Why Athletes Can't Ignore Strength & Conditioning

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IN OUR MAILBOX

Welcome to ‘‘IN OUR INBOX’’ where we answer your strength and conditioning questions related to your sport. Got a question? Send it to [email protected]. Your question can be answered in the next edition! Let’s dive into today’s question:

In this newsletter, we have a different format than usual because we are going to discuss a question that we often receive in our inbox. Strength and conditioning training is not always the most popular among athletes. This is understandable because, as an athlete, you would prefer to simply practice your sport rather than do exercises that do not seem to directly contribute to your game.

However, in practice, we see that when athletes recognize the benefits of strength and conditioning and take it seriously, their sports careers often take a significant leap forward. But what exactly does strength and conditioning training mean, and why is it so important for your sports career?

ON YOUR MARK

Over the years, athletes and coaches have come to realize that being strong and fit is crucial for better performance in sports. However, in the early days of training, many believed that strength training would only make athletes more muscular, making them slower and less agile, especially in sports like swimming or soccer.

However, that perception changed as researchers and trainers discovered that strength and conditioning programs not only led to bigger muscles but could also keep athletes stronger, faster, and injury-free.

Strength and conditioning training is now an integral part of almost every athlete's routine, whether they swim, play soccer, or engage in another sport. It's not just about lifting weights to build muscles, but about improving performance and preventing injuries.

Strength and conditioning is a structured way of training that focuses on making athletes stronger, more powerful, and more flexible. It also improves endurance and reduces the risk of injuries by preparing your body for the intensity of the training sessions and competitions ahead.

By training specifically, you enhance particular movements used in your sport, such as shoulder strength and core stability for swimmers. Simply put, it helps you become a better version of yourself without the fear of overloading or injuries.

GET SET

Strength and conditioning training goes far beyond just getting stronger. It encompasses a wide range of exercises specifically designed to develop various skills, such as mobility, stability, strength, endurance, explosive power, speed, agility, and overall performance.

This allows you to run faster, jump more explosively, or endure longer during a competition. Additionally, your body learns to work more efficiently, meaning your muscles respond more quickly to what your brain wants to do. This directly translates to better performance on the field or in the competition.

An additional benefit of strength training is that it helps prevent injuries. Stronger muscles provide stability around your joints and tendons, reducing the risk of injuries from overuse. By training your muscles, the pressure on your joints is decreased, ensuring that your body is better prepared for the physical demands of training and competitions. This way, you don't have to worry about your body becoming overstrained.

Many athletes do not realize that these benefits are not limited to their own sport. You can learn a lot from how athletes in other sports train. For example, a soccer player can benefit from the strength and stability training of a swimmer, while a runner can learn from the explosiveness training of a basketball player.

At The Stoiclete, we delve deep into various sports to show you how strength and conditioning training is essential everywhere. By applying techniques and strategies from other sports, you can further develop yourself in your own sport.

GO

Welcome to the "GO" section, where we put ideas into practice. Before you start this training week, take a moment to answer these two questions below. This will help you understand and apply the information from the newsletter in your training. Let's begin:

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DISCLAIMER: None of the content provided in this newsletter constitutes medical, training, or performance advice. This newsletter is strictly educational and is not intended to be a substitute for professional guidance or personalized coaching. Please be mindful of your limitations and perform exercises at your own risk.