Athletic Development - Advanced Sports Training Techniques

“How you respond to the challenge in the second half will determine what you become after the game, whether you are a winner or a loser." -Lou Holtz

Getting out of the blocks fast is not always synonymous with finishing strong. It is the goal of Fit-Zone’s Athletic Development program to ensure an athlete has the ability to resist fatigue and meet the imposed demands of their sport.

Maintaining a high-level of performance throughout the duration of competition is a direct reflection on a well-designed conditioning program. Fit-Zone successfully conditions athletes by letting “specificity of the event” guide training. This means conditioning closely resembles the movement and energy demand of the event.

Metabolic Training
Each sport requires contributions from specific energy systems, both aerobic and anaerobic. Conditioning according to energy demand, determines the intensity and duration of exercise, as well as proper work-to-rest ratios. Careful manipulation of these variables will condition the lineman in football who has to explosively cover the line of scrimmage, differently from the midfielder in soccer who experiences repeated bouts of sprinting over various distances.

Specificity of Movement
Consideration must be given to choosing which method of training (i.e., running, cycling, swimming) is implemented, as this has a direct effect on the specific adaptations resulting from the conditioning program. In most cases, the training should closely resemble the event. However, at appropriate times during the training year Fit-Zone’s coaches may manipulate training methods to impose more or less stress on the musculo-skeletal system, or when cross-training best suits the athlete’s development.


		“How you respond to the challenge in the second half will determine what you become after the game, whether you are a winner or a loser." -Lou Holtz Getting out of the blocks fast is not always synonymous with finishing strong. It is the goal of Fit-Zone’s Athletic Development program to ensure an athlete has the ability to resist fatigue and meet the imposed demands of their sport. Maintaining a high-level of performance throughout the duration of competition is a direct reflection on a well-designed conditioning program. Fit-Zone successfully conditions athletes by letting “specificity of the event” guide training. This means conditioning closely resembles the movement and energy demand of the event. Metabolic Training Each sport requires contributions from specific energy systems, both aerobic and anaerobic. Conditioning according to energy demand, determines the intensity and duration of exercise, as well as proper work-to-rest ratios. Careful manipulation of these variables will condition the lineman in football who has to explosively cover the line of scrimmage, differently from the midfielder in soccer who experiences repeated bouts of sprinting over various distances. Specificity of Movement Consideration must be given to choosing which method of training (i.e., running, cycling, swimming) is implemented, as this has a direct effect on the specific adaptations resulting from the conditioning program. In most cases, the training should closely resemble the event. However, at appropriate times during the training year Fit-Zone’s coaches may manipulate training methods to impose more or less stress on the musculo-skeletal system, or when cross-training best suits the athlete’s development.