Athletes need to be vigorously trained. In modern times, we have accumulated a comprehensive and complex understanding of sports science, sports nutrition, and supplementation. We now have cutting edge methodologies to train athletes so they can explore every inch the potential they have inside.
Proper training and regime help an athlete stay healthy. Every athlete requires training from a tyro to an elite, training plays a huge role in a sports person’s journey. Training helps athletes to build muscle strength, avoid injury, and improve the game.
“It doesn’t matter what you’re trying to accomplish. It’s all a matter of discipline.”
– Wilma Rudolph
What is Sports performance training?
Sports performance training is the training of the body and brain which enhances an athlete’s performance in competition thereby contributing towards the success, an athlete is aspiring to achieve in the journey.
Sports performance training differs from personal fitness training in a way that the athlete is conditioned and strengthens in accordance with the sport he/she is competing in. The factors such as age, gender, and fitness level are thoroughly evaluated to create a custom training program combined with scientifically proven training methods that result in a more confident, and motivated self.
Sports performance training programs generally have four distinct aspects, which are focused on achieving the maximum results. The four areas include neuromuscular aspects of the body, the relationship between the nervous system and the musculoskeletal system, mental calm and psychological aspects, and environmental conditions which include coaching and other support systems for the athlete.
What is the ultimate goal?
The ultimate goal of a sports training program is custom-built methodologies must enhance the athlete’s performance in the competition by using the latest developments in the industry and sports science. The strength and conditioning program must improve the athlete’s overall vigor that is his/her strength, agility, speed, flexibility, power, coordination, and balance. Knowing they are physically prepared helps remove self-doubt the athlete has in mind which is important for being successful in their respective sport.
Why you should train athletes?
Every sports person loves a challenge. What could be more challenging than grooming young athletes! Being a coach to an athlete is a serious and far tougher job than training the general clientele aiming regular fitness. While training an athlete, every little aspect is important. There are factors like strategies, planning, thinking, and modulating involved. The whole experience of being a coach is a fulfilling adventure. Here are the listed reasons why you should consider training athletes:
1) Chance to understand Sports Specificity
Sport specificity is a principle that explains that adaptations gained from performance training are directly dependent on the type of activity, volume, and intensity of the exercise performed. It simple terms, sports specificity states that training should be appropriate with the relevance of sport for which an athlete is training to get the desired results.
Therefore, specificity also relates to the neuromuscular or metabolic adaptations that should improve the physiological qualities related to that particular sport. Sport specificity is nothing but the phrase “Practice, Practice and Practice because Practice makes perfect”
2) Lay hands on the understanding of how to select exercises for professional sports clients
The coach is entirely responsible for curating the exercise regime which must be followed by an athlete. The exercise selection scheme for the primary exercises is dependent on the aspect which is most difficult to achieve. The first two-three exercises are usually which might involve multiple joints and hence should be executed with care.
Furthermore, core strength and stability exercises must be incorporated in every regime to keep on continuing the development at a steady pace.
3) Learn to optimize programs via periodization
Periodization is defined as the systematic planning of athletic training. The concept was created by Russian physiologist Leo Matveyv in the 1960s. The aim is to promote long term training performance with improvements recorded timely. The strategy is to plan systematic variations in training specificity and intensity in periods within an overall program. It is encouraged to have a year-long plan that is broken into smaller time increments.
The periodization follows the concept of a Macrocycle, mesocycle, and microcycle. A coach must have thorough knowledge to optimize the periodic training plans of the athlete for a fruitful result.
4) Know When and how to incorporate different types of training
The coach must have a firm understanding of how of all the approaches of training. From resistance training, calisthenics to plyometric and fartlek training. He must educate himself about all of them to create a combination of regimes for an athlete. The different training sessions allocate sufficient recovery between training stimuli, maintaining performance in the next sessions, and decreasing the risk of overuse injuries.
5) Learn to be observant of the miscellaneous factors that impact the athlete’s health
The overall health of any individual consists of both physical and mental wellbeing. A coach should be observant about all the factors that can impact his client’s journey. He must know about any past injury, external life stressors, Training experience, Current medical conditions, etc. From there, the coach can begin designing the tailored sessions to work upon the athlete’s general and sport-specific strength.
6) Personal Growth
Most people thrive to push their boundaries and get out of their comfort zone to experience new things and learn constantly in their careers. There is a sense of fulfillment and pride when coaching a professional athlete for elite competitions. This sure is not a disregard for those working with general population clientele, because they also achieve pride helping those getting back in shape and seeing them improve their daily lives through health and fitness.