Very few athletes train a single energy system, a single type of strength or a single type of endurance. The majority of events are a mixture along the continuum. Thus, most athletic training, even during a strength phase will include running. We know from specialists that distance running hurts lifting and lifting hurts distance running-(…)
How many total sets and repetitions you should perform in a training session? Should you perform four or five sets of an exercise, should it be five or six exercises? There are few guidelines detailing what functional training loads are for athletes/general population but a few salient points should be made in advance of planning your(…)
The LTAD model proposed by Balyi & Hamilton (2004) outlines a framework for the development of motor-skills and physical skills which run parallel to a chronological age profile of an athlete. It is an ambitious project that attempts to explain the physiological development of a young athlete all the way to adulthood. It has been(…)
The effect of early specialization on long-term athlete development is evidenced on physical and psychological levels. Harre et al. (1982) compared the major differences in athletes who specialized early v those who had a multilateral development: Early Specialisation v Multilateral Development 1. Quick performance improvements v Slower performance improvements 2. Best performances aged 15-16 years(…)
Pictured above is Brian O’Driscoll, Irish captain at the 2011 Rugby World Cup. He has captained Ireland to the Grand Slam title, was IRB World Rugby player of the year in 2001 and recently voted World Rugby player of the decade 2000 – 2009. In truth, he probably could have been a world-class athlete in(…)