[quote]creed wrote:
And squatting near to the limit of ones strength doesn’t really have that much of a negative effect by way of decceleration because the athlete is straining to lock out the near maximal load. [/quote]
Again, just speaking about force. I remember several years ago I could struggle up with a 345 squat, but I could do 700 for 10 reps the last 3 inches. Using a max weight of 345, there’s no way I was pushing that hard at the end or else I would have thrown it off of my back.
Also, again a 200 pound individual with a 400 pound squat would (all reflexes aside) verticle jump 70-80 inches if they applied 400 pounds of force during the entire range of an unloaded squat. Training yourself to fully extend powerfully is important. If a sprinter had a poor first 20 meters, ANY strength should help, but sprinters with a good start don’t benefit as much from full range strength building and for a 1500 runner, whether they cover the first 20 in 2.7 or 3.2 doesn’t matter that much.
Also, by the way, more power on the hip drive is important as well as on the pawback. You can do powerful hip raises THROUGH a band crossed over horizontally in the rack.
For Squats, I think using enough band tension so that you can only use about half of your max in raw weight, and trying to accelerate maximally is far superior to squats without bands.
Also, I don’t like cleans because most trainees can do far more for an explosive rack high pull with bands than with a clean, and less wrist strain.
Also, if I did maximal squats with barweight only and then went out and tested a verticle, it would probably be down, and stay down for 2-3 days. If I did squats with lots of bands and tried to accelerate and then went out an tested my verticle, it would be up 2-3 inches instantly.
Squats are certainly good, but I don’t think in-season for 1500 meters.
Just my opinions.