Stronger Than I

Programming successive strength, with regards to advancing the athlete, means considering 3 key areas of athletic development.

  • Special
  • Specific
  • Skill

What is Special Strength? Special strength will be the technique for tactical carryover, utilizing any and all maneuvering that mimics the activity or sport.

What is Specific Strength? Specific Strength is exactly that, specific. It is their time spent “on the field” or “under the bar”, as it is this stimulus that will directly impact an athlete’s best performance.

What is Skill Strength? Skill Strength is the stimulus for an athlete to “better” themselves just beyond current potential (ability). This is a strength where an advanced athlete may find it a harder challenge to improve on their skill sets, which is why the other two areas of strength are crucial to allowing long term, performance development.

Phrased metaphorically: Visualize the potential of an empty cup. Special Strength would be the input, filling the cup. Specific Strength would be the input appropriate to the weak points or limiting factors to holding the cup together. Finally, Skill Strength, the fluidity (ability and capability) is to be without any cup keeping everything held together.

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