Football is the ultimate litmus test for athleticism. Football players are constantly tested in every aspect of athleticism in nearly every play.
Whether jumping, sprinting, performing lateral motions, starting and stopping—if you play, you know that these short bursts of movement are crucial to success on the football field.
And while many football players possess a natural ability that helps them excel at these actions, only the players who have mastered the art of movement find themselves at the top of their game.
Movement On The Field
When it comes to football, an integral aspect of the game is reacting to what the other team is doing, both defensively and offensively. Players are constantly in motion, running, jumping, and changing direction.
And, unlike other sports where players are static or move in predictable patterns, each opponent’s movements are unpredictable in football.
As a result, players need to have amazing proprioception (the body’s ability to change direction and move in response to external stimuli).
This is why proper movement training is so essential for football players.
With movement training, players can:
- make better split-second decisions on the field and avoid costly mistakes.
- lessen the likelihood of knee injuries and ACL tears.
- dodge tackles and make last-minute changes in direction, giving them a critical edge on the gridiron.
What Does it Mean to Master Movement?
Simply put, it means having complete control over your body and being able to perform any movement with ease and efficiency—essentially, it means safely learning healthy movement patterns.
This might sound like a tall order, but anyone can learn to master their movement with the proper training. And the benefits extend far beyond the football field.
Movement mastery is a lifelong skill. Those who go through a strategic movement training program tend to be less injury-prone and better able to handle the rigors of daily life. They also tend to possess greater overall athleticism and explosiveness.
In other words, if you want to be a successful football player—and a well-rounded athlete—you need to focus on mastering movement.
Where To Start?
Training too hard too soon for young football players, without proper assessment and guidance from an experienced coach can do more harm than good. One of the most damaging approaches to training young athletes is moving up in training intensity too much, too soon.
Investing in a movement training program is an investment in your future. It’s an investment in your health, your ability to excel on the football field, and your ability to reach your maximum athletic potential.
At Speed Mechanics in Victoria, BC, we’ve created the Accelerator Program. This program helps young athletes aged 10-18 train to master movement. A strategically-tiered program, sessions focus on high-performance training, speed and agility, and mental preparation.
We concentrate on developing and maintaining speed and strength so that our athletes can achieve peak performance without risking unnecessary burnout or injury. Coaches are available every day to work with Accelerator Program athletes – leveraging a wealth of expertise to make you faster, stronger, and more powerful.
If you’re serious about taking your game to the next level, click here to learn more about our Accelerator Program or sign up for your complimentary training session!