Sports Specific Training Articles
Click on the titles below to view each article related to Sports Specific Training. Articles cover topics such as complete speed, track and field, football, basketball, baseball, soccer, lacrosse, and martial arts.
Complete Speed
Speed Development for the Horizontal Jumper, by Boo Schexnayder
Development of speed for the horizontal jumper is possibly the most important and most difficult task for the coach. In one sense, the development of speed is an extremely simple process. When simple guidelines are followed with patience, the program is typically successful.
Youth Football Specific Speed, by Brian Grasso
Specific strength exercises are fantastic ways to increase the sport and positional specific speed of your youth football athletes – and often much easier to implement within the scope of a practice.
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Track and Field
Starting Blocks, by Latif Thomas
Proper acceleration is crucial to the success of track and field sprinters, but can not be achieved without ideal positioning within the starting blocks.
Sprinting Techniques, by Latif Thomas
Sprinting technique is all about power and efficiency. In a sport where 'elite' and 'run of the mill' are separated by fractions of a second...
Sprinting Workouts, by Latif Thomas
As a coach, you have the responsibility to do your research, find a training plan, and stick to it. You need to commit to a course of action that you believe...
Top 6 Most Effective 300/400 Meter Hurdle Workouts, by Steve McGill
300 and 400 meter hurdle workouts, drills, exercises and variations.
110 and 100 Meter Hurdles, by Jim Giroux
This article will discuss start differences between the sprints and hurdles, takeoff and hurdle clearance, workout variations, drills and training suggestions for different weeks for the 100 and 110 meter hurdles.
Identifying Potential Hurdlers, by Steve McGill
The first thing I look for in identifying potential hurdlers is work ethic. The reason for this is because no matter how tall, how fast, how strong, or how quick an athlete is, he or she cannot be a hurdler without the willingness to put in a lot of hard work and to overcome a tremendous amount of frustration.
Teaching the Long Jump to Young Jumpers, by Lee Taft
When introducing a young jumper the event of long jumping it is wise to start with the one thing you know they can do; Run. Make no mistake about it; if the athlete isn’t fast they will never be a great long jumper. Speed is what carries the jumper to...
Long Jump Approach, by Adarian Barr
The long jump approach is difficult to master. The ability to attain top horizontal speed (velocity) that can be transferred into vertical speed at take-off while maintaining maximum horizontal speed is the difference between a far jump and a not so far jump.
Coaching the Long Jump, by Boo Schexnayder
Teaching the long jump involves addressing all the skills in a fashion that orders skills from simple to complex. This is done through several teaching progressions that occur simultaneously.
Long Jump, by Jim Giroux
Regardless of the level your athletes are, to long jump they will need to 1) Accelerate to maximum controllable speed 2) Transition this approach into a takeoff and 3) Land the jump in as efficient a manner as possible.
Long Jump Checklist, by Patrick Beith
Things to look for on proper long jump mechanics.
High Jump Drills, by Jim Giroux
Before we get into the high jump drills, the high jump has an Approach that contains a transition from linear to a curve. It has a Takeoff that is similar to the long jump, employing a penultimate and takeoff step. Lastly, it has Bar Clearance and Landing in the pit.
Coaching the Triple Jump, by Boo Schexnayder
Teaching the triple jumps involves addressing all the skills in a fashion that orders skills from simple to complex. This is done through several teaching progressions that occur simultaneously.
Pole Vault - Preparation, by Luis M. Rosiles
The art of pole vaulting has so many articles and books written from beginners to master vaulters. It is safe to say that pretty much all generally say the same thing: the run, the pole carry, the plant, the drive, the swing, the turn around and the release.
200 Meter Training, by Latif Thomas
The main problem with inexperienced 200 meter runners is the fact they run the race like it’s the 55, i.e., they try to sprint the whole thing. The reason so many athletes get run down in the deuce is because they treat it like it’s a race to the straight away.
Sprint Training, by Tony Veney
You need to know what the body is affected by when you sprint, and you need to train those areas and perfect them so that when it's time to "punch" it, they "punch it" like a Top Fuel Funny Car and not like the neighborhood garbage truck.
Horizontal Jumping 101, by Cameron Gary
Running and jumping (along with lifting and throwing) are the most fundamental of human athletic movements. In this article we’ll look at the basics as they relate to jumping in general and horizontal jumping (long jump and triple jump) in particular.
Horizontal Jumping 101, Part II, by Cameron Gary
It is no accident that almost all good horizontal jumpers are capable, if not outstanding sprinters. Since we know that sprinting is a series of jumps,let’s look at how we might utilize some of the general principles covered in Part One.
Speed Development for the Horizontal Jumper, by Boo Schexnayder
Development of speed for the horizontal jumper is possibly the most important and most difficult task for the coach. In one sense, the development of speed is an extremely simple process. When simple guidelines are followed with patience, the program is typically successful.
