Welcome to Total Performance Training Center in Wixom, MI and Rochester Hills, MI.  We’ve been training the top athletes in metro-Detroit since 2002.

Total Performance specializes in speed training for athletes at all levels and in all sports.

You’re probably getting ready to start your off-season training for an upcoming fall season.  It’s an exciting time.  Everyone is always jacked up and ready to start the summer because the season is now just around the corner.  If you’re getting ready to go, here are a few things to consider and include this summer:

Speed & Agility Training

Just about every sport is now dominated by speed.  Big, slow athletes can try to fool themselves into thinking is all about size and strength, until a fast opponent gets past him on every play.  Before you do anything this summer, make sure to address your speed.  I’m not talking about silly little ladder drills or cute little gadgets – run short distances as hard as you can.

Acceleration is the key here, so make sure your acceleration mechanics are sound.  If you can accelerate well, you’ll win more 50/50 balls, your tackles will harder, your runs longer and your defense tighter.  If you’re going to spend time doing one thing this summer, get better at accelerating.

Attack Your Weakness

Give yourself an honest assessment of what you need to be a better at your sport.  You may be missing plays because you’re not fast enough.  You may be getting knocked around because you’re not big or strong enough.  You may be ineffective because you’re never in shape.  Your sport skills may not be up to par.

Whatever it is, find it, and attack it this summer so you’re a better player this fall.  If you’re not sure about this, ask one of your coaches.  They can probably tell you why you don’t play as much as you’d like or what you can do to take your game to another level.  If your coach can’t tell you, then go to a college camp and ask them.  If you can’t go to camp, watch game film from last year and figure out what mistakes you were making.  Don’t make the same mistakes this year.  Do something pro-active this summer to eliminate at least one deficiency in your game.

Total Body Strength

Yes, a big chest and jacked up arms look good on the beach, but that’s not where you play most sports.  Don’t forget to include plenty of work on your legs, upper back, grip and neck (for collision sports).  Too many athletes spend all their time on looking good, and not enough time on the things that will actually help them on the field.  Instead of being the guy who somehow always misses leg day in the gym, be the guy who gets there early and stays late.

If you play football, hockey or lacrosse, for God’s sake train your neck safely and efficiently.  If you don’t know how, ask for some help so you can save yourself from neck and head injuries.

Safety

Be smart with your training.  There’s no reason to hurt yourself trying to lift too much weight with bad technique.  No one is going to care that you cleaned 300 pounds if you hurt yourself in the process.  I see YouTube videos all the time of people using horrible technique on cleans, squats and deadlifts, all so they can say they lifted the weight.  I also hear about athletes with messed up backs, hurt wrists and bad shoulder problems because they let their ego get in the way of progress.  You shouldn’t have to hit the training room before every lift just to get treatment on your back.  If something is hurting, you need to change your approach.

Conditioning

You better show up for camp in shape.  Here’s what happens all the time.  Athletes show up for camp out of shape.  Coach runs you hard the first day to send a message.  You get really sore and show up the next day set up for injury.  Coach runs the team again, and hip flexors, hamstrings and Achilles tendons start to tighten up fast.  Next thing you know, you’re on the sidelines watching someone take your minutes.

Show up in shape.  Do your running in July so you can practice hard in August.

Sport Specific Skill Work

You probably know what position you’re going to play, so start working the movements you’re going to do in the fall.  Work on your stance, foot skills, setting, shooting, backpedaling, catching, throwing, kick slides, etc. so you’re a better player this year.  It’s great to be an athlete.  It’s even better to be an athlete that can play a position/sport well.  Learn to play your position/sport well.

Put Your Work In

You’re going to maximize your summer training program by doing it consistently.  No program is going to work well if you don’t do stick to it and show up consistently.  I’ve seen a lot of athletes waste their talent by showing up half the time.  Then, they think the “training” didn’t work because they aren’t much faster or stronger.  It’s on you this summer – train consistently for optimal results.

Not only will that get you sub-par results, nothing will drop your credibility faster than not showing up for team activities.  It’s always funny to watch the guy/girl who didn’t show up all summer try to tell everyone what to do during practice.  No one wants to hear it from you, even if you’re talented.  Put your work in, get your hands dirty and help create an atmosphere of hard work by showing up every day for whatever your coach has planned for you.  You can always do extra work later, but show up for your team workouts no matter what.

If you follow this simple advice, there is no doubt you’ll show up this fall as a better football player.  Take some time to think about what you need, create a plan, and work hard this summer.

To make maximal progress this summer, let Total Performance create the optimal workout for you.  Total Performance has been helping the area’s top athletes for ten years, and our individualized programs and coaching will have your more prepared than you’ve ever imagined.  Give us a call at 248-669-9818 or e-mail me a jim@totalsportscomplex.com for a no-risk evaluation.

Total Performance Wixom – speed and agility training

Total Performance Rochester Hills – speed and agility training