The ability to exert a force through a specified range of motion, within a short time period, is essential in both sport and life. Whether you're on the beach throwing a football with your kids, playing in a softball league or hauling bags of mulch in your backyard, only the strongest, fastest man will resist injury and prevail in the long run.

Ryan Lee, M.S., C.S.C.S., exercise physiologist and founder of SportSpecific.com, recommends a simple plan for achieving optimal power:

"High quality work with adequate rest. Power exercises, like explosive plyometrics (jump training) or Olympic lifts, should be performed as quickly as possible." In order to reduce the chance of injury, use proper technique and take three to five minutes rest between sets of the power exercises, says Lee.

Training Guidelines

Frequency of training

Beginner:
If you're new to the iron game (less than 12 months of consistent strength and conditioning experience) consider yourself a beginner. In addition, it's a good idea to follow the beginner plan if you've been away from the gym for two or more months. You will make steady progress with just two sessions each week.

Be sure to rest 48-to-72 hours between training days. Monday/Thursday, Tuesday/Friday or Wednesday/Saturday training splits work best. For example, perform Schedule A on Monday and Schedule B on Thursday.

Intermediate/Advanced:
If you have been involved in organized strength training and conditioning exercise for the previous year or more, you're in the Intermediate/Advanced category. Perform three workouts per week, alternating between Schedule A and Schedule B.

Recording your workouts

Keep track of the forces used, as well as the number of repetitions completed for each set. We've provided a training log for the Intermediate/Advanced athlete; however, beginners can use the same template by eliminating the third workout in each week.

(Excel) Phase 5 Schedules

Dynamic warm-up

Warm up on the stationary cycle or treadmill for five minutes prior to beginning your workout. Your warm up session should increase body temperature and make you sweat, without causing fatigue.

Exercises

Here is the list of recommended exercises for this phase.

RESISTANCE TRAINING EXERCISES
PHASE 5: POWER 1A

• Squat jumps
  
• Box jumps
  
• Single-leg stride jumps
  
• Barbell clean-grip deadlifts
  
• Barbell clean pulls from floor
  
• Barbell rack cleans
  
• Stability ball supine hip extension knee flexions
  

  Stability Ball Supine Hip Extension Knee Flexions

• Dumbbell standing biceps curls
  
• Dumbbell flat triceps extensions
  
• Machine leg presses calf flexions

      (Excel) Printable Log Of PHASE 5: POWER 1A.

CORE EXERCISES
PHASE 5: POWER 1C

• Stability ball supine trunk rotations
  

  Stability Ball Supine Trunk Rotations

• Stability ball trunk lateral flexions

      (Excel) Printable Log Of PHASE 5: POWER 1C.

RESISTANCE TRAINING EXERCISES
PHASE 5: POWER 1B

• Medicine ball chest passes
  
• Medicine ball rotational tosses
  
• Barbell high hang clean pulls
  
• Barbell standing push presses
  
• Barbell flat chest presses
  
• Barbell standing lat rows
  
• Dumbbell incline chest presses
  
• Body weight lat pull-ups
  
• Dumbbell seated calf dorsiflexions

      (Excel) Printable Log Of PHASE 5: POWER 1B.

CORE EXERCISES
PHASE 5: POWER 1D

• Stability ball supine reverse torso curls
  
• Stability ball supine hip extensions
  

  Stability Ball Supine Hip Extensions

      (Excel) Printable Log Of PHASE 5: POWER 1D.

CARDIOVASCULAR EXERCISES
PHASE 4: STRENGTH 2C/D

• Treadmill
  
• Stationary cycle

      (Excel) Printable Log Of PHASE 5: POWER 2C/D.

FLEXIBILITY EXERCISES
PHASE 4: STRENGTH 2C/D

• Seated spinal rotations
  
• Side lying quadriceps stretches
  
• Supine single-leg hamstring stretches
  

  Supine Single-Leg Hamstring Stretches

• Supine shoulder stretches with hands behind head

      (Excel) Printable Log Of PHASE 5: POWER 2C/D.

Joseph A. Arangio, M.S., C.S.C.S.

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