The term power has come to have different meanings. It is probably due to the popularity of powerlifting in which heavy weights are lifted at slow speed. In the eyes of many coaches, such lifts have been interpreted as power lifts. The more weight you lift, the greater the power you exhibit.
Technically this is a partial truth but it is not the same type of power that is seen in most sports where power refers to the speed and quickness of execution. In the fields of biomechanics and physics power is related to the amount of work done in relation to the time involved. The quicker an action is executed the more power that is exhibited — all other factors being equal.
For greater accuracy in most sports, rather than using a term such as power, it may be more suitable to use a term such as speed-strength; strength exhibited with speed. In essence, you overcome a resistance or perform a skill as quickly as possible. Or if you prefer you can use the term explosive power to differentiate the power developed from slow movements.
When dealing with the body, force can only be produced by the muscles or more specifically, the strength of the muscles. When coupled with speed, you exhibit power, i.e., speed-strength or explosive power.
Close examination of most sports shows that speed and quickness play a major role in attaining success. Execution of almost all athletic skills entails a combination of speed and strength. The only sport in which success is determined by pure strength (that can only be exhibited at slow speed) is powerlifting.
Because most sports skills require speed or quickness together with strength, the use of the term speed-strength appears to be quite apropos to describe the requirements of most sports. This is why sports training programs should revolve around the development of these two qualities, separately and coupled together.
Many studies have been done showing the relationship between increased resistance in a strength exercise and speed of execution. They have shown that as the amount of resistance goes up, speed of execution goes down. As resistance goes down, speed of execution goes up. This is how you can guide your workouts for the development of either greater strength or speed or both.
For more information read Secrets of Russian Sports Fitness and Training and Biomechanics and Kinesiology of Exercise. Also see back issues of the Soviet Sports Review, later the Fitness and Sports Review International.