Part 2
Regarding the pro day results of the athletes I worked with,
the fastest time I’ve seen printed so far is 4.36 for one athlete and the same athlete jumped 37in in the vertical in training; however he pulled a hamstring during his second 40 on pro day so this negatively affected his subsequent vertical in which he jumped 33in. Another athlete of mine jumped 37.5 on the pro day, however, and I took 2 tenths of a second off of his 40 time in comparison to when he returned from the lousy combine training camp that his agent sent him to. He returned from this place in Florida running mid 4.8 and he was timed at 4.63/4.64 on Pro Day
Other note worthy improvements came from a 300lb d-tackle who I trained that was clocked at a high 4.9-5.1 on Pro Day and when I began training him 12 weeks prior I timed him running low 5.4. Another linebacker I worked with was clocked between 4.59-4.63 on Pro Day and when I began training him 12 weeks prior I timed him at mid 4.8-low 4.9
Last year one of my pro day athletes ran 4.44 and jumped 40in
Of course many of my current athletes on the team continue to improve on their measurables to include 3 athletes who jump over 40in and 6 or 7 over 37in
Regarding med ball throws, MU involvement, power development, etcetera:
Carl, perhaps I may be off assistance to you, with respect to the training of your athletes, in stating the importance of understanding that improvements on one area of the F(t) curve tend to improve results at the other.
No doubt that the Olympic lifts register higher wattages than the more basic strength exercises such as squats and presses; however, this is essentially meaningless unless we are drawing a comparison to results in weightlifting.
What I must respectfully remind you of is the fact that no discipline other than weightlifting requires comparable wattage values specifically in linear/curvilinear patterns in the vertical plan and this is precisely why we are able to effectively improve the maximal, explosive, and speed strength of athletes without the use of Olympic lifts.
All we need do is hit a few points along the curve in a more general fashion (ergo squat, jump, and throw) and, most importantly, address the training of specialized prepatory and specialized developmental means due their far greater degree of transfer to the competitive exercise.
I’m glad you made this blog Carl because not only will my response benefit those who read it; but I feel confident that if you take a long look at what I’ve stated that I will be able to greatly assist you in streamlining the training of your own athletes.
If we are discussing the value of cleans and snatches relative to Olympic weightlifting or the lifting of comparably weighted implements in the vertical plane, or even movements in the vertical plan at comparable wattages, than I am in 100% agreement with you in stating that med ball throws, jump squats, back squats, and sprints won’t cut it.
However, regarding all other sport disciplines it is my pleasure to inform you and the readers here that as long as the specialized prepatory and specialized developmental needs are addressed- that the more general training may be reduced to non-specific strengtheners of the knee/hip extensors, non-specific strengtheners of the shoulder girdle, and jumps, throws, and other auxiliary training for preventative maintenance and joint mobility
Carl, in my view, the issue that is bringing you some confusion is rooted in your reference to the ‘power’ that is developed via the weightlifts. This is what I’ve found to be the commonality between coaches who share your disposition.
As I stated, the weightlifts are relevant to the wattages that are generated via their performance and specific to linear/curvilinear movement in the vertical plan.
What you are forgetting is that the relevant quantitative/qualitative markers for speed and power are sprints, jumps, and throws- whether we are talking American football combine or Track and Field.
Thus the question is not how much can the athlete clean or snatch; but rather, how fast can they sprint, how high/far can they jump, and how far can they throw.
So, Carl, to you and the readers, I say this:
The Olympic lifts are not required to train athletes in sprinting fast, jumping high/far, and throwing far.
Please take my word for it because I’ve trained hundreds of varied gene pools and the results speak
So remember, when we use the word ‘power’ we are really speaking ambiguously. We must speak more specifically and as it stands- all sport disciplines, other than weightlifting, require different quantitative/qualitative F(t) and biodynamic/bioenergetic characteristics that are much more efficiently met via addressing the specialized prepatory, specialized developmental, and general needs. None of which require the Olympic lifts.
The Olympic lifts simply aren’t needed
Carl I urge you and the readers to take my words to heart because we all agree on one thing and that is that our objectives are the same:to assist our athletes in reaching the height of their sporting potential.
Take what is useful and discard what is not.