1. Physical Demands
Football is one of the most physically demanding sports in terms of the punishment the body takes. Not only does it require strength, speed and stamina, there is the added trauma of crashing into other people at full speed and having them do the same to you. You need extensive conditioning to be a successful football player. Even the lineman, who seemingly work out by eating as much as they possibly can, are actually very finely tuned athletes who can run 40 yards faster than your average sized 20-year-old, and lift Herculean amounts of weight as part of their training.
2. Children and Conditioning
Any parents wondering if they are doing their children a disservice by allowing them to play multiple sports, fret no more. Kids who play one sport year-round often end up overworked, burnt out and physically one-dimensional. Playing multiple sports is the best conditioning for young athletes, as it helps the body recover from the previous sport and helps cross train such that children end up physically well-rounded. Focused football conditioning programs are not for children below the high school level. If, in high school, a child decides that football is the only sport for them, a year-round conditioning program that includes weightlifting, running and stretching can improve an athlete's strength, flexibility and overall performance for the next season.
3. Specialized Conditioning
Successful football conditioning programs go on for months before the season begins. The key for any program is an emphasis on certain skills for certain positions. It makes sense, because linemen have different on-the-field responsibilities than wide receivers. Players should separate according to position they play and perform the drills necessary to succeed at that position. Skill position players like defensive backs, running backs and wide receivers need more work on speed and agility, whereas lineman require more strength and short movement conditioning.
4. No More Boot Camp
Gone are the days of the boot camp mentality for football condition programs. In programs past, water was used as a carrot to inspire better performance. While the mentality is different now, it remains vital that you monitor each player for dehydration and any signs of physical problems. When conducting a football conditioning program, a trainer or medically trained personnel should be present at all times to assist a player who is sick or hurt. Water should be plentiful and the hydration breaks numerous in any football condition drill.
5. The Kids Need Structure
The ideal structure for a football conditioning program is broken down into three segments: preseason, in-season and transition. Preseason lasts about seven months and focuses on getting players in condition for the upcoming season. In this phase, the program should include strength, flexibility and speed training. The in-season segment focuses on maintaining the work done during preseason. The transition phase is the post-season time when a player eases off to rest the body. Constant training is never a good idea, because the body will eventually break down.
Member Comments