Why Is Strength Training Important To Athletes?

(Sunday, August 14, 2005) - The improvement of performance in athletics over the past few years has been phenomenal. For example, twenty years ago the average football lineman weighed 250 pounds and ran a 5.2 second 40-yard dash. This was considered to be nearing the genetic limit for a player. Now, running backs that weigh what the lineman used to weigh are running 4.4 second 40-yard dashes! Strength training has made the single, most positive contribution to this type of improvement. Today, strength training influences every athletic program in the country, no matter what the sport - male or female. Athletes now find it necessary to lift weights and participate in conditioning programs to better prepare themselves for the competitive rigors of the athletic season.
Just a short time ago, most coaches thought that strength training would cause athletes to become muscle-bound and would be counterproductive to good technique. However, it has been proven that athletic performance depends either directly or indirectly on qualities of muscular strength. We must remember that technique is the medium that expresses strength. If you compare two athletes who have equal technical skills and abilities, the stronger one is always going to win.

The number one purpose of complete conditioning - including the physical, technical, tactical and psychological aspects of training - is to improve the player's ability to make the "big play." Strength training is a vital part of complete conditioning. So next time someone tells you weight training is just for bodybuilders, think again. A proper strength training program just may be the final piece of your training "puzzle" to success!

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