Correct the Biomechanics of Collision
Contact Conditioning Coach talks about conditioning for high contact sports. The blog particularly aims at conditioning for rugby players in an attempt to improve conditioning, biomechanics and readiness for collision.
This blog site will be dedicated to the improvement of contact conditioning for players in team sports where collision is an integral part of the game. The primary focus will be on the world of rugby union, where run of the mill conditioning is aimed primarily at “improving aerobic condition of its players and may include some weight training as this may help".
It is the opinion of the author that rugby players need to forget the muscle bound image of strength trained athletes. For too long rugby players have believed that "being big" meant being strong and also meant being unskilful and slow. Its time to change these misconceptions so that people realise that strong is strong and along with great strength comes great speed, explosive speed, outstanding skills and violent collision in the contact phases of the game all of which mean impenetrable defence and unstoppable offence.
The training will integrate high intensity weight training including weightlifting, power lifting, strongman as well as the improved biomechanics of collision and rugby skills. All aspects of this training will repeat skills until all players can repeat the skill in 90% or more of all contact situations. The simple body mechanics of contact will be trained as the key skill for rugby players, that is as necessary if not more so that ball handling skills. The conditioning of the mind, skills and condition of the players all form part of the contact conditioning coaching.
The discussion on the blog should be aimed at discussing and debating these issues in a serious and academic environment that aims to improve all aspect of the game. Cross pollination of ideas from various sports will be brought together to add to the contact conditioning of players that will take conditioning beyond were it is into the realm of sport skills. Sport specific conditioning adds to the conditioning of players for the game.
This blog site will be dedicated to the improvement of contact conditioning for players in team sports where collision is an integral part of the game. The primary focus will be on the world of rugby union, where run of the mill conditioning is aimed primarily at “improving aerobic condition of its players and may include some weight training as this may help".
It is the opinion of the author that rugby players need to forget the muscle bound image of strength trained athletes. For too long rugby players have believed that "being big" meant being strong and also meant being unskilful and slow. Its time to change these misconceptions so that people realise that strong is strong and along with great strength comes great speed, explosive speed, outstanding skills and violent collision in the contact phases of the game all of which mean impenetrable defence and unstoppable offence.
The training will integrate high intensity weight training including weightlifting, power lifting, strongman as well as the improved biomechanics of collision and rugby skills. All aspects of this training will repeat skills until all players can repeat the skill in 90% or more of all contact situations. The simple body mechanics of contact will be trained as the key skill for rugby players, that is as necessary if not more so that ball handling skills. The conditioning of the mind, skills and condition of the players all form part of the contact conditioning coaching.
The discussion on the blog should be aimed at discussing and debating these issues in a serious and academic environment that aims to improve all aspect of the game. Cross pollination of ideas from various sports will be brought together to add to the contact conditioning of players that will take conditioning beyond were it is into the realm of sport skills. Sport specific conditioning adds to the conditioning of players for the game.
posted by Nick at 10:28 PM
4 Comments:
Nick, congratulations on your new blog. I am sure it will be an important addition to the analytical literature on rugby and sport-specific strength training.
I am of course very familiar with many of your ideas through reading them on forums such as Rugga World and your frequent commentaries on my own blogsite.
Few people yet realise just how profoundly rugby will change as coaches learn the potential of serious strength training and the benefits of adopting and adapting some of the techniques of American football with respect to both training and game play. But this evolution is inevitable because those who make use of such methods will enjoy significant competitive advantage and the doubters will eventually have to play catch-up.
I look forward to future posts.
Regards
Bruce
Hi Nick
I think I will be adding this blog to my reads- as it will surely be informative
Wise words from Bruce
as proven in S14 2006
Thank you Bruce and Oranje for those kind comments, I hope that this blog can become a source of thought and discusion.
Nick
Dear Nick
Would you be interested in contributing articles to a national fitness magazine (printed media) in South Africa?
Please contact me at
safitness.ed@iafrica.com
Sincerely
Editor
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