The training program should fit the athlete. You have probably heard this expression many times but are you following the recommendation? For example, all aspects of your training should be integrated so that they are compatible with one another and will produce the results that you desire.
Working only on individual aspects such as greater strength or greater speed or greater size may give you some improvement but it will not be the most that you are capable of. Nor will it produce the best athlete after several years of training.
In essence, your training must be specific to you. All the pieces must fit into your individual physical and technical capabilities. Note that it is your physical and technical abilities, not one or the other. Only developing the physical and ignoring the technical, or vice versa, will not allow you to fully develop your potential.
This is especially true of the young high school and to a good extent collegiate and professional, athlete. The collegiate and professional athlete is included here mainly because of poor or unbalanced development in the high school years. This applies mainly to a lack of technical training and overindulgence with strength training.
For example, very few athletes are exposed to serious technique training when they are between the ages of 9 and 13. Yet, these are the most productive years for learning skills. Also technique is rarely adjusted and improved as the athlete gets stronger. Understand that strength training can have a positive as well as a negative effect on technique execution.
Most coaches and athletes, think greater amounts of strength is the key to improved performance on the field. Studies done on world record holders show that they rarely if ever, fall into the top 25% of the strongest athletes in their sport.
In regard to speed training, technique is critical not only for improved speed, but for the prevention of injury. Even today, most injuries that occur to athletes in running, jumping or cutting can be traced directly to improper technique.
Thus be sure to tailor your training for the ideal fit for improved performance on the field.
For more information, see Build a Better Athlete and the Revolutionary 1 x 20 RM Strength Training Program.