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Basketball Strength Training

 
As we get into the full swing of the basketball season strength and conditioning can set you apart. 
 
There are many ways to improve your strength. However not all of them are appropriate or useful  to your "game" if you are a basketball player.
 
Over the next few weeks we at D1Scout will cover the best ways to enhance your strength,  and maintain or build your power through the season.
 
With  basketball players playing on a year round schedule, utilizing some of these techniques can truly enhance or better your "game".
 
For the year round ball players, the maintenance program described in the context of this post can also be used during your AAU, Club or Travel season.
 
So let's get started with this first installment!
There is one and only one objective of strength training for basketball. And it's ridiculously obvious...
To improve your game!
But as simplistic as that might sound consider this for a moment. Is it fair to assume that when you
mention "strength training" to most athletes they immediately think of lifting heavy weights with the
sole objective of lifting even heavier weights next time?
  That's NOT the best approach for basketball players.
To have the greatest impact on your game, strength training for basketball should aim to develop
explosive power. And that takes something a little more refined than just lifting heavy weights alone.
  Unlike football, basketball is a non-contact sport (although at times, some would argue with that!). It's
a game of finesse that requires highly developed motor co-ordination. And as a result, the classic
misconception is to assume that strength training will hinder those finely tuned skills and hamper
agility around the court. That's not the case at all.
Follow a basketball-specific strength training program and you will improve every aspect of your
game...
  • Your acceleration and speed around the court.
  • Your range of shots and passes.
  • Your explosive power - in particular your vertical jump.
Not only that, strength training for basketball can also significantly reduce your risk of those all-tocommon
joint and tendon injuries.
The Different Types of Basketball Strength Training
We can split the term 'strength' into three separate categories. Each is important in basketball...
A. Absolute or Maximal Strength
Absolute strength is the maximum force that a muscle group can exert in a single, momentary
contraction. For example, a player who can bench press 200lbs has greater absolute strength than a
player who can bench press 180lbs.
As a basketball player it's important that you devote a portion of your strength program to developing
maximal strength. Why? Because it serves as a foundation for muscular power and speed.
But there is one condition, maximal strength (usually measured by one repetition max) makes no
allowances for time - a weightlifter can spend 20-30 seconds lifting a weight inch by inch. That's next
to useless in basketball. The ground contacts in most explosive movements (like jumping and
sprinting) occur in less than a second!
So maximal strength training is simply a means to an end (still a very important one though). And the
end is to increase your explosive speed and muscular power.
B. Muscular Power
Power is a combination of both absolute strength and speed of movement. Increase either one
(without reducing the other) and you increase explosive power.
As we'll see in a moment, strength training for basketball should fall into some distinct phases over
the course of a season. If you can build a high level of maximal strength first, you can then convert
much of those gains into explosive power.
A very effective form of power training is called plyometrics or jump training - and it's ideally suited
to basketball.
Plyometrics combines elements of both speed and strength in single movement patterns. But you
must have a solid strength base before you move on to these types of sessions.
C. Muscular Endurance
Your ability to perform repeated, high-intensity movements without fatigue is a reflection of your
muscular endurance.
  Improvements in muscular endurance will improve your ability to repeat sprints up and down the
court in quick succession. It will also improve your ability to jump several times in succession with
minimal loss in power.
  So how do you develop maximal strength, muscular power and muscular endurance all at the same
time? The answer is you don't.
Instead, break strength training for basketball into several, distinct phases.
The 4 Phases of Strength Training for Basketball
Bodybuilders and weight lifters tend to follow a progressive weight training program. They just keep
increasing the weight indefinitely always striving to lift just a little bit more.
Strength training for basketball should be periodized. What exactly does that mean? Over the course
of a year, strength training for basketball should follow several distinct phases or cycles. Each of
these phases has a very specific objective that leads you naturally into the next phase of training.
Follow a periodized strength regime and you'll maximize your results. Plus, here's the kicker - unless
you're an elite basketball player, very few of your opponents will take this approach to their strength
training routine. That gives you a real competitive advantage.
  A. Off-Season - Build Functional Strength
Before you begin the more intensive strength training for basketball, it's crucial that you prepare your
body. During the off-season, and even the early pre-season, begin by performing functional exercises
that focus on stabilizing muscles and in particular, core stability.
Basketball places a lot of uneven strains on your body. You throw predominantly with one arm for
example. Some joints and tendons are placed under more stress than others. The same muscles are
used over and over and grow strong while others are neglected.
A low-intensity functional strength phase helps to restore the balance. So the goals of this phase are:
  • To prepare joints, ligaments and tendons for more intense work in subsequent training phases.
  • To strengthen neglected stabilizer muscles.
  • To balance the right and left side of the body.
  • To correct any imbalance between flexors and extensors (the pectorals and triceps may become overly strong in relation to the rhomboid and biceps for example).
In this phase, dedicate a good deal of your time to strengthening your center of power (your core!).
The muscles of the trunk and lower back connect the upper and lower body. They support every
twisting, turning, jumping and lateral movement. They are literally the link through which all
movement passes. This is the most important phase in strength training for basketball. Yet
most players and coaches dismiss it. And it becomes doubly important for younger players.
The foundations you lay in the off-season and early pre-season literally determine the quality of
strength and power you can form in later phases. Not to mention how likely you are to avoid or suffer
acute and chronic injury.

Days per week: 2-3
Load: 50-60% 1 rep max
Reps: 15-20
Sets: 2-3
 
B. Off-Season/Early Pre-Season - Build Maximal Strength
Preparing fully makes maximal strength training that much more productive. Your goal now is peak
strength. Then you can convert it into muscular power through plyometric training. Aim to complete
this phase at least 4 weeks before the start of the competitive season.
Most basketball players (in fact most athletes) never progress past this phase. They keep lifting more
and more weight until they get injured or burnt out. Three strength training sessions a week is enough
to build maximal strength. Try to separate each session by 48 hours.

Days per week: 3
Load: 80-90% 1 rep max
Reps: 4-8
Sets: 3-5

C. Late Pre-Season - Convert to Muscular Power

You've taken the time to prepare. You've worked hard to build a high level of strength. Now it's time
to reap all the rewards on the court. Use plyometric training to convert your newfound strength into
basketball-specific power. Focus on the lower body with rebounding exercises like depth jumps and
work the upper body with medicine balls.
A quick word to the wise however... Plyometric training is a relatively simple concept but you MUST
get it right. Excellent form is essential. So is restricting yourself from overdoing it. Plyometrics are not
physically challenging - not in the sense that wind sprints are. You will probably feel like you haven't
done enough. Resist any temptation to do extra. Plyometric training is NOT about "no pain-no gain"!

Days per week: 2-3
Load: bodyweight only
Reps: 8-12
Sets: Varies but never more than 120 ground contacts per session.

D. In-Season - Maintain Muscular Power
Accept that over the course of the competitive season you will lose some maximal strength. As long
as you maintain the high levels of muscular power you've worked so hard to attain, you'll be a better
player.
During the in-season spend 1-2 sessions/week in the weight room and 1-2 sessions/week on
plyometric training. Attempts at alternating between weight training and plyometrics is optimal.
Here's how strength training for basketball might look over a 12-month period...
Recovery is THE most important part of any training program. Factor in several weeks of rest over
the course of a season. You may want to take a week off entirely every 6-8 weeks, or have a 2 week
period of light circuit training every now and then. Nutrition and hydration are very important aspects
to recovery as well – not specifically mentioned here.

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