Over my lifetime I’ve seen the adoption of strength training in sports.

Michael Jordan was a standout of his time. Using strength training to enhance his sporting performance back in the 80’s.

As the benefits became too good to ignore it seeped into sports & became the norm.

The laggard being golfers. As the least, let’s say ‘dynamic’ sport, I can see why this was the case.

What I’m seeing now?

The acceptance of strength training at the grass roots level. This is great in theory, set up & build good habits and capacity both on and off the court now.

The reality?

Guru’s left and right are trying to one up each other with their new and impressive ‘sports specific’ moves.

(& charging a motaz for it too – moves so unique, they must know what they’re doing right?!)

Ok I’ll admit it, the title was for attention. Yet I’m serious when I say it’s joke. At least for the most part.

Double left leg hop forwards, cut to the left then bound right with a water bag overhead…

11 years old, with zero strength training under their belt, no spatial awareness or basic capacity.

Now the age isn’t the important thing here – training age is. How many years of gym/weights training do you have?

The same principle holds true if you’re 11 or 40.

Can you do the basics first? Touch your toes, do a body weight squat or a push up?

Sports specific training is the pinnacle of specificity, not the base.

The pinnacle should be many years away.

My lecturers words that stuck: “The most sports specific training you can do is play the sport itself.”

Don’t get sucked into overpriced complicated sports specific programming for yourself or your kids.

Get Fit, Get Strong, Get Mobile – Nail the basics first and forever.

#HybridTraining #HornsbyGym #GymHornsby #PersonalTrainerHornsby #HornsbyPersonalTrainer