Is Sport Specific Training a Myth?
Take a look at this article and see what your thoughts are. I’d love to see some comments.
Is Sports Specific Training a Myth?
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Michael Boyle's Strengthcoach.com Blog 
November 12, 2014 at 9:29 pm
So true. I’m not a fan of most imitative training. I prefer to stay to the basics.
November 12, 2014 at 9:28 pm
I think most athletes don’t perform nearly enough single leg activity like an unsupported single leg squat. One unexpected benefit is that the athlete is forced to use the whole foot.
November 9, 2014 at 11:55 am
Great article, Mike. What do you think about all the ACL tears we’re seeing of late in both basketball and MMA? For instance, both Jon Jones and Daniel Cormier have ACL tears in the last year, and both former wrestlers. Derrick Rose, of course, has extreme athleticism but can’t seem to stay healthy.
Surely these problems are related? Something I see wrestlers doing a lot when they enter into a wide stance is they compensate with extreme ankle eversion, effectively making only the inside of their foot contact the ground. With basketball players (and I can’t prove this), it seems like during cuts they absorb force almost through the shoe, rather than planting their foot inside the shoe. How large of a role do you think foot stability plays in all this? I’m assuming if the foot does not make complete contact with the ground, the ankle or knee or hip will shift to create stability.
November 8, 2014 at 3:41 pm
After reading, I feel that the type of training outlined is spot on for swimming. “sports specific” training especially in swimming seems to take on a life of it’s own and coaches like to make up exercises on land that mimic the swimming movements that is “stress on stress” rather than “bullet proofing” the athlete, restoring balance to the aquatic athlete, and enhancing what is being done by the actual sport. I think that a lot of strength and sport coaches look to find the silver bullet and an irrational level of transfer of strength from mimicking sports like movements.
November 7, 2014 at 12:21 pm
My approach has been to develop strength, speed, agility globally since I have not seen much need for variation on the development of those variables, and manipulate the adjunct work. I do specific exercises for deficiencies and weaknesses and I address common injuries in whatever sport they play. But, if athletes need to get stronger, they are probably performing a similar workout.