You have probablyheard or were told about the need to stretch before, during and after workouts. Almost all of the recommended stretching is done in the name of improving flexibility. In fact, stretching is considered a mainstay of every single workout, practice and competition.
The lack of flexibility or not stretching is thought to decrease your ability to execute game skills and to cause injury. However, for the past thirty plus years and especially in the last ten years, it has been shown that increased flexibility or stretching does not result in improved performance or fewer injuries.
But yet, the myth that athletes need more flexibility continues. Many coaches and trainers continue to recommend stretching for increased flexibility. The method of stretching appears to be immaterial as you can find trainers and coaches recommending easy stretching, vigorous stretching, static or passive stretching, or dynamic stretching.
Even more pertinent is the fact that there is no evidence to indicate that athletes need greater flexibility (except in special cases). Because of this and in the light of the available evidence, I have the athletes that I work with do strength exercises that also improve or maintain their flexibility. No time is taken to do only stretching, except for dynamic stretching movements prior to working out.
Strength coupled with flexibility is needed for effective and correct execution of a specific sports skill or strength exercise. And flexibility is specific to the demands of skill execution. It is as important as any increase in strength, speed or explosiveness in a specific action.
If the muscles are not strong enough in the range of motion the athlete needs he will never be able to exhibit the flexibility needed regardless of how flexible he may be. In other words, strength and flexibility should go hand-in-hand. You should not have one without the other. Strength and flexibility (coupled together) is needed for effective and correct execution of strength exercises and specific sports skills.
More information on stretching can be found in Superstretch and Build a Better Athlete. For warm-up stretches and exercises that develop strength and flexibility specific to running see Explosive Running. For warm-up stretches and exercises that develop strength and flexibility specific to golf see Explosive Golf. For warm-up stretches and exercises that develop strength and flexibility specific to basketball see Explosive Basketball Training. For warm-up stretches and exercises that develop strength and flexibility specific to tennis see Explosive Tennis: The Forehand and Backhand.