Simple Truths Every Athlete Must Master

At times, I feel like a broken record, but there are a few truths when it comes to training that are often forgotten. They are forgotten about because they are seen as too simple to be effective. The truth is, simple training, done consistently, for a long time, is essential for an athletes long term progress. 

Sprint, lift, jump and play your sport. Repeat that over and over again and you’ll end up in a pretty good place athletically.

Even as I’m learning new things, to improve our training, I often find that it isn’t something brand new or a totally new method, it’s just a deeper understanding of what we’ve done, how we do it, and ways of making it even more effective. 

Here’s how to make that simple formula even more effective. 

• Intent matters : How you do an exercise can make a good exercise bad or a bad exercise at least ok. Don’t just go through the motions. 
• Technique matters : In order to get the most out of an exercise, you must use the correct technique. Sacrificing technique to achieve more reps or heavier weight does 2 things we don’t want:
  • It decreases the effectiveness of an exercise.
  • It increases the risk of injury.
• There is no substitute for foundational strength. Athletes have to produce and manage force – greater strength gives us a better ability to produce force and manage the forces applied on athletes from the ground to opponents  
• Consistency is the most important training variable – keep showing up! 

At the end of the day, effective training for athletes comes down to doing the simple things extremely well and doing them consistently over time. It’s not flashy, it’s not a quick fix, but it works.

Sharpen your intent, refine your technique, build that foundational strength and show up day after day. Stay the course and you’ll find the results you’re looking for. It may feel like a broken record, but sometimes the most powerful lesions are the ones we have to keep relearning. Stay committed to the fundamentals and they will carry you forward.