What’s your thoughts on low intensity jump circuits on speed days done in GPP? For example 10 different low intensity jumps (pogo jumps, squat jumps, lateral jumps etc) perform for 10reps while resting 30sec btw movements. I think it’s a great way to condition the lower body while developing power, also you are able to get a high volume of jumps without torching the CNS.
It works well. We’re doing something similar right now.
Is this similar to Pfaff’s rud’s?
James,
Can you expand on the benefits of doing the low amplitude jumping routines?
Just answered this question on EFS last night. Search the football section of the Q&A and you’ll see it. My screen name is The Thinker on EFS
You can switch them over to low int days in place of tempo, in conjunction with gen str circuits, as well.
I know that but that’s not the purpose.
Kinda but a little more higher intensity.
Just trying to help my friend.
I know, what did I say?
Nuttin, I am curious to see what James says because I have only done jump circuit on low int as far as I can remember.
Say about what? He already said he does them on high intensity days after speed work…
I see. I missed his reply.
James-
Based upon the training setup you are currently employing, does the H/L/Off set up allow you to be more liberal in terms of the distribution of of HI elements over the course of the training week compared to a H/L setup?
Furthermore, do you believe that this is actually required in order to maintain the stimulus over the extended time period between HI sessions as compared to a H/L/H/L/H/L setup? Is a significant dispersion even more necessary during GPP where the magnitude of the cumulative stimulus for a given HI training day is by definition lower?
Along those lines, due to the many training components required in team sports (both general and specific), are your GPP phases actually of fairly high intensity relative to an olympic sport discipline in that the HI means change over the course of training, yet most are performed at high intensity (i.e. linear speed vs. position specific speed, etc…)?
Thanks.
James,
What are your opinions on including hill/sled work close to a testing period? I’m speaking more in terms of extensive work such as the 4x4x30 workout you mentioned rather than a potentiating load prior to a session.
We are limited by the NCAA in how many hours per week we may train the players. Thus, the current split is executed out of necessity. Having 2 opportunities for intensive sessions obviously necessitates that a greater volume of this type of work be executed per session as opposed to having 3 intensive sessions which provides for greater workload distribution. In either case, however, we have 2 low intensive sessions (because we’re not counting on anything being done over the weekend).
So, because we don’t train on Wednesdays I’m able to take slightly greater liberties on the Tuesday (extensive) session because they have the next day off; and this also obviously applies to the extensive Friday session which precedes the two day weekend recovery opportunity.
The greater distribution of the weekly workload across all training sessions is highly compatible with GPP (as Charlie explained extensively). By definition, the CNS intensive work conducted during GPP is less intensive in its form then it will be later; thus it’s only logical to disperse the workload across more training sessions in order to lessen the stress of each individual session.
As to your last question, rather than thinking in terms team sport vs Olympic sport, it is more wise to think physiologically and compare the GPP of multi-motor regime disciplines vs that of more singular/less complicated motor regime disciplines. In so doing, one will observe that there are more considerations to make when planning the training of the multi-motor regime athlete as the demands of the less complex motor regime disciplines typically represent just one component of the necessary abilities of the multi-motor regime athlete.
As to the approach taken in constructing the GPP, we’d have to compare specific disciplines to do justice to the conversation; however, in general I’d probably characterize the differences in the GPP to come more in the shape of breadth versus height.
It’s also important to note that there is a good argument against the need for a true GPP period for athletes of certain qualification who compete in certain disciplines. Wolfgang Ritzdorf and Ivan Abadjiev are two esteemed coaches who have presented very interested arguments in this regard.
By testing, if you’re referring to sprint, jump and so on testing I would recommend against performing resisted sprints in close proximity to the test day. It is my feeling that all intensive training must be of the highest quality and, for taper reasons, obviously be reduced in volume as test day approaches.
The resisted sprints are far more extensive, as you noted, in their training impact, thus, I’d say it would be contraindicated to substitute them for true speed work nearing the test day.
Hi guys. I have come up with a summer training program that Im really excited about. I play football and am mainly training for the 40 yard dash.
…
Ok so i cant get the file to attach to my post, so i’ll try and describe it on here.
5x40m or so on Mondays
followed by a squat variation and possible bench variation if necessary. 1 or 2 accessory exercises
Tuesdays and thursdays Tempo, Abs/Core
Wednesday
Speed endurance 5x70m
Cleans, HexBar DL, Military Press, Pull Ups
Friday
Acceleration work… 5x20m or so
squats, bench, one or two accessories
Accessories: Glute Ham Raise, SLDL, Lunges, Dips… not including curls, shrugs, etc.
All days including saturday are finished with stretching. Warm up is a BFS dot drill and dynamic flexibilty stuff
Goals: 40 time from 4.75/4.8 down to 4.60
Vertical jump to 35"
This program is fits extremely well with Kelley Baggett’s Vertical Jump Bible program, so I will try to smash them together as I see fit.
What do you guys think? 
I plan on timing myself sometime in the next week in the 10, 20 and 40 to see where Im at. I know you guys aren’t big fans of HIT programs, but this is basically a HIT program. Lifting heavy on the squats, and when i need to on the bench.
I use the “money” set theory where I do basically 4 sets on the core lifts. One set easy, the next medium, the next tough and then one balls out set.
Last fall I made tremendous strength focused progress following a somewhat similar program. I took 2 months off from august 5th or so to the end of september. I hadn’t squatted in a year or so and my bench was suffering. I quickly turned myself around and set new PRs on all of my lifts in a mere 7 weeks.
squat 265x5
bench 235x5
then i took from thanksgiving to around the first of the year off. i didn’t want to, but i had final exams and then over christmas break, i didn’t have access to a gym. I focused a little more on speed development, and the transition went great as well.
I’ve been getting going again, but I had to take a few steps back of course. Bench and squat have now surpassed where they were before. And I feel fast as ever. Things going great!
Backed up by electromyography, I find squats to be the most overrated exercise around. Even though Charlie stated ‘sprinting was a back dominant sport’, he still employed/favoured squats highly, which from my research are quad dominant (right? or wrong?), both front or regular & don’t hit much glute neither. Wouldn’t deadlifts/barbell hip thrusts/reverse hypers etc (ham/hip dominant) be favoured options?.
Anyway a bench/squat variation?. What does everyone make of these below, (opinions) please?. You don’t see many people performing this any more. A forgotten strongman’s exercise, great for overall body strength development.
I think there right up there IMO, anyone into really strengthening the core in particular, increasing your plank time etc should be hitting on these. According to electromyography, great for glutes, hams, delts etc.
Yes? or No?. Performed dynamically or isometrically?. All opinions appreciated.