Running Parachutes for Football Players
It blows my mind that training aids such as the running parachute are not used in every high school and collegiate speed training program.
The biggest problem most athletes face in high school athletics today is that many athletes never realize their full potential due to lack of adequate training. So many high school athletes run track "on the side", football is their main sport. They take it easy on the track in the afternoon so they can work harder in the weightroom that evening.
However, the running parachute increases core and leg strength while simultaneously boosting explosiveness.
Speed and explosiveness, in my opinion, are the two most important characteristics a football player can have.
On the collegiate level, many athletes are overworked and therefore overshooting their potential. By substituting workout aids in the place of extreme intensity workouts, athletes can reduce their risk of injury during two-a-days and other high intensity training sessions.
So, why aren't coaches using training aids to boost the performance of their athletes?
1) Many coaches lose touch with what it actually means to be a high-performance athlete. If that offends coaches out there, good! Think very carefully about whether or not you are in close touch with your athletes. Are they working too hard? Not hard enough? Stemming from this problem is...
2) The all-too-common work harder than the other guy mentality. If you have this mentality, I promise you that you will have success in athletics. However, sometimes you must work harder than your competition, and sometimes you must work smarter. Working harder each and every day will leave you more injured than your opponent. Incorporate cross-training into your training regime, and incorporate training aids wherever possible.
3) Nearly everyone underestimates the amount of confidence and physical benefit most training aids can promote. They help you understand how your body moves and how it feels as you exert yourself in different ways.
So, what's the point of all this?
This off-season, don't slouch. Strap a running parachute on and improve your overall athleticism rather than burdening yourself with excess muscle.
The biggest problem most athletes face in high school athletics today is that many athletes never realize their full potential due to lack of adequate training. So many high school athletes run track "on the side", football is their main sport. They take it easy on the track in the afternoon so they can work harder in the weightroom that evening.
However, the running parachute increases core and leg strength while simultaneously boosting explosiveness.
Speed and explosiveness, in my opinion, are the two most important characteristics a football player can have.
On the collegiate level, many athletes are overworked and therefore overshooting their potential. By substituting workout aids in the place of extreme intensity workouts, athletes can reduce their risk of injury during two-a-days and other high intensity training sessions.
So, why aren't coaches using training aids to boost the performance of their athletes?
1) Many coaches lose touch with what it actually means to be a high-performance athlete. If that offends coaches out there, good! Think very carefully about whether or not you are in close touch with your athletes. Are they working too hard? Not hard enough? Stemming from this problem is...
2) The all-too-common work harder than the other guy mentality. If you have this mentality, I promise you that you will have success in athletics. However, sometimes you must work harder than your competition, and sometimes you must work smarter. Working harder each and every day will leave you more injured than your opponent. Incorporate cross-training into your training regime, and incorporate training aids wherever possible.
3) Nearly everyone underestimates the amount of confidence and physical benefit most training aids can promote. They help you understand how your body moves and how it feels as you exert yourself in different ways.
So, what's the point of all this?
This off-season, don't slouch. Strap a running parachute on and improve your overall athleticism rather than burdening yourself with excess muscle.
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