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Football
Football Speed - 7 Tips to a Faster 40, by Patrick Beith
This is the time of the season where I am sure that you are asked the same question over and over. 'How do I run a faster 40?'
Football Speed Training - Tips to a Faster 40 II, by Patrick Beith
Getting in best position possible to start will set up your entire 40 yard run. Now, let's get you that blazing speed you have looking for during the actual run of the 40.
Keys to Developing Football Players, by Jason Hadeed
The science of off-season training has evolved dramatically since the thought of even training for sport although some schools of thought have not. I am a big believer of creating bigger, faster, stronger, and more conditioned athletes but the approach I use is not the most accepted approach in the industry.
Youth Football Specific Speed, by Brian Grasso
Specific strength exercises are fantastic ways to increase the sport and positional specific speed of your youth football athletes – and often much easier to implement within the scope of a practice.
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Basketball
Basketball Speed Starts With Stopping, by Lee Taft
Basketball speed starts with stopping. First step speed and acceleration is king in the sport of basketball.
The "Final Four" of Basketball Conditioning, by Lee Taft
Many years ago, I developed a set of conditioning drills for my basketball players and named them the “Final Four” of drills. There are four drills that are completed on a time frame which somewhat mimic basketball speed, but are slightly longer in duration compared to a normal sequence of plays, at least in the duration of intensity.
Warm Up Your Basketball Workouts, by Glenn Harris
The sport of basketball is a highly technical game involving excellent hand/eye coordination however it is also a game that involves a tremendous amount of conditioning. However, before any competition or conditioning can begin it is my job to make sure that the team is thoroughly warmed up and ready to play.
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Baseball
Improve Your Base Stealing, by Lee Taft
Speed for any athlete always begins with starting technique. If the stance is bad the start will be bad. For a baseball player, stealing is about initial action, starting speed, and acceleration speed. The body must be in a position that allows for forces to be generated quickly...
How to Be a Great Thief at the Diamond, by Lee Taft
Each and every baseball player on the field must have their senses heightened preparing for the ball to be hit like a missile in any part of the field. Not only do the defensive players need to be ready to act the offensive players on base must be ready to move as well. Let’s look closer at a few positions on the field and how they can be quicker in getting to the ball or advancing on the bases.
Dynamic Warm up for Baseball Players, by Matt Daily
Baseball is not a slow or “static” sport. When playing baseball, the playing actions are centered around power, acceleration, explosiveness, and movements. Here is how to get your baseball players ready to play.
Offseason Training for Baseball, by Dana Cavalea
What program can you prescribe for me, based on my individual needs, to enhance throwing velocity and bat speed to meet my genetic potential? This question shows that this athlete is willing to stay focused and committed to a goal that is within reach for them.
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Soccer
Soccer Agility Drills, by Patrick Beith
The ability to stop, start, cut and sprint are extremely crucial skills needed to be successful in soccer. Here are 6 of our top soccer agility drills for players that can be used and are great in a team setting.
Defensive Soccer Drills, by Patrick Beith
A lot of emphasis is placed on the offensive side of soccer, but like you know, it might not be flashy but defense wins games. Here are 6 great defensive soccer drills that you can take to practice today.
Testing for Soccer, by Patrick Beith
You need a measurable way of assessing the success of your soccer program - something you can track and something you can quantify in order to compare before, during, and after season results - how do you accomplish this?
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Lacrosse
Lacrosse Speed Training, by Corey Crane
A 12-Week Progressive Power, Speed, Agility and Conditioning Program for Lacrosse. Developing a speed and conditioning program specifically lacrosse requires you to analyze the metabolic demands for the sport.
Lacrosse In-Season, by Corey Crane
A proper in-season strength and conditioning plan has multiple dimensions. The primary goal of an in-season resistance program is to further increase or at least maintain power, strength and endurance.
Conditioning Lacrosse Players, by Pete Koeniges
The distance they run during a typical game is broken down into sprints ranging from 20-50 yards at a time. Between these sprints they will either be resting in the bench area, playing defense, or running their offensive set.
Functional Training for Lacrosse, by Brian Yeager
Try incorporating these exercises into your lacrosse off-season training and I can guarantee you will see and feel a difference on the field.
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Martial Arts
Core Training for Martial Artists, by Alwyn Cosgrove
The mid section of the body, as most of you realize, this is where all the power in kicks, punches and throws is generated. Basically if you improve core stability and strength, you will improve your martial arts ability across the board.
Top 10 Martial Arts Tips, by Alwyn Cosgrove
Applying the principles of scientific training– I have come up with ten training guidelines for the combat athlete that must be present to ensure competitive success.
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