Athletic Training Protocols

Athletic training protocols vary depending on the programs you join. Numerous training regimens are available depending on the sport and the athlete. When it comes to choosing a program, consider the weaknesses you need to address and improve for better performance on the field, court or track. Athletic training protocols can enhance factors such as agility, flexibility, strength and speed.

  1. Strength Training

    • Strength training is a necessary aspect for all types of athletic training protocols. Improving muscle strength aids in the prevention of sport ailments and increases athletic performance. Strength training is especially integral for power athletes in sports such as football and rugby. Additionally, a well-structured strength routine can improve the athlete's stamina and muscular endurance. Exercises such as sport-specific resistance and weight lifting routines can result in better agility, overall fitness and performance. Crunches, bent-leg knee raise, back extensions, squats, bench press and leg curls are some of the exercises athletes can perform for strength training.

    Conditioning

    • Athletic conditioning aims to improve strength, flexibility, power, agility and sport-specific techniques for athletes. The Athletic Training Center, a sports performance and rehabilitation center based in Idaho, offers training protocols and programs for increasing maximun sprint speed and anaerobic tolerance. Training for increasing sprint speed involves developing stride length and stride frequency. Stride length exercises focus on strength and flexibility while stride frequency focus on selective use of neuromuscular pathways. Other conditioning exercises are plyometrics, resistance cord training and weight lifting.

    Rehabilitation

    • As part of athletic training protocols, rehabilitation includes treatments such as physical therapy for athletic injuries resulting from sport accidents or over training. Rehabilitation protocols may include treatments and exercises for controlling of pain and swelling, increasing range of motion, increasing strength and re-establishing muscle speed, power and skill. Depending on the injury, training may include rotator-cuff exercises for shoulder and knee rehabilitation. Exercises such as toe raises, dorsiflexion, short-arc leg extensions and hamstring curls are effective for slowly restoring knee and shoulder strength.