Training Strengths - ELITETRACK

Should you train to your strengths or train to improve your weaknesses? Training to your strengths seems to run contrary to the way most coaches think. There is something about coaches and coaching that makes us want to train the weaknesses. It is so typical to hear coaches talk about what if. What if so and so had a better vertical jump, was stronger or could just handle the workload? Maybe before we focus on what the athlete cannot do we need to find out everything they can do? What is their real strength not their perceived strengths? Are they using their strengths to their best advantage? How are they using their strengths at the present time? How is training structured now? Is an inordinate amount of emphasis being given to training to improve weaknesses to the exclusion of the strengths? Sometimes we can focus so much on improving the weaknesses that we negate the strengths. Ultimately the goal should be a balanced program that takes advantage of the athlete’s strengths and minimizes the weaknesses. Do not focus on strengths to the exclusion of working on the weaknesses; rather learn to manage the weakness.

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Vern Gambetta

Director at Gambetta Sports Training Systems

Vern is the Director of Gambetta Sports Training Systems. He has been the a conditioning coach for several MLS teams as well as the conditioning consultant to the US Men's World Cup Soccer team. Vern is the former Director of Conditioning for the Chicago White Sox and New York Mets. He has lectured and conducted clinics in Canada, Japan, Australia and Europe and has authored six books and over one hundred articles related to coaching and sport performance in a variety of sports. He has a BA in teaching with a coaching minor and an MA in Education with an emphasis in physical education from Stanford University.