Do Athletes Need Strength?

I get this question all the time. And the answer is kind of strange… Because technically, no. But when you build strength the right way, you lay the groundwork for speed, vertical, agility, and overall explosiveness. Most guys only build static strength. And building static strength is the same thing as practicing on the hoop in your driveway. Or practicing routes without a quarterback… Or shooting on a goal, without a goalie. That’s probably not going to translate to your game. Same with static strength - it doesn’t translate to your game. I quickly learned that when I noticed that all the weight room warriors on my football team were the same guys riding the pine. But… Absolute force production is KEY for any athlete. It’s the foundation of an athlete’s power. Explosiveness. And all that athletic stuff. So it’s important to develop athletic strength. Athletic Strength is strength that seamlessly translates to power, explosiveness, and athleticism. Derrick Henry has ATHLETIC strength - squatting 500+ with ease. DK Metcalf has ATHLETIC strength, too - putting up 27 reps on the max bench test. The list goes on and on.