I like these lists. Much better than the 1k club or whatever that is just based on maxes.
I have no proof, but my instinct tells me that teams that prioritize speed, acceleration and movement - over MAX lifting and bodybuilding healthier and happier.
Sprint based football is a lot closer to what it should look like IMO.
James Houston, a linebacker for the Dallas Cowboys, is hosting a free football camp Saturday at Kincaide Stadium. Open to ages 5-17.
Session I: 9-10:15 AM; Ages 5-10
Session II: 10:30-Noon; Ages 11-17
For more information and to reserve a spot, visit https://t.co/1WbrmkVbqZ.
The Offensive Line doesn’t need any other position to be good. Every other position needs the Offensive Line to be good.
The most important position group in football.
Let me sum up the “debate” I had at the “Sport Movement Skill Conference”.
The attack:
1. Straight line speed has no direct correlation to any sport other than track.
2. Speed is NOT “the tide that lifts all boats”.
3. The fastest guys from the NFL Combine are not good players. Jerry Rice was slow (4.71).
4. It’s dumb to work on “just” speed.
Their beliefs:
1. Movement skills must be developed “in context”.
2. Drawing heavily from “ecological dynamics and skill-acquisition theory”, athletes should learn to solve movement problems under changing conditions. Rather than chasing one “perfect” sprint model, athletes should be capable of producing effective movement solutions in many environments.
3. Athletes need variability (“noise”) in training because sport is unpredictable. Athletes become faster and more resilient when exposed to changing constraints and decision-making demands.
My response:
1. Speed is the tide that lifts all boats.
2. The 3 requirements to play in the NFL at all positions: size, speed, skills. There are minimum requirements for size and speed. Size can’t be coached. Speed can be.
3. Faster teams are healthier teams. Athletes who get faster are more resilient. Sprint-based football teams are almost bulletproof.
4. In a Feed the Cats program, we don’t “just train speed”. We spend less than 30 seconds a week at max velocity (most important 30 seconds of our week). ⚡️
5. “80% of NCAA 🏈 players never reach their genetic ceiling of speed.” ~Boo Schexnayder (Too much emphasis on weight room, conditioning, and sport-specific movement… in the absence of consistently training max velocity in low doses.)
5. Let the sport train the sport. Away from the sport, improve KPIs. Don’t “just” reverse-engineer the sport.
6. The debate is silly. Athletes need to PRIORITIZE speed. Prioritize does not mean “at the exclusion of everything else”. Speed is the priority, not the majority. NO ONE SAYS SPEED IS ALL YOU NEED TO PLAY IN THE NFL.
Every NFL player who gets SLOWER seems older and is getting closer to the end of their career.
Every NFL player who gets FASTER seems younger and is extending his career. 💰
Mic drop ⤵️
Athletes need to sprint, lift, jump, bounce, and throw.
Athletes ALSO need to be taught sport-specific movements and skills.
It’s not one or the other.