Benefits of Resistance Training

Strength training is something that every athlete should be performing throughout the entire year to help increase their athletic and sports performance. During the offseason, athletes generally take up weight training as a way to increase muscle mass and strength. However, during the sports season, many athletes tend to focus less on strength training, and more on their specific sport, fundamentals, and technique.  Athletes usually start their sports season in great shape but when athletes choose to not train during the season, the gains they made during the offseason often seem to diminish. This is where resistance athlete training comes into play.  Resistance athlete training is a great way to maintain strength and speed in-season and offers a variety of benefits different from weight training. Below, we discuss why athletes should be performing resistance athletic training while they are “in-season”.    What is resistance training? Resistance training is very similar to weight training in the sense that both are used to increase muscle strength. The main difference between these two is that resistance training primarily focuses on building muscle using resistance, such as your body weight, free weights, machines, or resistance bands. Weight training on the other hand generally involves lifting heavy weights for low reps in an effort to build strength quickly.    Benefits of resistance training during your season During the offseason, if athletes are trying to put on muscles and increase their weight, weight training should be their primary focus. However, weight training can take a toll on your body, which makes it tough for athletes to perform during the season. Resistance training on the other hand offers athletes many more benefits. Maintains strength One of the best ways athletes benefit from resistance training during their sports season is that it helps maintain the strength they built during the offseason. Athletes are generally their strongest at the start of the season, and if they do not continue to train, their strength gradually declines as the season progresses. As playoffs are the most crucial part of every season, it just makes sense for athletes to try their best to maintain as much strength as they can throughout the entire season, and resistance athletic training will do just that.  Builds endurance In just about every sport, endurance is key to making big plays at the end of the game. Continuing to maintain strength through resistance training during the season allows athletes to not only maintain endurance but increase it as well. The lower weight and higher reps that resistance training usually involves helps athletes increase their endurance and overall sports performance. Reduced risk of injury Lastly, athletes who are performing resistance training during their season will have a lower risk of getting injured. Resistance training helps strengthen or maintain the strength in their muscles, tendons, ligaments, and bones. During many sports, all of the above are often prone to get injured while jumping, changing directions, or by physical impact. Resistance training during the season will keep your body in the best shape possible, which ultimately reduces the risk of injuries. Weight training on the other hand often puts a big toll on your body, which not only makes athletes more tired and sore but also increases their risk of injury as well.    An athlete's hard work in the weight room should not stop once the season begins. Performing resistance athletic training throughout the entire season will help athletes maintain the gains they made during the offseason, enhance their endurance, reduce the risk of injury, and ultimately improve their athletic performance.    At Warren Academy, we work with young athletes ages 10 and up to improve their athleticism and sports performance. We offer a variety of programs to complement every athlete’s needs. To learn more about what we do or sign up for a session, visit our website today!