Lift Weights or Agility Drills?

I’ve touched on it many times , but recently it was brought back up. Last week I received a couple phone calls from girls basketball coaches (one from Georgia, the other from Wisconsin). They had seen a FOUCS training video on YouTube (see it here).

Both coaches said almost the exact same thing:

“Hey Ryan, great video… it spoke to my situation. I’m a girls basketball coach and really want to incorporate some of the stuff you’re doing with my girls. I need help putting together a speed and agility program. We have a weight room but I think speed and agility is where I’d like to start.”

Speed and agility drills are all fine and dandy, but big improvements to physical performance are made in the weight room. Doesn’t matter if you’re a beginner, boy or girl, or a multi-sport athlere, you need to be in the weight room before attempting speed improvements drills. If you’re not strong enough to move and control your own body, how you going to get faster? I’m not sure where that reality was lost, but unfortunately coaches and parents out there seem to be searching for something that doens’t exist.

If I had to choose… give me a fully equipment weight room over a field. If the sky’s the limit, combine the two into one program.

This summer was a prime, real-life example of what’s possible when training includes both field time with lifting. Josh and I implementated an Athlete Development Program (ADP) for a local high school. During initial meetings, everything revolved around ‘getting our kids faster’. I negotiated for us to come in and spend the time creating a program from scratch, we had to have access to a field and weight room.

After some detailed conversations, Josh and I got both a field and weight room. Each workout started on the field where we hit the first four components of the FOCUS System. After that, we took it into the weight room. Total session length was 1hr. 15min. You honestly wouldn’t believe how far these kids came in 7 weeks (20 workouts). The system was followed to the letter, and the results are evident. (video of ADP coming.. stay tuned).

Side Note: A big high five to those involved with this particular ADP. We’re proud of the eyes we opened and future opportunities now in play.

Popularity: 28% [?]