Hello Carl, I figured it would be appropriate and appreciated by your readers that I submit a response.
I was directed here by an individual who alerted me to your post.
I just registered to elite track and this is my first post.
To the point, I respect your work and I must congratulate you on possessing the capacity to discuss an opposing viewpoint void of the harsh criticism that is so frequently demonstrated amidst the naive and misdirected sport training community in North America.
As two professionals, there is no problem in us agreeing to not agree.
I think, however, that my involvement with EFS has pigeonholed me as a coach whose concept of strength development is rooted in the fundamentals of powerlifting- this is not correct.
As a self-proclaimed physical preparation coach the means that I draw upon are simply physical prepatory in nature and I chose not to limit myself to any particular school of thought.
The biodynamic and bioenergetic particularities of the sport that I am primarily involved with (American football) dictate the nature of the physical prepatory efforts I instruct to my athletes.
I certainly agree with you in stating that those of us in who possess an influential role to other coaches must assume the responsibility in properly informing them.
Consequently, here is where you and I must disagree Carl.
So I state this for you readers consideration:
The training means used by any athlete, regardless of discipline, must support the development of the basic biomotor abilities, recovery/regeneration, as well as the more specific demand of specialized prepatory and specialized developmental exercises that more positively transfer to the improved performance of the competitive event.
As it stands, there is no debate to the following:
There is no one training means more important or directly linked to the improved performance of world class sprinters than…sprinting
There is no one training means more important or directly linked to the improved performance of world class jumpers than…jumping
There is no one training means more important or directly linked to the improved performance of world class throwers than…throwing
There is no one training means more important or directly linked to the improved performance of world class weightlifters than…weightlifting
There is no one training means more important or directly linked to the improved performance of world class powerlifters than…powerlifting
Thus, the performance of any other training means, to the exclusion of the competitive exercise, for any athlete, serves a rehabilitative, general/supportive, prepatory, or developmental role.
The less the training means transfers to the biodynamic/bioenergetic structure of the competitive exercise the more debatable it becomes in the training of the athlete.
So if we are to compare strength/power exercises in the training of other athletes we know that in order to attain world class results:
Sprinters do not have to perform the weightlifts
Jumpers do not have to perform the weightlifts
Throwers do not have to perform the weightlifts
Powerlifters do not have to perform the weightlifts
and all other non-weightlifters do not have to perform the weightlifts
Additionally:
Sprinters do not have to perform the powerlifts
Jumpers do not have to perform the powerlifts
Throwers do not have to perform the powerlifts
Powerlifters do not have to perform the powerlifts
and all other non-powerlifters do not have to perform the powerlifts
The only need for non-weightlifters and non-powerlifters, from the standpoint of strength/power development, is that strength and power are developed in the requisite musculature and to this end we all have a host of exercises at our disposal.
It is my view that the most rudimentary forms of strength/power development exercises are the wisest course of action for any non-weightlifter and non-powerlifter as I do not think it wise to expend any unnecessary energetic or psychological resources on unnecessary/non-essential means of training.
thus, in the general training, my athletes sprint, jump, throw, and perform basic strength exercises such as squats and bench press.
We would all agree that there is no more precise measure of improvements in sport form other than the critical assessment of competition performance and results.
for the team sport athletes this becomes futile for physical preparation coaches to debate due to the overwhelming significance of tactical and technical element of competition.
thus the industry has selected to popularize and standardize the testing of more readily quantifiable numbers such as sprints, jumps, throws, and various barbell exercises in order to calculate improvements in the athletes physical condition; however, if the tests are not carried out in the context of the appropriate bioenergetic mechanism, relative to the athletes sport, than just how meaningful is the testing…not as much as one might think.
this is because, by in large, most of this types of testing occurs under the bioenergetic condition of alactic power (ergo short sprints, 1-2-3 fold jumps, med ball throws, and single effort barbell lifts). While the results such tests do offer usable information. They in no way offer the degree of reliability and significance with respect to qualitatively demonstrating potential improvements in sport playing ability.
To the point, while there is room for debate, regarding the use of non-essential training means, there is no debate as what is essential and non-essential in the training of athletes whose sport discipline is not weightlifting or powerlifting.
Thus, it is my recommendation to those who will listen, that I, as a coach in position of influence, who
– began his coaching career serving three years at the high school level as an assistant Track and Field coach, head coach of physical preparation for American football, and Physical Education Advisor.
– Who, as a Physical Education Advisor, rewrote an entire PE curriculum and instituted a classification/selection process and piece meal training system.
– who is now in his third season serving as the Assistant Coach of Physical Preparation for a D-1 Collegiate American Football Program.
– Who, as a private consultant of physical preparation has worked with athletes who participate in a wide range of Olympic and Professional sports, to include my recent work with a member of the US Senior National Luge team, as well as with select members of foreign and domestic military special operations forces including work with commandos serving with one of America’s Tier 1 Assets.
– Who is the founder of http://www.powerdevelopmentinc.com and serves as a Q&A staff member for http://www.elitefts.com.
– who is a lecturer in the field of sport training and has spoken alongside esteemed members of the international sport science community to include Dr. Anatoliy Bondarchuk and Dr. Vladimir Issurin Ph.D.
– Who works as the chief editor for selected journal articles and textbooks authored by Dr. Yuri Verkhoshansky
– and who is currently writing a book for Ultimate Fighting Champion Randy Couture…
must impress upon the fact that…these are the facts:
– the use of Olympic weightlifts in the training of non-weightlifters is non-essential.
– world class sprinting, jumping, and throwing ability may be developed in its absence.
– Super Bowls may be won in its absence
– World Series may be won in its absence
– Stanley Cups may be won in its absence
– Wimbledon may be won in its absence
– The PGA tour may be won in its absence
– The NBA championship may be won in its absence
– and gold medals in every existing Olympic discipline, other than weightlifting, may be won in its absence
– and on and on and on
The same holds true for powerlifting
So, to all athletes and coaches of physical preparation, take the information, educate yourself, make your choice…
and choose wisely