Basics of Football Strength And Power Training

Football is a challenging and demanding sport. Often described as a three-hour long fight to the finish, a game of football requires all players to be performing at their best. Football is definitely not a part-time sport that you can excel in even if you are not giving it your best. This is where a football training program comes in. Consistent and repetitive football training can help you build muscle memory and reach your highest potential as a player. When it comes to football training, there are many different elements that you will need to focus on. These are:

• Football strength training
• Strength and conditioning training for football
• Strength and power training in football
• Speed and Agility training
• Nutrition
• Mental toughness training

Most players stick to a haphazard kind of football strength training program where their main focus is to bulk up. It is needless to say that this is a bad idea! Following a hare-brained training technique will do you more harm than good. However, if you spend just a little bit of your time trying to understand the different types of strength and lifting techniques that you need to employ, it will be very beneficial for you in the long run. Let’s have a look at the basics of football strength training.
Phases of Strength and Conditioning Training for Football
Throughout the course of the year, you will have to divide your strength and power training for football into a number of phases. There are three main phases of football strength training – the off-season phase which lasts for approximately 6 months, the in-season phase lasting for 5 months and lastly, the transition phase which is the shortest (approximately 1 month) but just can’t be missed.

• Off-season training includes the major bulk of the work. This is when you will have to focus on building maximum strength, mental toughness, size and power.

• The strength and power training in football that you adhere to in off-season is what you will have to utilize on-field in the in-season phase. The volume and intensity of lifts that you will do will reduce during this phase.

• The transition phase offers the much-needed rest and recuperation time after 11 months of slogging on the field. Use this time to recharge your body and mind, so you will be ready to start on a whole new cycle of strength and conditioning training for football.

It is a great idea to follow a position-specific training program like linebacker strength training or quarterback strength training, because the type of strength needed in football is often, position-specific. Work with your coach to arrive at a football strength training program that is perfect for you!