Contrast Training: A Football Workout for Power and Speed
Contrast training is a form of resistance training that pairs a heavy strength exercise with a lighter power exercise to take advantage of a phenomenon called post-activation potentiation.
Post-activation potentiation refers to the acute enhancement of muscular contractions due to the contractile history of the muscles and central nervous system. In simpler terms, the heavy loading of the strength exercise generates a high degree of central nervous system activation, which results in greater power output during the following power exercise. As a result, contrast training is a great workout for developing power and speed for football.
RELATED: Get Faster With Contrast Workouts
For the transfer of power to take effect, the paired exercises must be biomechanically similar. A Barbell Bench Press combined with a Box Jump will not produce the desired training effect; however a Barbell Squat paired with a Box Jump will.
The following contrast sets should be done after a proper warm-up and before any other lifts. Limit yourself to a maximum of two contrast sets per workout. Rest 10 to 20 seconds between contrast exercises and two and five minutes between sets. The strength exercises should be heavy but not maximal. Pick a weight that allows you to leave two or three reps in the tank each set. Do 3-6 sets of 3-5 repetitions for each exercise. For the sled work/sprints, keep the same number of sets but do only one push/drag/sprint for 10 to 20 yards.
Contrast Set 1
A1. Deadlift
With your feet about hip-width apart, grasp the barbell with an overhand or over/under grip outside your knees. Keeping your chest up and back flat, fully extend your hips while keeping the bar close to your body.
RELATED: Become a Better Athlete With the Deadlift
A2. Medicine Ball Underhand Throw
Grab a light to moderately heavy medicine ball with your elbows straight and palms facing each other. Keeping your chest up and back flat, perform a quick counter movement by hinging at your hips. Immediately fully extend your hips to throw the ball overhead as high as possible.
[youtube video=”Pqu_lsg-Sog” /]Contrast Set 2
A1. Split Squat
With dumbbells at your sides and your rear foot elevated on a bench, squat while keeping a straight back and tall chest. Push through your heel to extend your front knee and hip back to starting position.
[youtube video=”OQvlr4Y5AjA” /]A2. Single-Leg Vertical Jump or Single-Leg Box Jump
Standing on one leg, perform a quick Counter Squat and immediately extend your knee and hip to jump straight up or onto a plyometric box. Try to land as softly as possible. If you are doing the Box Jump, start with the smallest box and work your way up.
RELATED: Dwyane Wade Develops Single-Leg Power, Speed and Jumping Ability
Contrast Set 3
A1. Push Press
With a shoulder-width grip, hold a barbell resting across your shoulders. Quickly dip down into a quarter-squat, keeping your weight on your heels. Forcefully drive up and push the barbell overhead. Return to the starting position and repeat.
[youtube video=”cJYt0HTJWWo” /]A2. Medicine Ball Overhead Throw
Holding a medicine ball at chest level, execute the same dip and drive as the Push Press and throw the ball overhead as high as possible.
[youtube video=”2rrVH1m1pU8″ /]Contrast Set 4
A1. Backward Sled Drag
Load a sled with a weight that’s challenging to drag for 10 to 20 yards. Using handle attachments and keeping a good upright posture, drag the sled backward.
RELATED: Build Lower-Body Strength With TRX Sled Drags
A2. Backpedal
Keeping a good athletic position, implement a backpedal drill for 10 to 20 yards. It can be a straight backpedal, a backpedal into a lateral movement, etc.
Contrast Set 5
A1. Sled Push
Load a sled with a weight that’s challenging to push for 10 to 20 yards. Push the sled forward, keeping your elbows straight and your back flat.
A2. Sled Sprint
Using the same sled you pushed, lighten the load to a weight that will allow you to sprint 10 to 20 yards.
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Contrast Training: A Football Workout for Power and Speed
Contrast training is a form of resistance training that pairs a heavy strength exercise with a lighter power exercise to take advantage of a phenomenon called post-activation potentiation.
Post-activation potentiation refers to the acute enhancement of muscular contractions due to the contractile history of the muscles and central nervous system. In simpler terms, the heavy loading of the strength exercise generates a high degree of central nervous system activation, which results in greater power output during the following power exercise. As a result, contrast training is a great workout for developing power and speed for football.
RELATED: Get Faster With Contrast Workouts
For the transfer of power to take effect, the paired exercises must be biomechanically similar. A Barbell Bench Press combined with a Box Jump will not produce the desired training effect; however a Barbell Squat paired with a Box Jump will.
The following contrast sets should be done after a proper warm-up and before any other lifts. Limit yourself to a maximum of two contrast sets per workout. Rest 10 to 20 seconds between contrast exercises and two and five minutes between sets. The strength exercises should be heavy but not maximal. Pick a weight that allows you to leave two or three reps in the tank each set. Do 3-6 sets of 3-5 repetitions for each exercise. For the sled work/sprints, keep the same number of sets but do only one push/drag/sprint for 10 to 20 yards.
Contrast Set 1
A1. Deadlift
With your feet about hip-width apart, grasp the barbell with an overhand or over/under grip outside your knees. Keeping your chest up and back flat, fully extend your hips while keeping the bar close to your body.
RELATED: Become a Better Athlete With the Deadlift
[youtube video=”mRwJmtd9dwk” /]A2. Medicine Ball Underhand Throw
Grab a light to moderately heavy medicine ball with your elbows straight and palms facing each other. Keeping your chest up and back flat, perform a quick counter movement by hinging at your hips. Immediately fully extend your hips to throw the ball overhead as high as possible.
[youtube video=”Pqu_lsg-Sog” /]Contrast Set 2
A1. Split Squat
With dumbbells at your sides and your rear foot elevated on a bench, squat while keeping a straight back and tall chest. Push through your heel to extend your front knee and hip back to starting position.
[youtube video=”OQvlr4Y5AjA” /]A2. Single-Leg Vertical Jump or Single-Leg Box Jump
Standing on one leg, perform a quick Counter Squat and immediately extend your knee and hip to jump straight up or onto a plyometric box. Try to land as softly as possible. If you are doing the Box Jump, start with the smallest box and work your way up.
RELATED: Dwyane Wade Develops Single-Leg Power, Speed and Jumping Ability
[youtube video=”HOenkV8qRJQ” /]Contrast Set 3
A1. Push Press
With a shoulder-width grip, hold a barbell resting across your shoulders. Quickly dip down into a quarter-squat, keeping your weight on your heels. Forcefully drive up and push the barbell overhead. Return to the starting position and repeat.
[youtube video=”cJYt0HTJWWo” /]A2. Medicine Ball Overhead Throw
Holding a medicine ball at chest level, execute the same dip and drive as the Push Press and throw the ball overhead as high as possible.
[youtube video=”2rrVH1m1pU8″ /]Contrast Set 4
A1. Backward Sled Drag
Load a sled with a weight that’s challenging to drag for 10 to 20 yards. Using handle attachments and keeping a good upright posture, drag the sled backward.
RELATED: Build Lower-Body Strength With TRX Sled Drags
A2. Backpedal
Keeping a good athletic position, implement a backpedal drill for 10 to 20 yards. It can be a straight backpedal, a backpedal into a lateral movement, etc.
Contrast Set 5
A1. Sled Push
Load a sled with a weight that’s challenging to push for 10 to 20 yards. Push the sled forward, keeping your elbows straight and your back flat.
A2. Sled Sprint
Using the same sled you pushed, lighten the load to a weight that will allow you to sprint 10 to 20 yards.