http://www.defrancostraining.com/ask_joe/ask_joe.htm
Q: Hey Joe,
I read a lot of your success stories. I can see how you have a lot of kids following your program. But, I want to tell you I am not too happy about my 16 year old son’s progress. Yes, he has gotten bigger and stronger, but he can not move. At 15 he was 5’10" 190 lbs. and was a pretty good athlete, started both ways in football and was a starter in basketball. Since on your program, he is now 6’1"248 lbs.-big and strong, but can’t move.
All he does is lift and eat a lot of protein. He never runs, no cardio, no quickness. He says those things are not good to do, straight from you and your friends at T-Nation and elite fitness systems. He played linebacker last year but now he is too slow, they put him on the line.
He was actually better at basketball, but now he would not be able to get up and down the court more than a couple times. I would appreciate if you guys would tell your young athletes how important it is to maintain their speed and quickness, no matter what sport they want to excel in. To me, there is too much emphasis on strength, not quickness.
Thank you for your time,
Concerned father of Cory (superiorathlete on T-Nation)
A: Please tell me where I said that running & quickness training were not good to do. Those words have NEVER come out of my mouth. I make a LIVING getting athletes faster & quicker; speed & quickness training is a big part of our program. (Any athlete that has trained with us knows that.)
Unfortunately, this is another case of someone misunderstanding what they read on the internet. I have said that during the INITIAL STAGES OF THE OFF-SEASON, strength training, rehabbing injuries & nutrition are MORE IMPORTANT than running & conditioning. Those are the things that “build the foundation” for a fast athlete. As the weeks & months go on and the season gets closer, the emphasis should switch from strength training to speed training, quickness training & conditioning (while trying to MAINTAIN strength).
I’m sorry you have misunderstood some of my philosophies.
P.S. If your son really gained 58 POUNDS, he’s eating more than just protein! As a parent of a 16-year-old kid, YOU are responsible for the food that’s in your fridge! And since you’re blaming “my program” for making him slower, can I also take credit for making him taller? After all, he went from 5’10" to 6’01" on “My program” so I guess I can claim that my program makes athletes taller too?!
Get my point??
Joe D.
Hey SA, nice job bulking up. Time to shed some fat and do a little agility work maybe or are you going to shave your head, grow a goatee and become a powerlifter? 