The mission of the strength and conditioning program at Elon University is to create an environment that is going to physically and mentally challenge our athletes on a daily basis, while setting them up for success in their complete development as an athlete. Creating this positive training environment beings with our strength and conditioning staff. Our staff will consistently fill the weight room with passion, energy and precision. We want our athletes to train and prepare with these same qualities in mind.
Below are the components which make up our strength and conditioning program:
Functional Movement Screen
Allows us to evaluate how our athletes perform in 7 different foundational movement patterns. This screen is used throughout the athlete’s career to assess potential improvements or decrements in certain movements.
Movement Preparation
Everything training sessions will being with a movement preparation period which targets the specific needs of that day.
Mobility/Stability
Exercises will be implemented based off the joint-by-joint approach. Mobility at the ankles, hips, and thoracic spine will be a major area of emphasis.
Pillar Strength
Training the pillar in a neutral spine position is the theme of our pillar strength. Anti-Extension, Anti-Lateral Flexion, and Anti-Rotation movements will be prescribed here.
Plyometrics
An emphasis on landing mechanics will being our plyometric training. Once landing mechanics are establish, we will than progress to jumps, hops, and bounds in multiple planes.
Medicine Ball Training
Rotational power is best developed through medicine ball training. Medicine ball training will be prescribed with a vertical, horizontal or rotational emphasis.
Linear Speed Development
Linear speed development will be split into 2 different areas; acceleration and maximum velocity. Acceleration training will take place between 0-25 yards, while maximum velocity will be trained with longer distances.
Multidirectional Speed Development
Multidirectional speed development is also into 2 different areas; change of direction, and agility. Change of direction is simply pre-programmed, while agility provides more of a reactionary type focus.
Sport Specific Energy System Development
All 3 energy systems; Oxidative, Lactic, and Alactic are important for the complete development of an athlete. Manipulating intensities, volumes, rest periods and modalities will be vary based off sport specific needs.
Strength and Power Development
Strength is the foundational quality which must be developed in order to fully express other biomotor qualities. Strength will be trained through multi-joint compound movements. Power will be trained through the use of Olympic lifts (Snatch, Clean, and jerk).
Regeneration
Soft tissue, respiration, and nutrition will be our major regeneration strategies to help our athletes recover from training.
Developing these qualities will be based on individual, as well as sport specific needs. Design and implementation of each modality will be structured through periodized micro, meso, and macrocycles. A needs analysis will be done on every athlete and sport, creating a roadmap to best prescribe accurate volumes and intensities.
Important Qualities to Be Developed
Competitiveness
Many of these physical components will take place in a chaotic, highly competitive atmosphere. Competition is a critical part of our strength and conditioning program, as we want to prepare our athletes to be at their best when their best is needed. Relentless competitors are ones who will d
Commitment to Excellence
A burning desire to become the best version of yourself. A commitment to the process of hard work, and paying the price. Working with a mindset that everything you achieve is earned, not given.
Leadership
We strive to develop servant leaders. Being selfless, and doing what is best for the team and not the individual is what we are trying to create. Servant leaders make decisions based off what is best for others, not themselves.
