It is often assumed that if a team is successful, as for example, when it wins a championship, it must have some athlete training secrets. This means that the team is doing something new and different in their methods, exercises or exercise execution. It is these new methods or exercises being used that makes the team successful.
This is often understandable since other coaches want to know what someone who is successful is doing and then copy it. When they learn some new information it is immediately incorporated into their program in the hope that they too will be as successful.
A truly successful strength or player development program cannot be copied. A successful program must be developed based on the abilities of the athletes on the team. In addition, it must be based on key principles of training as for example, individuality.
A training program that produces positive results should be based on a particular athlete at a particular stage in his development. The exercises, how the exercises are executed, the sets and reps, length of time on a particular exercise or program, the type of exercise program used, etc., must be based on the individual, not on any set numbers or protocols.
When a coach, trainer, or strength and conditioning coach understands the different types of training and how they should be used with a particular athlete, he will find great success. Merely doing a set program and having everyone doing the same program may bring success to a few, but many will not get the results desired.
This is why some coaches tend to change their program every year depending upon what the winning team, coach or athlete did the previous year. As a result the athletes never develop their full potential.
It is for this reason that there are no athlete training secrets in a successful training program. It is not like blueprints for building a particular structure. These can be copied as they are finite factors. Training an athlete is much different as it must be adjusted constantly.
A successful coach or specialist in a particular sport must know which exercises are needed, how they should be done, how long they should be used, when they should be changed or modified, which workout regimes are best to use, how long to stay on each regime, when to make modifications, how they should be made and when to initiate new workout programs. This is where one’s expertise lies, not in simply knowing one or two programs and administering them in the same manner year after year to all athletes.
There is however, a template of what should be done that guides the coach and the training. He should understand the concept of multiyear training as well as what makes up the annual training program. Understand that every program that is used is merely a template for what belongs in the program and what should be done, but not how.
For example, the 1 X 20 RM strength training program is very effective for beginners and especially high school athletes. But its effectiveness is based on which exercises are selected and how each exercise is executed. In addition, it depends upon how the exercises may be changed for individual players especially players who play different positions.
Thus there really are no athlete training secrets. Telling someone what you do does not mean that the person listening will be able to duplicate what you are doing with your athletes.
For more information on individualized programs see Build a Better Athlete and The Revolutionary 1 x 20 RM Strength Training Program.