Athletes have trainers, so why not you? Sport-specific training isn’t just for elite athletes.
Weekend warriors and recreational athletes like yourself should have a trainer too! Regardless of your sport or how often you compete, training is an important element of performance.
Why Is Sport-Specific Training Important?
The Weekend Warriors are a truly inspiring group. They have the motivation to train independently in order to perform an activity that has purpose and meaning to them. Weekend (or whichever day you compete) runners, cyclists, skiers, lifters, soccer, volleyball, basketball, and football players all can greatly benefit from having a knowledgeable trainer. Recreational or competitive athletes all need help minimizing risk of injury and recovering from previous injuries so they can continue improving their performance. Because the reality is, the adventure does not stop on the weekend.
The more recreational athlete or weekend warrior types can benefit from training routines designed for their respective sport. The activities you participate in as an active adult are strenuous and physically demanding. They require endurance, strength and mobility similar to the training that athletes participate in. So if athletes need specific training for their sport, it makes sense that weekend warriors and active adults should seek out professional training that is specific to their activity to compete at peak performance.
As they say, anything worth doing is worth doing well! I have seen far too many active adults in the clinic for physical therapy because they overdid it due to the fact that they are not properly conditioned for their activity. We get to talking about how they injured themselves. We discuss the preparation and training leading up to the injury. And quite honestly, more often than not, the response is that they were not training properly. Or even at all for that matter.
Tell me more!
Some of my favorite stories are from those who opted for the show-and-go approach. Meaning, they just showed up and ran a 10k because their friends were already signed up and there would be beer at the finish line. Or they just showed up for a softball game and were put in as a base runner or in the outfield without warming up at all. And you guessed it – now they are paying for it! Weekend warriors are not as young as they think they are.
Another classic response is from those who read something on the internet that some shredded celebrity did as part of their movie prep and attempted the training routine in hopes of looking like that celebrity. Now, three days into the program they are having back and shoulder pain because they haven’t been properly trained on the proper volume progression of the program.
Or my other favorite, those who take a program from a friend or family member and attempt to duplicate it, not taking into consideration the amount of sweat equity their friend or family member has already invested into the program to get to where they are today.
Sometimes you have to walk before you run…
I get it, everyone has to start somewhere. And I commend you for taking the first step in bettering yourself! But start at your own starting line. Meet yourself where you are and commit to a plan that is specifically designed for you and your goals. No matter your sport or activity, it is important to seek out a professional who can help you start exactly where you are and walk you through a plan that is designed to achieve your goals.
Biggest takeaway here is that load management is key. Athletes have coaches and trainers that manage their loads and training volume specifically around their competitive seasons and goals. Similarly, weekend warriors and active adults require the same commitment to load management. Runners, golfers and even recreational pickleball players need highly specific training. They need guidance and a structured plan to get their bodies to endure physical exertion for longer periods of time, recover faster, allow them to set and reach successive goals instead of plateauing.
I love helping people reach their goals but I don’t love seeing you hurt in the clinic because you didn’t commit to seeking out specialized training. And now instead of building you a program for improving performance, I am writing up a plan of care to rehab an injury that could have potentially been avoided with a proper training program.
So where do you go from here?
What is your next step? How do you take your pickleball game to the next level or improve your mile time or take strokes off your handicap? You call me and we discuss a plan to get you where you want to be, achieving what you want to achieve!
Spark Performance & Physiotherapy is the industry leader in the East Valley for Sports Performance. If you are a weekend warrior or recreational athlete and you are reading this, we’ve got you covered! We know that you want to stay active and show up your friends on the golf course, on the pickleball court and in the gym. Which is why we take the time to design programs that are specific to you and your goals! We will meet you at your starting line and build a solid foundation for you to reduce the risk of injury and improve performance. Whether it’s strength, endurance, speed or Spark Performance is your one stop shop for elite performance.
