It's been a while since the last blog post so I thought I had better get writing!
We have recently bought a new house which we are decorating and extending. This project has taken up a lot of time but will be worth the effort once completed.
We have recently bought a new house which we are decorating and extending. This project has taken up a lot of time but will be worth the effort once completed.
Anyway, I thought I would write about Speed, Agility and Quickness (SAQ). These are just some of my opinions, thoughts and experiences gained over the years.
First I must clarify that I do not agree with ladder drills if you want to run fast on the track or on the field and I am not going discuss any specific ladder or plyometric drills or exercises either.
However, ladder drills are excellent if you need quick, accurate and coordinated footwork during the execution of your sport, such as the step sequence of a skating programme.
Quickness as in accelerating the body in an explosive type movement can be improved by increasing strength i.e. squats, power via Olympic lifts, or various jump type exercises and plyometrics.
Quickness as in accelerating the body in an explosive type movement can be improved by increasing strength i.e. squats, power via Olympic lifts, or various jump type exercises and plyometrics.
Quickness can also be the ability to move our limbs or body quickly in any given pattern or direction. For example, when executing a Figure Skating jump the arms need to be brought in close to the body on leaving the ice to facilitate quick rotation and snapped out again on landing. Timing and whole body coordination are essential for a successful landing.
As an S&C coach I would not look to replicate a technical sporting movement in the gym but rather to enhance the athletes physical ability to move quickly in an accurate and defined manner so that the Sports Coach can then work on the technical aspects more effectively. Ladder drills can be a specific stand alone session to develop quickness and coordination, a fun addition to a session for younger athletes or part of a complex during a lifting session in the gym. Learning complex footwork patterns for the ladder and executing them accurately is a skill in itself and will enhance the athletes ability to learn new drills as well as moving more effectively in their sport.
In a sport where young athletes already perform a lot of jumps it is important to monitor the volume of any additional high impact work done in the gym or during Off-ice or Dry Land Jump sessions. It is very easy to quickly exceed an appropriate volume of jumps in any given session or day if discussion between coaches or prior planning is not done!
Being able to move quickly and accurately in any sport is an advantage especially in a such a technical sport as Figure Skating. As such I will use any tools I feel that will enhance my athletes abilities from ladders and hurdles to barbells for the Olympic lifts and their variations.
Speed of movement is not just about physical effort but also about the mental drive to make the body move fast, the specific application of that effort.
Thanks again for reading this far, I hope you have enjoyed the blog and maybe even gained a little food for thought here? Please feel free to post any relevant comments or feedback here or on the Get Coached FB page.
As an S&C coach I would not look to replicate a technical sporting movement in the gym but rather to enhance the athletes physical ability to move quickly in an accurate and defined manner so that the Sports Coach can then work on the technical aspects more effectively. Ladder drills can be a specific stand alone session to develop quickness and coordination, a fun addition to a session for younger athletes or part of a complex during a lifting session in the gym. Learning complex footwork patterns for the ladder and executing them accurately is a skill in itself and will enhance the athletes ability to learn new drills as well as moving more effectively in their sport.
In a sport where young athletes already perform a lot of jumps it is important to monitor the volume of any additional high impact work done in the gym or during Off-ice or Dry Land Jump sessions. It is very easy to quickly exceed an appropriate volume of jumps in any given session or day if discussion between coaches or prior planning is not done!
Being able to move quickly and accurately in any sport is an advantage especially in a such a technical sport as Figure Skating. As such I will use any tools I feel that will enhance my athletes abilities from ladders and hurdles to barbells for the Olympic lifts and their variations.
Speed of movement is not just about physical effort but also about the mental drive to make the body move fast, the specific application of that effort.
Thanks again for reading this far, I hope you have enjoyed the blog and maybe even gained a little food for thought here? Please feel free to post any relevant comments or feedback here or on the Get Coached FB page.
