When we get athletes who want to speed train with us, the most important change they want to see happen is well…run faster.  There are some other changes that happen as a side benefit.  One of them being preparing the body so that the chance of injuries is lessened.  It doesn’t matter how good of an athlete you are, you don’t help your team out at all if you are sitting on the bench because of an injury.

The secondary benefit of speed and strength training

So one way to improve your athlete’s performance is to keep that athlete injury free.  The physical training we do to help improve your speed also doubles as injury prevention.  We are strengthening the muscles so that they can handle high intensities and not break when those situations occur.

For example, if you are a female soccer or basketball player, you should be speed training with us right now.  No if, ands, or buts about it.  Yes, we will get you more explosive for your game, but there is another crucial element to this training.  The same muscles and areas we are working on to help you get more explosive are also reducing the chances of that athlete tearing her ACL or other related injury.

Injuries do happen and if an injury does occur here is the great part.  Because of your strength/speed training, your body will be able to bounce back quicker from the injuries than if you weren’t doing that training prior to.

Here’s what you can do daily

An athlete only has so much time and I understand that.  But something that you can do every day is right under your nose.  A lot of my athletes are horrible at this, but if you can change these two items I’m telling you your athletic performance will be ten times better.

The answer is to eat right and get plenty of rest.

When an athlete does not address those two areas, not only do you feel tired and have less energy for your workouts/games, but you are also weakening your immune system.  You’re constantly picking up little sicknesses and your never truly at 100%.

It is cold here in Columbus as we are moving into March.  It was 32 degrees this weekend and I see athletes coming to train with us wearing a t-shirt and shorts.  So, when they leave and they are hot and sweaty, they are going outside in a t-shirt and shorts.

I was at my daughter’s first track practice Saturday morning and some of these kids outerwear was ridiculous.  Wearing flimsy long sleeve shirts, wearing shorts, no hats.  Wear layers than strip down as needed.

These are the same athletes that come training with us and have to miss a session or two because of a sickness.  Constantly have some cough or always blowing their noses.  If you aren’t doing any strength training or exercise, that just adds to your immune system’s depletion.

Teenagers need to get 8 – 9.5 hours of sleep daily.  Learn to organize, get your homework done early, and get to bed.  You’ll be better rested and allow your body to regenerate while you sleep.

Eating right is a simple way to stay optimally fueled and help your immune system strengthen itself.  The parents need to take the lead on this.  They’re the ones buying the food.  Then teach your athlete how to make appropriate choices when the parents aren’t around.  I give out a free nutrition report AND offer a free 1 time nutrition class to all my athletes and parents.  Hardly any take advantage of it.  Maybe you should.

How bad do you want to be successful as an athlete?

I read an article in the paper the other day about a local swim team.  They are a very dedicated bunch who have made it to the state meet routinely.  These high school swimmers have to be up at the crack of dawn to get workouts in before school.  Thus, they have to go to bed early.  One athlete says she has learned to DVR shows so she can get her sleep in.

She WANTS to be successful.

If you want to be successful as an athlete, there are a ton of things you can do to prepare your body accordingly and many of those take time.  And let’s be honest, they are extra effort items.

We have to eat and sleep.  You might as well do it right and take advantage of that opportunity to develop as an athlete.  Understand what you need to eat.  Make the necessary adjustments to your schedule to get proper rest in and I guarantee that you will have much better athletic performances.  That alone might give you the advantage you need over your competition.

Photo Courtesy of Brett Jordan on Flickr