We have already discussed the importance of strength training out of the water for a swimmer. We would now like to take both a theoretical and practical look at how to perform this kind of strength training, which is part of a swimmer’s early-season out-of-pool training plan: the MAXIMUM STRENGTH phase.
So what is maximum strength work?
It is the maximum amount of power your body can generate through voluntary muscle contraction. This kind of training means increasing your ability to generate power. It is trained during the early stage of a training plan (generally referred to as the GENERAL phase) that lasts from fourth-eight weeks. The idea is to be as strong as possible during later phases so that this strength can be transformed in specific power for swimming. This stage does not include exercises mimicking your swim stroke, neither does it involve transformation exercises.
On a theoretical level, how do you train for maximum strength?
As usual there are various schools of thought on these matters. But one thing is certain: you need to use heavy weights close to your maximum (worked out before training beings by taking special tests), otherwise your muscles are not stimulated enough. Nevertheless, you will not be able to perform enough reps if…
