Movement IS a Skill--Strength IS a Skill

Every time I talk to another coach or speak to a parent, I constantly get the same comment; "I want them to get faster". "Will, you have to get him stronger."

The problem with those comments is that most trainers, coaches, parents, and even the athletes don't understand what that means. They typically think that everything has to be overly challenging and hard if we are going to see any improvement. Unfortunately, training regiments become grueling workouts with lots of reps and very little rest. Regardless of whether it's a 10-year old kid that has been inappropriately labeled "premier" or a professional athlete, you absolutely HAVE to start from the very basics when designing and developing movement and strength skills.

Movement and Strength are skills and they must be developed just like sport-skills are developed. For example, growing up the son of a college basketball coach, I first learned to shoot with a smaller basketball, a lower hoop, and I was moved close to the basket for starters. Then, the technique was broken down and represented in a manner that I could easily learn and understand. BEEF, was the phrase of the day. Balance, elbow, eyes, follow-thru. The goal wasn't on taking a lot of shots, but focused on technical accuracy and efficiency.

The same approach should be taken when teaching movement and strength. All the athletes that have ever worked with me, even the professional ones, have all come in with some movement and/or strength deficiencies that needed to be corrected. That's right....ALL of them.

It's this instance where I always revert back to these issues being faulty skill sets. Most athletes that are typically considered weak, are usually weak because they don't squat, lunge, push, or pull very well, AND they don't engage their torso. Somewhere along the athletic timeline, these skills were never taught, or taught poorly.

The same goes for the "slow" athlete. How many slow athletes don't move "well"?

For instance, a current athlete of mine has added 10mph on his fastball after working with me for the last 8 weeks. Before you accuse me of patting myself on the back, know that all I did was teach him how to control his body better. Most of our sessions weren't overly difficult as he was given plenty of rest and lots of instruction. Prior to coming under my direction, his "strength" regiment consisted of nothing more than bench press and bicep curls. Never been taught how to squat, never been taught how to move. Point being, we corrected the skills and now his strength is better and he is MUCH faster.

It's because of this attitude that myself and other trainers that believe in this philosophy are labeled as being soft. The testosterone infected sporting world and the "no pain, no gain" attitude has really created a "when pain, no gain" atmosphere. Athletes are constantly put through grueling regiments and find themselves not getting faster, not really getting stronger.

Coaches--re-evaluate your current physical development measures. Are you developing a skill or are you making them tired? Example: Baseball pitcher and long distance.

Trainers--Do your training regiments match your philosophy? Example: Market a long-term approach, but go for quick results with plyometric over-reaching.

Athletes--Understand that the best way to get better is from working hard, not from being overworked. Example: Running 4 sprints with maximal focus on running mechanics instead of 20 sprints trying to simply run as fast as you can.

As for me, I'm going to continue being "soft" on my athletes because while their friends are being beaten into the ground with other training regiments, my athletes will be fast, strong, and injury free.

Will Haskell, YCS Lev. II, ACE
coachwill@athleterevolution.com