The ability to develop strength & power allows every other category you train to be better, easier & more efficient. If you think strength training isn’t for athletes, you’d better rethink quickly because it’s quickly becoming a requirement to become a good athlete, much less a great one.

   

    In Stage one, no formal strength training is necessary. Simply moving, running, jumping and playing develops the appropriate strength & power necessary for your development. Simply stay active and you will be on the right track. If you’d like, adding calastenics such as jumping jacks, burpee’s, push-ups, bodyweight squats, sit-ups, etc. in a progressive way will be a perfect addition to your active developmental lifestyle.

   

    In Stage two, in addition to playing and the other categories discussed on other pages, you can begin to add some basic strength training. Light dumbbells & bodyweight exercises are a great beginning to develop strength. Med balls & light plyo’s are a great addition to develop power. As long as it’s fun and progressive it’ll work.

   

    In Stage three, a real formal training program should begin. Basic exercises should first be learn and then progressed. In addition, fun exercises can be added to keep it fun and motivating. This is the first stage where you can really begin to add some weight, just make sure to keep good form and maintain bodyweight strength. After all, it does you no good to be strong with weights if you can’t control your own body weight. Remember, controlling your own bodyweight is sports.

   

    In Stage four, a strength coach will be guiding your efforts with a progressive program that includes strength training, plyometrics and power exercises. It is assumed that you have great body weight control at this stage so you focus more on the ability to move heavier weights, faster. This stage is often the peak of your strength training efforts.

   

    In Stage five, you again come full circle by mastering bodyweight control and avoiding any exercise that could cause injury. Here weight isn’t as important as knowing your sport and doing what is necessary to maintain your strength and power ability.