Flexibility: Improved flexibility will help to ensure proper range of motion in cutting properly.
- Core Stabilization: A strong and stable core will help to provide the proper foundation for increasing speed.
To improve efficiency in quickness we focus on:
- Form and Technique: Proper form helps to ensure no wasted movement.
- Arms: The faster the arms move, the faster the feet move.
- Reaction Time: The better you react the quicker you respond to any athletic movement.
- Ground time: The quicker you get to the ground and the quicker you get off the ground the quicker you are.
- Core Stabilization: A strong and stable core will help to provide the proper foundation for increasing speed.
In all, improving efficiency in athletic movements will help to guarantee improved play on field or court. Remember, we don’t just train players – we train athletes!
For more information on this or any of Rob’s TrueAP Blogs, contact Rob at rrose@trueap.com.
trueap.com – “Where True Athletes Train.”