I started lifting about 10 years ago to get in shape for lacrosse in high school and college. But since I graduated in ‘96, I’ve switched my focus to getting stronger, bigger, and more aesthetic. Now I’m playing on a recreational men’s lacrosse club and I’ve discovered my legs no longer have the speed or endurance they once did. I know that sports goals often conflict with bodybuilding goals, and you can’t train for both simultaneously. But could I start training my legs, traps, and forearms for speed/strength and strength endurance (multiple sets of low-rep, explosive box squats, power cleans, hang cleans, sprints) while continuing to train my chest, lats, biceps, and triceps for size and shape? Opinions?
Why not?
That’s what a lot of athletes do anyway…even though they’re not supposed to.
local endurance has little effect with overall endurance, when your anaerobic/aerbocic capacity is low. You need to bring up your GPP not local muscle endurance (thats what i would bet on anyway).
Ahh, you want a book or just a general comment - but by training for athletic, you can also look damn good. If I can help I will be happy to make some suggestions. In faith, Coach Davies
Just wanted to thank everybody for their responses. Just to let you all know, last week I basically followed my plan of combining the two styles, plus I added three sprint sessions on Thursday, Saturday, and Monday. Thursday and Monday were just 50s, zigzags, 100s, etc and Saturday included all that plus some brutal ladders and shuttles. I felt a lot better at my game on Wednesday. Even ran some double shifts. Coach - I just remember that when I trained exclusively for sport in college, I never got bigger, just stronger. I’m skinny naturally, and I hate to lose the muscle I’ve put on the last couple of years. Thanks!
- do you think that your training previously was developed not to gain size. My athletes have had no problem with size development but we also are extremely active in the nutritional size of the game. It would be a pleasure to assist. In faith, Coach Davies
Coach - In college, I basically lifted in the morning doing what I guess I’d call a powerlifting workout. Practice was in the afternoon and evening. Classes came in between. I think I was eating a lot; maybe not as smart as I should’ve, but a lot. Our coaches didn’t stress weight training as much as running and skills. I also partied a lot in college and it might’ve held me back. I don’t want to take too much of your time; you’ve already helped the board out so much. I’m going to read all your articles and I’ll give your style of training a go. Thanks!!!