Whether returning to a recreational or competitive sport or attending your first try out or training camp, athlete sport specific training and preparation is critical for success.

Many people think that overall fitness is the number one variable in sport conditioning. Fitness is certainly a key ingredient to sporting success but how the athlete arrives at his ideal fitness level is equally important. An athlete who works in the off-season with endurance training (i.e. distance running or cycling) will improve his aerobic threshold. However, endurance training may be less effective for the athletes sport and may actually lower the athlete’s performance and increase the risk of injury.

Your body is best developed in ways that mimic the sport for which it is being trained. If the athlete is training for a marathon or triathlon, then by all means running and cycling long distances is appropriate. If you are preparing for hockey or basketball, the training must condition the body and mind for the specific movements of that activity.

For example; hockey, lacrosse, basketball and soccer are all sports that require quick forward, backward and lateral movements. The athlete has to be conditioned to reach top speed in three strides, stop on a dime, change direction and be at top speed again all in a matter of seconds. Endurance activities do not prepare the body for that kind of movement. In stead, a conditioning program for explosive sports would focus on agility, balance, power, strength, flexibility and cardiovascular interval training.

Athletes of all ages should learn to prepare their bodies and minds for their sport. This will increase your sport enjoyment, performance and reduce the potential for injuries.

If you have any sports training questions, please contact the fitness experts at Queensborough Community Centre, on Wednesdays from 3:30 – 7:30 pm, and Canada Games Pool, daily from 1 to 8 pm. This is a free service and additional details can be found at www.nwpr.bc.ca or by calling the centre.