Performance Training vs. Basic Training

What is performance training?

Performance training, in the context of athletics, focuses on strength and conditioning tailored to the specific demands of an athlete's sport. This approach prioritizes targeted adaptations, distinguishing it from general fitness training. Key principles guiding performance training include:

• Specificity

• Progressive Overload

• Individualization

• Recovery

My Experience with performance training.

During my years as a college athlete, I went through many proper performance programs, a lot of which I learned from. The workouts had structure that matched the goals and development with my needs as an athlete, moving from general prep to specific training. As a soccer player, we utilized an endurance based program that sprinkled in power lifting and body building movements. Proper Programming helped me maximize my athletic potential as an athlete. The structure, attention to detail, and coaching were key factors for my success. This is why I would choose performance training over basic training.

When do I need to do performance training?

The distinction between basic training and performance training lies in the goals of the program. Performance training has a targeted goal while basic training focuses on overall health and wellness. Through proper movement and physical assessments one can engage in performance training. As an athlete, performance programming and coaching can excelerate athletic development.

This breakdown of the two may help you decide what’s right for you:

Basic Training:

• Focus:

  • Overall health and wellness.

  Characteristics:

  • Suitable for individuals seeking to improve their general fitness.

Performance Training:

• Focus:

• Enhancing athletic performance in a specific sport/activity

• Minimizing the risk of injuries.

• Characteristics:

  • Prioritizes factors like power, speed, agility, max strength and reaction time.

Why Performance Training?

Performance training is arguably the best way to train as it provides our bodies with targeted and intense physical stimulus. We adapt to the specificity of training, so adaptations may be stronger with a performance style as compared to basic training. Athletes acquire specific physical qualities, power, speed, agility, and strength, leading to improved sport performance. These qualities are adressed through movement and physical assessment. Injury risk patterns found during assessment and training should also be analyzed and are a part of proper strength and conditioning programs. With recognition of proper movement patterns, we can progress athletes to more intense exercises safely. Most performance training includes competition or gamified drills. In competitive sports, even small improvements in performance make a difference. Competition can develop these desired physical qualities quicker and provides athletes with an oppurtunity to express their edge. With higher intensities comes a need for recovery. Understanding proper recovery is crucial for optimized performance and allows for the most gains, while avoiding overtraining. Following a targeted training program, athletes can see positive jumps in athletic qualities. Performance training goes beyond basic training to optimize an athlete's performance at its peak. This can translate to increased speed, power, endurance, strength, and agility. Enhanced performance will have a strong correlation with your health.

In essence, while basic training improves overall fitness, performance training is designed to maximize athletic potential and specific goals while improving overall fitness. 

BanxPerformance is here to help you choose which style is best for you. Let us know what we can do for you!

- BanxPeformance