The Biggest Mistake an Athlete Can Make

What's the biggest mistake an athlete can make?

In my opinion, it is neglecting In - Season Strength Training.

In order to maintain strength that was built in the off - season and reduce the risk of nagging injury, a properly designed lifting regimen should be a staple in an athlete's year round training program. It does not mean that we have to lift with an off- season volume and intensity. It does mean that at least 1x per week, ideally 2x per week, we continue to focus on our basic strength concepts.

All it takes is one month of no strength training for the body to start DE-training......GETTING WEAKER. Let's take a baseball player for instance. My consistent clients will train with me in the fall and winter and then I don't see them until the next fall. That means the months of April thru August have gone by with no strength training at all.

What happens in July.....the most important tournaments? Uh, who doesn't want to be strong when playoffs roll around? Why spend all off- season getting stronger then abandon it completely when the most important games of the year begin?

All.... and I mean ALL athletes should be lifting weights all year round. I don't care if your baseball coach gives you some BS excuse about how it will ruin your swing or if your basketball coach tells you it will change your shot. Watch a Major League Baseball game and tell me those guys are not lifting some weights during the season. Has anyone looked at Dwight Howard or LeBron James...pretty sure those guys are lifting some weights!

An In - season lifting day can be as simple as this

Warm up

Jump exercise 3x5
Core exercise

DB chest press 3 x6
Lunge or single leg squat 3 x 6

Seated row 3 x 8
Posterior chain 3 x 8

That is all takes. 45 minutes - 1 - 2 days per week to maintain all the strength you built in the off -season. A professional like myself will be able to look at your practice and game schedule and suggest the best days to lift during the season.

Make the year round commitment to being an athlete!