Relationships between barbell speed characteristics and sprint performance

Access to more affordable technologies such as accelerometers and linear position transducers that sync with mobile phones and tablet devices  has lead to an increase in the monitoring of bar speed in the weight room. In turn, a substantial increase in research on how bar speed can be practically implemented for athletes has been developed. …

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Sprint training on level versus combined uphill and downhill surfaces

Linear sprinting speed is a highly coveted physical quality by team-sport coaches. Clocking a fast 40 yard dash at the combine can move up an athletes draft status and earn them higher salaries. Therefore, training to improve linear speed is a high priority for many teams. A common way to train for sprinting speed is …

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Cluster sets versus traditional staight sets for enhancing power

Olympic weightlifters often use cluster training for developing maximal strength and power. Cluster sets involve intermittent rest periods (~30 seconds) between repetitions. For example, a set of 6 repetitions can be performed in a cluster configuration by performing repetitions 1 and 2, rest for 30 seconds, performing repetitions 3 and 4, rest for 30 seconds, then finish the …

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High versus Moderate Load Training: Impact on Strength and Power

A primary objective in the weight room is to increase maximal strength in our athletes. This is because of the strong link between force production and factors such as performance, resistance to injury and even in limiting recovery time between sessions. Relative strength (i.e., 1RM/body mass) appears to be particularly important for speed and jumping …

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Strength and Power Impaired Following Various Conditioning Protocols

Due to time and equipment constraints, coaches often hold strength workouts and conditioning workouts on the same day despite this being less than ideal as a result of the interference effect. With smaller weight rooms (or bigger teams), coaches will sometimes split the team into groups and have one group start in the weight room …

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Barbell velocity cut-off points for hypertrophy and power

We have posted numerous times over the last few years on velocity-based resistance training as this area of research continues to grow. Bar velocity trackers such as accelerometers and linear position transducers have provided coaches with a simple and (somewhat) affordable means of quantifying barbell work in the gym. This has implications for assessing daily …

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Practical applications of velocity-based training

The use of bar velocity in strength and conditioning is not a new method of monitoring and prescribing resistance training. This has been used by a handful of Weightlifting coaches for decades. However, only recently has it started to become popular, both in the scientific literature and in practical settings.  This is due to advancements …

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Cluster sets vs. Traditional Sets for Power Development

Neural adaptations account for strength and power improvements observed in athletes within the first ~4 weeks of training. This means that despite no increases in muscle mass, the athletes are able to move more weight and move it faster. This is due to improved coordination and synchronization of muscle firing, a greater ability to recruit …

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Speed Analysis in Soccer Players

In previous posts, we discussed the importance of expressing strength rapidly for performance. Essentially, when two athletes are equal in size, stature and strength, the one who can express force faster for a given movement will generally be more successful on the playing field. This demonstrates the importance of specific analyses of movements (i.e., bar …

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Velocity Based Strength Training

Technology in the weight room is a topic that provokes many different responses from strength and conditioning professionals. Many old school coaches tend to oppose and reject it while the younger generation of coaches tend to embrace it. Some may argue that technology can be expensive and time-consuming to sift through and interpret data. Others …

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