Sports Performance Training

The most common goal of parents and coaches bringing their young athletes here to explosion is to make the children faster. What few understand is the role of power in the development of speed. The true goal of most athletes, coaches and parents is to achieve optimal or peak performance in their chosen endeavor. The road to peak performance is five fold. Each level is built on the one prior. An athlete missing any level of the development process will be predisposed to injury and will struggle to discover their true potential.

The developmental stages of an athlete can most easily be described as a pyramid (see below). At its base is a foundation of applicable Athletic Strength. The body must be in balance and powerful. Speed is nothing more than the application of mass specific force. If an athlete increases the potential power of each stride as compared to their body weight, their potential to propel their body increases. This increased power potential must be balanced to allow acceleration and deceleration in all directions while reducing the risk of injury.

The second stage is Plyometrics. The mere presence of strength has limited value without the ability to apply that balanced strength to the ground or opponent quickly. Our use of plyometrics train the explosive application of force. Our athletes must be able to apply force at a rapid pace in any direction to allow for optimal acceleration and deceleration in all directions.

The third stage is Planned Stimuli Agilities. An athletes ability to generate explosive force is primarily limited by the athletes knowledge of optimal movement patterns. This stage of development is best visualized by adding tools to the athlete’s “toolbox”. We educate athletes with information as to how best to align their bodies in game specific movement patterns. They then practice those movement patterns in a predefined planned sequence. The planned sequence allows the athlete to practice the movement with forethought and commit it to muscle memory. Thus giving the mind another tool to be applied to game situations. This allows the athlete to receive optimal results from their increased force production.

The fourth stage is Unplanned Stimuli Agilities. This final level in our pyramid allows the athlete to apply their new tools in a ‘close to game-like’ situation. The athlete must read and react to the movements of an opponent. This allows them to apply the principals they learned from their planned stimuli agilities in a non premeditated fashion. Optimal movement patterns are now being applied using explosive balanced strength in a game-like situation. Now the athlete is prepared for Peak Performance in their desired sport.

Failing to develop all the stages of the pyramid has clear risks. Leaving out a lower level of the pyramid could potentially leave the athlete at risk for injury. Leaving out an upper level of the pyramid limits the athletes opportunity to achieve peak performance. With our intelligent planned approach to development, we will provide your athlete with the best chance to succeed in their chosen endeavor.