Stronger Athletes
As our readership continues to grow we are increasingly invading Olympic lifting advocate circles. Many times these people reply to our articles without an understanding of who we are and what our purpose is. The time has come for us to lay down some basic ground rules.
"Who is StrongerAthletes.com?"
We are two high school coaches from Kansas City, Missouri who see the need to help educate the high school coach on various elements of strength development. We have found that many high school coaches are put in charge of developing their school's athletes in the weight room without having a working knowledge of exercise science. We see ourselves as a resource for the coach who likes to do his homework.
"Who is your target audience?"
High school coaches who work directly with their school's athletes in the weight room. We encourage college coaches and professional strength trainers to contribute to our website as well.
"What do you promote in terms of strength training?"
We advocate a safe, productive, and efficient training program that allows the coach to develop his athletes into better athletes by making them stronger in a safe, timely manner. A stronger athlete is what makes any high school sports program better.
"Why do you not advocate Olympic lifts?"
For decades now many coaches link "explosiveness" with quick lifts, similar to those performed by Olympic lifters. Understanding the popularity of the traditional styles and having done and coached Olympic lifts ourselves, what we have found is that:
"Don't you know that Power=Work/Time?"
Understand that we have the same understanding of Power as you. Power=Work/Time. Where others misunderstand our point is when we maintain that Work/Time is showing, or expressing, how much Power one has at that moment. Keep in mind we are in the weight room to develop not express. Expression of power is for the field of competition, not training. To further illustrate this point we need to break the formula down even farther. So, if Work=Strength*Distance then Power=Strength*Distance/Time. If we can increase the Strength element we can thus increase the Power output. We simply feel that it is safer to develop Strength in the weight room.
"What if I disagree with you?"
Great. Chances are you are in good company as many coaches perpetuate the myth of weight room movements simulating sport specific movements as found in many Olympic lifting programs. These coaches get very defensive, as is natural, when one attempts to illustrate why they are inefficient in terms of training an athlete for sports outside of Olympic lifting.
"By using the term efficiency- I assume you mean the best way to train."
Actually, by efficiency we mean time spent in the weight room. We would not claim a "best way to train."
"Can I e-mail StrongerAthletes.com with my opinion?"
Yes, via our contact page.
"Does everyone who sends e-mail disagree with you?"
Hardly. In fact, we receive regular correspondence from many coaches all over the country at the high school and collegiate level who are thankful that we are serving as a "voice" for a safe, productive, and efficient program.
"Are you saying if we don't train your way we're wrong?"
Absolutely NOT. Another misconception in the strength training world is that if you do something different you are wrong. We are thankful for all coaches who take the time to work with youth in a positive direction. To those coaches who read our website, we hope they have an open mind and can pick-up something to use in their program. We know we have picked up tons from various Olympic lifting coaches across the country. We desire to keep things professional and acknowledge that we can agree to disagree if the case may be. We respect you for your commitment to your athletes as we hope you reciprocate the same.
"Do you think that the teams you have listed on your TEAMS PAGE make them a better team or think they have better athletes?"
The ONLY purpose for listing these teams is to reassure other coaches that safe, productive, and efficient training programs, such as the one we promote at StrongerAthletes.com, is not unheard of. We are not attempting to imply that these teams are better or have better athletes than other teams. Our point is simply this: There are several strength programs in traditional sports that do not use Olympic lifts. Discrepancies may occur at schools in which one particular team uses Olympic lifting and others do not use them. Such is the case at University of Maryland, for example, where the basketball teams do not use Olympic lifts but the football team does. Please help to keep this list accurate. If you are aware of mistakes or changes at a particular school or team please let us know.
If you have questions or comments about this web site or strength development or training please Contact Stronger Athlete.