Keeping Up with the Times

It is easy to prepare a workout for an athlete and say “I know everything and that this workout is the best there is!” But that would not be beneficial for the athletes you work with as a sports performance coach. So it is vital for us to keep on top of all the new theories.

 

Mike Boyle, Strength and Conditioning Coach for Boston University has recently stated that “SQUATS ARE NOT BENEFICIAL FOR ATHLETES!” Mr. Boyle has been in the sports performance industry for years and has been known to challenge traditional beliefs. I for one was someone who not only believed in squats but performed them in my daily lifting routines. Squats are a vigorous low body exercise that works the hips, butt, thigh and calves. When squats are performed they allow an athlete to work on strength, power and flexibility. As a sports performance coach it is our job to increase all of these important aspects. So why is Mr. Boyle saying that squats are no longer needed in an athlete’s strength training regimen?

 

Let’s take a look at some of the disadvantages: When playing a sport, how often are you on two feet together? Very rarely! If you are on two feet odds are you are not performing to your maximum potential. When playing a sport you are pushing off one single leg, so why perform a strength exercise like squats that is based on being on two feet?

 

Also, when performing squats the lower body is being worked but where is most of the load going? The back! When an athlete is performing squats they are able to load up the bar with lots of weight but that added weight is compressing the spine. Here are a number of exercises that give you the same benefits as a squat but do not compress the spine. Here are just a few examples: Step Ups, Bulgarian Split Squats or the Rear-Foot- Elevated-Split Squat (one foot on the ground and one foot on a bench), or Step Downs. When an exercise can be performed that increases strength but reduces stress it should be vital in any strength training routine.