Definitions to Facilitate Communication & Discussion

In order to facilitate communication it is important to have a common language. These are terms that I think are very important to redirect thinking away from strength and conditioning toward athletic development and to encourage discussion:

• Athleticism – The ability to perform athletic movements (Run, jump, throw, twist, turn, roll, fall, bend, extend, etc.) at optimum speed with precision, style and grace within the context of the sport.
• Athletic Development – The systematic, sequential and progressive development of all athletic qualities in an integrated manner to develop the complete athlete. It incorporates a balanced development of all components of physical performance: strength, power, speed, agility, endurance and flexibility. No one quality is developed to the exclusion of another.
• Strength Training – Coordination training with appropriate resistance to handle body weight, project an implement, move or resist movement of another body, resist gravity and optimize ground reaction forces.