A lot of avid exercisers love the challenge of trying new sports and activities – and are often surprised by how little their skills in one area translate to another. This phenomenon is the result of what exercise scientists call “specificity.” Starting slowly and finding other exercisers who are new to the sport or who can help you modify your training will improve your enjoyment and reduce the chances of injury.
According to Doug Balzarini, certified personal trainer, strength and conditioning coach, and the health and fitness spokesperson for Cosmologs.com, this phenomenon is the result of what exercise scientists call specificity. The specificity of training principle states that a specific movement must be trained if an individual is to become proficient at that movement. For example, if someone has a training goal of improving their tennis serve, the workout routine must include exercises that mimic that movement. Specificity is not simply a matter of training the appropriate muscle group or groups, but instead requires training of the actual movements used in a sport.” One of the most famous–and still ongoing–debates on this topic centers on the use of the bench press to define strength among football players. Many teams use this exercise to test their athletes, with some even having thresholds that the athletes must cross to be eligible to play certain positions. Some coaches, though, don’t see how bench-press performance correlates to on-field success. How often, they might ask, does an offensive lineman find himself lying flat on his back and lifting a stationary player off his chest? The important thing is the offensive lineman’s ability to use his upper-body strength while in motion in a standing posture. In other words, the test is not specific to the actual on-field movements, so what is its true value?
That said, trying new activities is the only way to discover new passions. So don’t limit yourself simply because you have not yet trained for a certain sport. Instead, start slowly and find other exercisers who are new to the sport or who can help you modify your training. Balzarini additionally points out the importance of seeking like-minded exercisers, which can be particularly helpful if you are moving to a new city or just trying something new. “Finding workout partners helps with exercise adherence, not to mention the social aspects of these groups.” When it comes to starting slowly, Balzarini points out that many exercisers and athletes get hurt because they assume that their overall health–and their success in another sport–will mandate success in whatever physical activity they try. “It may seem boring to start slowly, especially if you are an avid participant in another sport, but it is essential if you are to avoid injury. The last thing you want is an injury in a secondary activity that precludes you from enjoying your primary passion.”
Daniel J. Green is a freelance writer with more than 12 years of experience in health and fitness publishing. He was certified by the American Council on Exercise as a Lifestyle & Weight Management Consultant in 2001.
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