The Benefits of Resistance Training for Athletes

Strength training is something that every high school athlete should be doing to increase their strength, speed and overall athletic performance. Usually, high school athletes dedicate their offseasons to “strength training” to get stronger before their next season. Once a sports season starts, athletes should not completely stop training. In fact, performing in-season resistance training is highly beneficial, especially for younger athletes.  At Warren Academy, we offer a variety of sports performance programs to help athletes stay on top of their game. We have seen that resistance training is highly effective, especially during the season. Below, we go over some of the benefits of athlete resistance training! 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 athletic resistance 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, athletes 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. However, weight training 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.  Although it’s not always the first thought on an athlete’s mind when in-season, in-season training is highly recommended to help maintain strength and reduce the risk of injury. Resistance training does just that. Consider implementing resistance training programs with your teams.  If you’re a young athlete interested in resistance training, learn more about our strength and conditioning programs. Contact us today to get registered!