The fundamental training of Athletics (Track and field) forms the basis for any sports that requires physical movements.
Sports nowadays is not just about game skills. It requires a focus on fitness, nutrition besides game skills. Most sportspersons can benefit from the basic training programs followed by athletes.
Every sport organises camps once in a while for the top players, where the players come together to hone their skills, improve teamwork, and also for training and conditioning.
However, the general belief is that Indian sportspersons should spend more time on strength training and not just a few weeks in camps.
“Indian players focus a lot on movement training, but core strength training is missing. In the modern world, training has changed completely. So it is important that trainers design training structures that are intimidating. Also, almost 6 months should be spent on strength training and not a few days in camps,” says a senior coach associated with Indian Track and Field.
Sports federations in India now invite foreign coaches with a background in athletics, for their sports camps; these coaches provide valuable guidance to budding Indian sportspersons.
“It’s important to know what a player wants and then I design their training session. It is also important for coaches to know what do they need from a team. I focus a lot on Movement patterns in the beginning, then I shift focus to developing strength base in players. During the second phase we focus a lot on player’s body composition, their diet and hydration. Later we focus on their speed and agility,” Allison Randall, strength and conditioning coach for women’s Basketball team at Vanderbilt University who was here India for a Strength and fitness camp organized for the basketball team.
Also, depending on the sports, one needs to encourage more upper (or lower) body workout along with exercises for shoulder, joints, elbows, knees, and ankles.
As far as nutrition is concerned, the foreign coaches understand that it’s tough for Indian players as many of them are vegetarian and Indians are happen to be more on the thinner side.
“I have observed that Indians have good sporting genes especially if we talk about swift movements but what they lack is endurance. Indian sports players need to work a lot on endurance,” says Mike Russel, IAAF academy elite coach (IAAF is now World Athletics).Also, it is very important that trainers focus more on getting adequate protein in a player’s diet.
Sports medicine expert Dr Kannan Pugazhendi says, “Players who are into sports that require a lot of jumping can benefit from plyometric exercises, as proper landing is more important. Various muscles in the upper body work together and helps in improving explosive jumps.”
In general, sports federations are realizing the importance of having a scientific approach to training.
And they also realize that there is a need for better coordination between coaches, nutritionists, doctors, and the sports team (especially for team sports).
So what is the difference between strength and power?
“Strength is necessary for power. It is the core of power. Strength is the beginning while power is the outcome and this is the main reason why strength training should be taken seriously,” says Dr Kannan.
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