The fitness and conditioning of a team or an athlete is very important for optimum performance. This is not a short process and the training should be planned and progressed over a number of months to make sure players are in tip top condition.

If you are keen to improve your skills whether for GAA or Rugby (for example), then sports specific training could well be the answer. There are various reasons why people choose to work with a certified personal trainer/strength & conditioning coach but one common reason is people who want sports specific workouts. Almost any activity, performed at a reasonable level, will benefit from sports specific training plans. Rugby, gaa, football, MMA a marathon or taking part in a triathlon etc – in each case your performance will benefit from sports specific exercises.

If prescribed correctly, sport specific speed, strength, power and agility training can give you a competitive edge. Resistance training is now used in just about every sport for improved performance as well as for injury prevention, and it is part of a well rounded and balanced annual training plan.  But peripheral training must be specific in order to be effective, especially for the endurance athlete.

Incorporating resistance training into your triathlon, cycling, or running plan can be difficult. You need the correct mix of exercises, resistance, and program incorporated at the right time to be maximally effective.

Your strength or power plan should address your limits or weaknesses, your individual genetics (fast twitch or slow twitch), your sport (sprint or long course), and your goal or “peak” date.  Most importantly, strength training can detract from the quality of your sport specific running, biking, and swimming if integrated at the wrong time and/or intensity.