National Strength and Conditioning Association Position Statement on Weightlifting for Sports Performance

Abstract

Comfort, P, Haff, GG, Suchomel, TJ, Soriano, MA, Pierce, KC, Hornsby, WG, Haff, EE, Sommerfield, LM, Chavda, S, Morris, SJ, Fry, AC, and Stone, MH. National Strength and Conditioning Association position statement on weightlifting for sports performance. J Strength Cond Res 37(6): 1163–1190, 2023—The origins of weightlifting and feats of strength span back to ancient Egypt, China, and Greece, with the introduction of weightlifting into the Olympic Games in 1896. However, it was not until the 1950s that training based on weightlifting was adopted by strength coaches working with team sports and athletics, with weightlifting research in peer-reviewed journals becoming prominent since the 1970s. Over the past few decades, researchers have focused on the use of weightlifting-based training to enhance performance in nonweightlifters because of the biomechanical similarities (e.g., rapid forceful extension of the hips, knees, and ankles) associated with the second pull phase of the clean and snatch, the drive/thrust phase of the jerk and athletic tasks such as jumping and sprinting. The highest force, rate of force development, and power outputs have been reported during such movements, highlighting the potential for such tasks to enhance these key physical qualities in athletes. In addition, the ability to manipulate barbell load across the extensive range of weightlifting exercises and their derivatives permits the strength and conditioning coach the opportunity to emphasize the development of strength-speed and speed-strength, as required for the individual athlete. As such, the results of numerous longitudinal studies and subsequent meta-analyses demonstrate the inclusion of weightlifting exercises into strength and conditioning programs results in greater improvements in force-production characteristics and performance in athletic tasks than general resistance training or plyometric training alone. However, it is essential that such exercises are appropriately programmed adopting a sequential approach across training blocks (including exercise variation, loads, and volumes) to ensure the desired adaptations, whereas strength and conditioning coaches emphasize appropriate technique and skill development of athletes performing such exercises.

Resistance Training Practices of Brazilian Olympic Sprint and Jump Coaches: Toward a Deeper Understanding of Their Choices and Insights (Part III)

“…In the pulling versions, the catch phase of the lift is removed, whereas for the catch derivatives, the depth at which the barbell is caught is altered so that the top of the thigh is above parallel (i.e., “power versions”). These catch derivatives can also be initiated from a variety of positions, such as the floor, knee, hang or mid-thigh positions ( Comfort et al, 2023 ). Importantly, athletes from different sports may benefit from weightlifting pulling derivatives due to the reduced technical complexity compared with catching derivatives.…”

“…Importantly, athletes from different sports may benefit from weightlifting pulling derivatives due to the reduced technical complexity compared with catching derivatives. The exclusion of the catch phase reduces the relative complexity of pulling derivatives, making these derivatives naturally easier to teach and learn ( Comfort et al, 2023 ). Another factor worth considering is related to the possibility of applying a wide range of loads (e.g., from 30% to 140% 1RM) in the “pull” compared to “catch” variations ( Suchomel et al, 2020 ).…”

Practices of strength and conditioning coaches across Chinese high-performance sports

“…It was similar to previous surveys across different sports, 11 as weightlifting exercises and derivatives can support the improvement in specific physical tests and movements, such as the 1RM squat, sprint (10, 20, and 36.5 m), rate of force development, vertical jump, and 1RM power clean. [29][30][31][32][33][34] The clean and associated derivatives (37%) were the most frequently selected exercises, which was in contrast with recent surveys, which stated that the squat and its variations were the most important exercise across various professional sports. [9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16]21 This may be because the prominence of weightlifting in China.…”

Self-Massage Techniques for the Management of Pain and Mobility With Application to Resistance Training: A Brief Review

“…The authors define resistance training as physical exercise that can be performed using a variety of modes, which include body mass, elastic bands, medicine balls, pneumatic and weight machines, or free weights (e.g., discs, barbells, and dumbbells) (15,54). Furthermore, weightlifting movements are physical exercise that can use free weights and are being increasingly used to train athletes besides weightlifters because they have been found to develop physical capabilities required for maximizing sports performance (15,36).…”