Parents…if you have a young athlete you have undoubtedly been in this situation…you recognize your athlete needs or wants to get stronger, faster or healthier. Then you look at the schedule and try to find the available small windows where the athlete can get some physical training. The windows are usually 3-6 weeks…maybe up to 8 weeks if you are lucky.
Some speed or strength coaches may get excited and tell you parents what you want to hear because they just want your athlete in their gym. I don’t blame them…that’s business. However, I want to let you know physical preparation and performance enhancement are dedicated, long term programs.
I recently had a parent want to get their athlete some work before she left for college. The small window we had to work was going to be 3 weeks. I politely asked the father what he was wanting and expecting in that time frame. The response was “get stronger and improve vertical”. Every athlete wants that! Even better if I can get it in just 3 weeks!
When we get athletes in there are a couple general things we want to accomplish…improve movement quality and get stronger. Sounds awesome right?
Problem is we don’t usually put in the time it takes to make these changes. It takes approximately 6-8 weeks for true strength adaptations to occur. You may get some improvement before that but it may just be you becoming more efficient at the exercises.
Also, if your movement needs improved or changed you need to get so many good reps in the new pattern for it to replace the old patterns.
Bob Knight has a great quote…”Everyone wants to win. Not everyone wants to do what it takes to win.”
Here are some clichés…
- Rome wasn’t built in a day
- You don’t graduate school in one year
- It’s a marathon not a sprint
I think we all get this point in conversation. Actually walking the walk is a different story. Let’s be patient. Let’s put in the necessary work. Let’s get real results that stick.
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