Fitness
Functional movements are the name of the game.
So functional, in fact, that its also one you could try on your own at the gym.
Think jumping up to catch the ball, darting sideways to get past the defense, etc.
These exercises move your body through different planes of space, which is beneficial for football and everyday life.
Savage suggested three sets of 10 reps for each exercise below, with a 30-second rest between each set.
Once I practiced a few lunges, I grabbed a 10-pounder and took my time with each exercise.
While its only four moves, I started sweating pretty much instantly, especially during themountain climbers.
Endurance & Stamina
To my great relief, a football workout doesnt require a ton of running.
While pro athletes are speedy, they dont get that way by jogging for miles.
Instead, Savage says they focus on cardio conditioning.
Thats why this cardio portion is more dynamic, functional movements, like TRX squat jumps, he says.
TRX squat jumps are a form ofplyometrics, aka exercises that train your body to jump and bound.
This whole set was tough, but it made me feel like a bonafide athlete.
I did each of these for about 45 seconds in the corner of the gym.
According to Savage, this pro-athlete-inspired routine translates surprisingly well to everyday life.
to make it be more efficient in those movements, you have to train that way, he says.
When youre doing that, thats a lunge, thats a press, thats a torso rotation.
Functional movements are the name of the game.
(2015).Warm-Up Strategies for Sport and Exercise: Mechanisms and Applications.Sports Med.
