Of all the biomotor qualities strength may the most all-encompassing. There is no form of motion that does not require some expression of force; therefore all sports will derive benefit from sport appropriate strength training. The key here is that it is sport appropriate. The physical quality of strength is the underpinning for the optimum development of the other biomotor qualities.
Because of its importance and ease of measurement it is tempting to try to train strength as an independent motor quality, but it is important to underscore that strength is a highly interdependent motor quality that profoundly interacts with and affects all the other biomotor qualities. It must be trained accordingly and this interaction must be accounted for in the whole training program. The benefits of a sound strength-training program are:
- Improved ability to reduce and produce force
- Increased ability to express explosive power
- Increased joint stability
- Significant contribution to Injury prevention and rehabilitation
Training methods from a variety of other sport disciplines have heavily influenced strength training. The most prominent influences have been from Olympic weight lifting, power lifting and bodybuilding all of which are also competitive sports. In addition gymnastics and wrestling have had profound influences on what we do in strength training.
Strength is an umbrella term that incorporates a spectrum of activities and training methods designed to enhance the force requirements of the sport being trained for. Strength is the ability to exert force with no time constraints ? it is simply how much force can be applied. The role of strength training is to condition the bones, tendon, ligaments and muscles, to withstand and overcome the high forces placed on them in competition and training.