🌱 I was Bigger & Stronger, but SLOWER!

I WAS BIGGER & STRONGER, BUT SLOWER.

295 words | 1 min 04 sec read

QUOTE OF THE DAY 🌱

Last summer I started playing Men’s Football again, after a 4-year absence.

Since I last played competitively I have added 20-25lbs of (mainly) lean muscle tissue, and I am certainly stronger now than I was back then.

I’m a midfielder, and I thought that my more developed physique would allow me to compete and put in top performances.

What happened was quite a surprise, or was it?…

I found out, first hand, the limitations of only heavy resistance training for football.

You need more tools in your toolbox to prepare you for the demands of the game.

I felt slow out on the pitch.

My ability to accelerate over short distances was poor, I rarely hit top speed, I felt like I was running in mud, I couldn’t get my legs moving.

In the days after matches my hips and groins would ache tremendously - not yet accustomed to the demand placed on them after a long 4 year break.

You can read academic papers and textbooks and listen to podcasts on strength and conditioning for football.

But the true way to learn about these things is to get out there and experience it for yourself.

TAKEHOME MESSAGE

Sport is demanding and chaotic and your training must prepare your body for it.

I did too heavy lifting at slow rep speeds.

I did not do enough jumping, sprinting or high velocity lifting.

So it was no surprise that I felt slow - because I was!

If you want to get better at your sport and learn the lesson without the scar…

Then reply to this email with the word ‘FAST’ and we can have a chat about your experiences.

Thank you for reading, see you in the next one 🌱 

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