Strength and Conditioning
Strength and Conditioning 10 Year Journey (PDF Format 344 Kb)
Strength and conditioning (S&C) is integrated into the overall sport programmes within the School of Sport. The breakdown between strength training and conditioning depends on the demands of the sport, the needs of the individual performers and the requirements of each sport's head coach.
S&C involves the physical preparation of performers and aims to enhance performance in the specific sport. S&C training methods depend on the physiological demands of the sport, the age of the performers, availability of equipment and time of the season. All S&C programmes within the Glasgow School of Sport are periodised to fit with the players competition programme. However, the structure of the conditioning programmes will fit within a more generalised approached to development of performance over a number of years.
The following approach is used:
Year 1 & Year 2
ABC’s of athleticism – speed, agility, balance and speed
ABC’s of running, jumping and throwing
Base aerobic development
Flexibility and core stability basics
Key time for motor skill development
Linear, lateral and multidirectional speed
Emphasis on non-sport specific conditioning
Conditioning through FUN games
Body weight strength training
No specific periodisation but well structured programmes
Year 3 & Year 4
Key aerobic development
Technical introduction to weight training – strength development occurs when technically competent
Anaerobic development
Key flexibility development particularly through the major growth spurt
Single or double periodisation to meet the competition goals of the performer
Move towards more sport specific S&C
Complex movement, balance and agility skills
Year 5 & Year 6
Double or triple periodisation to meet the competition goals of the performer
Sport specific and position specific S&C
Strength development through weight training
Continued aerobic development
Complex movement, balance and agility skills in pressure situations
Optimum preparation is the key to success in this stage
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S1/2 pupils being put through their places |
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Generic Conditioning Sessions
The images above show action from the Friday S1/2 generic conditioning session. Pupils from all five separate disciplines: Athletics, Swimming, Badminton, Hockey and Gymnastics come together to train under the supervision and instruction of School of Sport coaches; Philippa Musikant (Gymnastics), Kevin Watson (Strength and Conditioning) and Norrie Hay (Athletics). The sessions allow the pupils to improve their total body conditioning and flexibility, areas that will undoubtedly help everyone improve their individual sporting event.
