THE ARIZONA WILDCAT TRAINING SYSTEM
Philosophy of Training – The Wildcat Training system incorporates
Four Pillars that maximize athletic performance while minimizing injuries. By encompassing these principles, the wildcat athlete is able to maximize their athletic potential and outperform their competition.
Pillar 1) Movement
General Movement Concepts
- Joint Mobility and Stability- Optimal range of motion in order to help reduce injury while increasing kinetic chain efficiency.
- Dynamic flexibility/movement routines
- Post training flexibility routines
- Multi-Directional Movement training
- Speed technique training
- Stability training for local and global musculature systems
- Functional Movement patterns
Injury Prevention Movement Concepts
- Assessments that examine total body mobility, flexibility, strength, power, agility, conditioning and kinetic chain movements.
- Strengthening of muscles/bones/connective tissue
- Enhanced Flexibility
- Correction of structural imbalances
- Pre-habilitation exercises that require balance and high proprioceptive demand in order to help maximize neuromusculoskeletal balance
- Sport Specific Conditioning
Multi-Directional Movement Concepts
- Mechanics
- Body Position
- Reaction
- Proper Pushing Angles
- Quickness
Pillar 2) Strength
- Develop all strength qualities (stabilizing, eccentric, continuous, explosive, integrated) required for optimal athletic performance
- Individualize strength training depending on athletes position and needs
- Develop a solid strength base so that athlete can tolerate higher training intensities, and maintain strength throughout entire season
- Developing the different characteristics of core strength
- Developing Triple Extension
Pillar 3) Power-The ability to exert force quickly
- Olympic Lifting-Starting, explosive power
- Plyometrics-elastic and reactive power
- Multi-dimensional power for explosive movement in all directions.
Pillar 4) Sport Specific Energy system Development
- In many sports, you win because of superior conditioning. We Pride ourselves in being the best-conditioned team and winning games late! It is difficult to play hard. An athlete can think they are tough and in good shape, but without great conditioning and appropriate energy system development their bodies will shut down...
- Anaerobic Capacity - the ability to sustain repeated short bursts of activity efficiently.
- Aerobic Capacity - the cardiovascular systems ability to support other energy systems and maintain optimal metabolism
- Conditioning is not just sprinting.
- Great conditioning requires work and work requires ENERGY.
- There are several energy systems, all must be trained sport specific
By preparing the athlete physically in all Four Principles, the athlete also becomes better prepared mentally. By achieving new levels of strength and speed along with enhanced body composition, the athlete now is more confident and has a clearer vision of their athletic ability. By pushing the athletes to new levels of conditioning, their mental toughness also improves. This toughness carries the athlete in physically demanding in competition situations. Goals can now be accomplished in an environment that is both intense and enjoyable for the athlete as well as the coach.
The job of a performance coach is to create an environment where athletes enjoy the opportunity while seeing performance improvement. This will in turn improve the athletes’ self-confidence, and their confidence in the strength and conditioning program.
