Performance Training for Athletes

Athlete development is an over scoping broad term that describes the process of an athlete increasing their performance in a given sport through the use of modalities that are elicited with the ultimate goal of increasing overall performance.

Any athlete who is willing and wanting to increase their performance output needs to understand the broad range of development metrics that should be reached in order to help improve performance. Training needs to encompass a mix of technical, tactical, and most importantly physical training in order to help build the most well rounded athlete.

It is important to understand, every athlete will bloom at varying rates, but it is integral to give each individual athlete a level playing field in terms of training modalities the athlete is using to their advantage with the ultimate goal of increasing sport performance. A well rounded athlete development plan will follow the following aspects;   

            Technical training – the skills involved with performing the sport

            Physical fitness – strength, speed, power, force development & absorption

            Tactical training – the schematics involved with playing the sport

Any athlete looking to develop and take their performance to the next level needs to have a plan in place that covers all three of the above topics. Many athletes will achieve the proper technical and tactical training through sport practice and play but will largely lack in the physical fitness component. This in turn will leave a lot of athletes behind in their development.

The importance of physical fitness in developing strength, speed, power, force development & absorption – will be the qualities that separate the elite athletes from the average athletes. Having any athlete follow a properly periodized program to develop these qualities will aid in their overall performance and will do wonders for their performance in competition. Effective training has also shown to decrease the risks of injuries in sport.

The importance of developing these qualities through performance training, should be an important pillar of any athlete’s development plan and should be their main focus during the off season away from their primary sport.

Hopefully this short piece can act as a resource to help educate on the importance of why all athletes need to be following a properly periodized athlete development plan.

Until next time, 

Michael Silvestri, PhD(c) 

President/Director of Performance

At Silvestri Sports Performance, we aim to achieve elite athlete development and human performance through the blending of science and practical applications to deliver high quality human performance, athlete development, and rehabilitation.