Toledo Rockets Strength Training Philosophy
“The only place you'll find success before work is in the dictionary”
- Vince Lombardi
The Toledo Rockets strength and conditioning program is designed to develop the best gains, in the least amount of time, in the safest way possible. It is our goal to develop your muscular system in a manner that is compatible with the muscular demands of playing your sport.
The foundation of our program will always be to coach each rep, rather than simply counting reps. This hands-on approach not only increases safety in the weight room, but augments results of each athlete. The commitment from the coaching staff is the single most determining factor which maximizes results both off-season, and in-season.
All strength training philosophies have the potential to be PRODUCTIVE as long as there is progressive overload involved; however, not all are PRACTICAL. Strength can be obtained either by exposing the muscle(s) to lengthy high volume exercise, or by brief high intensity exercise. Given our time constraints during the season (i.e., classes studying, practice, NCAA rules) the workouts are designed to maximize our training in the least amount of time. Workouts are brief and demanding by necessity.
Why strength train?
- Injury Prevention
- Performance enhancement
- Rehabilitation
- Mental toughness
- Enhance health
The methods we endorse are based on the latest research, physiological fact, and years of experience. Your college experience is a learning environment and the weight room is no different. The lessons that you will learn in the weight room will be applicable to your life once your playing days are over at TOLEDO.
Training hard is a privilege. Yes, a privilege. At some point in your life you will not be able to push your body like you can now. Some people have never been able to push their bodies. Enjoy this opportunity while you can. Having the ability to lift, condition, and play hard is a gift that can easily be taken for granted.
The Skill of Lifting
Learning to perform the barbell bench press is a specific skill. There is no transfer of skill to any other skill. If you stop bench pressing with a barbell, and used a machine instead, you'll lose the specific skill to bench with a bar.
Simply put- strength gains are strength gains. If you are getting stronger using a machine, or barbell, you are still getting stronger. The tool used to train isn't as important as the intense effort using that tool is. Your success as a football player will not be determined by the strength equipment you use, but rather by how you apply yourself to the training program.
