Should Ball Skills Be Combined With Performance Training?

23 Jan Should Ball Skills Be Combined With Performance Training?

Trigger.

Trigger.

Trigger.

Yes, this topic is a massive trigger for many. Should skill work be done with speed, acceleration and strength and power work?

Should we bring the soccer ball, the hockey puck, the basketball, the golf club and the lacrosse stick to the gym?

Moreover, should we hold our beloved piece of sport equipment while we are doing Deadlifts? Jumps? Sprints? Resisted Accelerations?

Spoiler: no.

While the ball is an important component of our sports, sometimes, we have to leave it out altogether so we can narrow our focus and get better at the dynamic, explosive actions without it.

Sure, there will be specific times when we use it to condition. As an example, to make conditioning game-like, it’s totally okay for a coach to use small-sided games and tweak pitch dimensions and work-to-rest time with the ball.

But. If we are training skills like speed and acceleration, or building maximal strength and power, we’re better off focusing on the mechanics and form of those, than adding the distraction to the nervous system with the ball.

Read my latest published article Should Ball Skills Be Combined With Performance Training.