Get Coached - S&C for Figure Skating w/c 21/7/2014

This week has been fairly quiet on the coaching front with senior skaters still on camp and holiday (alright for some!).
However, I still had my development groups in Ayrshire and East Kilbride to work with.
Both groups are a mix of ages so adapting the planned programme and making adjustments on the run were the order of the day.
The key aim of both sessions was to challenge and build on their balance, coordination and proprioception abilities. We covered single leg squats, arabesques with a squat; a seesaw like pivot and moving from upright to arabesque and back upright again without putting a foot down. These moves all challenge balance and core strength/control as well as stretching and working the hamstring and hip muscles.

I have seen a real improvement in movement control and general coordination since introducing these type of exercises and few years ago and this had had a positive impact in performance on the ice.

This takes me on to my next point on core/torso strengthening exercises which is to ask if overhead squats in their many variations are better for developing torso/core strength for absorbing forces, bracing against and generating torque?

I currently use overhead squats and split squats with a barbell, overhead split squats with a dumbell and body weight overhead squats for the younger athletes. All my athletes also complete various floor exercises for core/torso strength as well including plank variations and sit-up variations both straight and rotational.

What are your thoughts and opinions on overhead squats and how do you use them?

Comment on this post here or on my Get Coached Facebook page.