Why Athletes Overlook Strength Training for Long-Term Athletic Development (LTAD) – And Why They Shouldn't
Athletes Authority
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Ask a professional athlete what they think gave them a huge performance boost throughout their sporting career, and they'll almost always say it was a great strength and conditioning program.
Before strength and conditioning training was even popular for athletes, Michael Jordan was preaching it way back in the 90s.
Many of the GOATs have followed suit:
Christiano Ronaldo...
LeBron...
Tiger Woods...
Serena Williams...
and the list goes on.
Yet, so many aspiring and amateur athletes fail to see its value. Whether due to misconceptions, short-term performance focus, or lack of education, strength and conditioning training is often overlooked in favour of sport-specific drills. However, neglecting strength work can lead to performance stagnation, increased injury risk, and a shortened athletic career.
In this article, we’ll explore the top reasons athletes don’t prioritise strength training and why integrating a structured strength and conditioning program is essential for sustained success.
1. Short-Term Performance vs. Long-Term Gains
Many athletes focus on immediate results, such as improving their sprint times or shooting accuracy. Because strength training doesn’t always provide instant improvements in skill-based performance, athletes may deprioritise it. However, strength training builds the foundation for power, endurance, and resilience, ensuring long-term athletic development and peak performance over time.
2. Fear of Losing Speed or Agility
A common myth in sports is that lifting weights makes athletes bulky and slow. This misconception stems from poor program design rather than the actual effects of strength training. Proper strength and conditioning training focuses on explosive power, mobility, and functional strength—key components that enhance, rather than hinder, speed and agility.
3. Lack of Education on Strength Training Benefits
Many athletes and even some coaches lack a clear understanding of how strength training contributes to performance and injury prevention. Without proper education, athletes may not realise that strength training:
4. Early Success Without Strength Training
Some athletes excel in their sport at a young age without structured strength training. This early success can reinforce the belief that weight training is unnecessary. However, as competition intensifies and physical demands increase, those who neglect strength and conditioning training often struggle to keep up with stronger, more physically prepared opponents.
5. Sport-Specific Bias and Training Culture
Certain sports, such as soccer, tennis, and swimming, have traditionally underemphasized strength training. Athletes in these sports may focus heavily on skill and endurance, assuming that weight training isn’t relevant. However, modern sports science proves that strength training benefits all athletes, regardless of their discipline.
6. Injury as the First Wake-Up Call
Unfortunately, many athletes only realise the importance of strength training after sustaining an injury. Strength and conditioning programs are designed not only to enhance performance but also to prevent injuries by improving joint stability, muscle balance, and movement efficiency. Waiting until an injury occurs to implement strength training can lead to lost training time and setbacks.
7. Lack of Immediate Performance Feedback
Strength training results are not always immediately visible. Unlike skill training, where an athlete can see direct improvements in their shot accuracy or sprint time, strength gains build gradually. This delayed feedback can make some athletes question its effectiveness. However, consistent strength training leads to long-term improvements in power, speed, and endurance that become evident in competition.
8. Time Constraints & Energy Management
With busy training schedules filled with skill drills, conditioning, and competition, many athletes worry that adding strength training will lead to excessive fatigue. However, a well-structured strength and conditioning program is designed to complement an athlete’s existing workload, improving performance without causing overtraining.
9. Social & Cultural Factors
In some sports cultures, strength training has not been widely embraced. For example, soccer players historically focused on endurance and agility over weight training. However, as the modern game evolves, more elite athletes integrate strength and conditioning to gain a competitive edge.
10. Poorly Designed Strength Programs
A poorly designed strength program can discourage athletes from incorporating weight training into their routine. Programs that are not tailored to an athlete’s sport or individual needs may lead to unnecessary fatigue, limited performance improvements, or even increased injury risk. This reinforces the misconception that strength training is ineffective.
How to Get Athletes to Prioritise Strength and Conditioning Training
To ensure athletes recognise the importance of strength training for LTAD, coaches and trainers should:
Conclusion
Strength training is a critical component of long-term athletic development, yet many athletes overlook it due to myths, short-term focus, and lack of education. By understanding its benefits and integrating a structured strength and conditioning program, athletes can enhance their performance, reduce injury risk, and ensure a longer, more successful athletic career.
If you're looking to optimise your strength and conditioning training, consult with a qualified strength coach to develop a tailored program that enhances your athletic potential.
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