Sport-specific strength training: Background, rationale and program

This chapter aims to review the latest scientific research in the application and design of sport-specific strength training programs in three types of sport: a team sport (soccer), a racket sport (badminton) and a water sport (rowing). Generally, training programs designed to improve sports performance involve metabolic training (i.e., aerobic or anaerobic metabolism), functional training (i.e., training to enhance movement), and strength training (i.e., training to enhance muscle capacity). In this chapter, we will focus on the strength training regimes specific to soccer, badminton, and rowing. In each sport, we will consider the: 1) physical demands of competition, 2) anthropometry/body type suitable for the sport, 3) body movements, muscle recruitment and range of motion of the sport, 4) modalities of training exercise, 5) periodization, and 6) common injuries and their prevention in each sport. With the aforementioned information, we will show the rationales behind the sport-specific strength training programs, and lastly we will illustrate some samples of strength training programs. Copyright © 2010 Nova Science Publishers, Inc. The publisher web site is located at https://www.novapublishers.com/catalog/index.php