Football players: how often do you lift weights on-season?

[MaxSWE]

Just curious to know.

I am not really sure how much I could lift and recover from, so I was just curious to know how often you manage?

[SDOptimist]

when i played, we were the best program in the area and one of the best in the state (we still are) but we lifted prob about 2-3x a weeek, maybe sometimes more. and we all had no problem recovering. sometimes we wouldnt have to lift, but for the most part, we lifted during the season. but nothing too intense to kill you, most of that was during the summer.

[meat953]

I lift 3 times a week. I go to a DIII schol though. I would go out on a limb to say that most schools are close to the same if not the same.

[MaxSWE]

ok, thanks, What does/did your programs look like on-season? Yes I know this question has been asked before but I believe these threads are mostly concerning off-season programs.

[meat953]

Monday Tuesday and Wednesday, we lifted relatively heavy (about 70% of max weight). Thursday was just uppers and then Friday was just walkthrough. That way when we are done lifting we would go through practice. Workouts normally took place at about 7am and practice was at 4-415.

[kevn594]

2x a week. nothing super heavy ....we would go tuesday thursday

[WRbigbody]

you a soph. kev?

[janssen_8_5]

At my university, we lift Monday and Wednesday. Full body workouts on both days. We lift for maintainance not to make gains. Depoending on how we feel, we also do light conditioning on Sundays. That is usually voluntary or if the trainers feel we need it.

[zaxx19]

when i played, we were the best program in the area and one of the best in the state (we still are) but we lifted prob about 2-3x a weeek, maybe sometimes more. and we all had no problem recovering. sometimes we wouldnt have to lift, but for the most part, we lifted during the season. but nothing too intense to kill you, most of that was during the summer.

5"8 160......

Yeah, no way you can just lift as usualy in season more than 2 times a week.....was your team on Dbol or something.

Id say 2 times a week VERY LIGHT and VERY BASIC WITHOUT any explosive work since thats what your getting in football anyway through drills.

If you read articles on Russian periodization they discuss in season work for different season lengths...they conclude its actually beneficial to go REALLY light on volume and intensity for a season thats like 12-16 weeks like football.

That first 6-8 weeks back would be HEAVY AS **** though.

Some people on here act like DOMS isnt real or doesnt have an affect on performance as far away as 72 hours out...it does.

[Veeshmack]

i do one day per week in season, full body, light, maintenance work really
usually 2 days after game and has to be atleast 3 days before game

[kevn594]

you a soph. kev?

yep

[ironraider52]

i usually would only lift like....3 days a week...and one of those days was the game day i did a light light routine to get my body going. But the other 2 i just did multi muscle movements like squat, powerclean, and bench press. just light weight high reps of course.

[Veeshmack]

i usually would only lift like....3 days a week...and one of those days was the game day i did a light light routine to get my body going. But the other 2 i just did multi muscle movements like squat, powerclean, and bench press. just light weight high reps of course.

i don't think its a good idea to lift on game day, regardless of intensity

[roid_monkey]

I'd say lift 1 upper and 1 lower per week just to maintain so next off-season your lifts are still pretty good.

[scott_donald]

i dont see why you cant just lift all out and 2-3 sessions a week...

i do that and fine... just balance it away from your game and keep the volume low...

[scott_donald]

5"8 160......

Yeah, no way you can just lift as usualy in season more than 2 times a week.....was your team on Dbol or something.

Id say 2 times a week VERY LIGHT and VERY BASIC WITHOUT any explosive work since thats what your getting in football anyway through drills.

If you read articles on Russian periodization they discuss in season work for different season lengths...they conclude its actually beneficial to go REALLY light on volume and intensity for a season thats like 12-16 weeks like football.

That first 6-8 weeks back would be HEAVY AS **** though.

Some people on here act like DOMS isnt real or doesnt have an affect on performance as far away as 72 hours out...it does.

haha... dbols... dont mention steroids in this section and especially since dbols wont do much for you except bloat...

[SteR-]

i dont see why you cant just lift all out and 2-3 sessions a week...

i do that and fine... just balance it away from your game and keep the volume low...

Yea that's what I used to do too.. I'd really go low on the volume though. Since I'd usually have muscular injuries/bruises too I'd do exercises which worked around them for ME and then do lighter sets/reps on the tender areas (provided it was just light brusing) to loosen up..

[nightrain36]

4x max in season

[HoosierBoy]

We only did 2x per week (D3 as well).

[Ben76]

We do the same type of workout as we do off, except volume is cut way down. Typically we do heavy compounds but maybe 3 working sets a the max, along with some light flexibility/explosive type movements. Day before game we just do Hang Cleans, DB Cleans, and DB Power Jumps, plus some jump rope until class is over. Gameday we do some quick agility ladders, hammer jammer, and med ball toss. The heavy weights and low sets is a perfect combo, and it keeps us from getting too sore and most of the time we even see 10 lb gains on most lifts, especially on hang cleans.

[PowerBuilder08]

We lifted 2-3 times a week, depending on coach's mood, and full body each time plus one olympic lift.