Superstars Are Not Born – They Are Created
Michael Jordan did it. Jerry Rice took a news crew to film him while he did it. David Beckham champions it at his David Beckham Academies. What do they all have in common? Aside from being world-class athletes, these modern “gods” include speed and agility training as an integral part of their successes. While all were born with athletic talent, they know that speed exercises and agility drills give them the edge on their competitors, and they are right. Michael Jordan felt being at peak shape helped his basketball skills, “I just feel that physically I’ve got to be in the best shape possible to be able to do my job.” Both experts and the athletes themselves agree that the adoption and practice of speed and agility training extended the careers for Jerry Rice and Michael Jordan.
This explains the transformation in popular thinking. The old adage was that you were either born with natural talent or you were lacking. If you did not possess natural talent then you were relegated to the stands, now we know better. In fact there is a well known Speed and Agility Revolution happening. The extra time spent on speed and agility training, is that which separates starters from bench warmers, scholarship athletes from walk-ons, playing tennis with the boss at the club or strumming your fingers back at your desk.
Speed and Agility Defined
So what exactly is speed and agility? Speed is the ability to cover distance rapidly. Nearly every game requires fast movements of either the arms or legs. Leg speed is tremendously important in sports such as football, soccer, basketball and baseball. Speed exercises and agility training can improve leg speed in sports.
Agility training focuses on rapid change of direction and footwork while maintaining control and balance. Agility includes a combination of speed, balance, power and co-ordination. Agility is necessary for almost any sport as it increases a player’s reaction time to changes on the court or field.
Getting Real
The next time you are watching Kobe Bryant’s incredible agility, strength, and stamina on the court, know that it is not simply some miraculous, God-given ability. Kobe works relentlessly hard, year-round, on strength training workouts, agility training and speed exercises. He is considered to be one of the hardest working and physically fit players in the NBA and he has the trophies and championship rings to back it up!
3 Responses to 'Speed and Agility Training: Superstars Are Not Born'
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Not only are these learned skills — they are skills that should start being learned early in youth sports leagues. While young players should not train at the same intensity levels as high school and adult athletes, young muscles can be more easily conditioned to react with agility. Keeping it fun for younger athletes should be the focus. As a young player ages, more emphasis can be placed on speed and strength. The early opportunity lies in training and development for agility and can give a young athlete a huge advantage in later years.
It is true. Almost every professional athlete will admit to doing a speed and agility training workout as part his or her success plan.
No news flash here. Altough perhaps some people might think that what applies to all other sports doesn’t apply to speed and agility training and so they need it spelled out. Nicely written article and it does the job of actually reminding us that there is very little in the sense of talent and most of it is work. I heard some scientist say once: research is 95% perspiration and 5% inspiration. Meaning: do the work and the results will look like talent.