The coaching philosophy known as "Feed the Cats," emphasizing speed, efficiency, and prioritization over traditional conditioning methods in sports training. Here are the key points:
Core Philosophy:
Prioritize Speed:
Speed should be the primary focus in training, not conditioning or endurance.
Prioritization does not mean majority; short, focused speed sessions can yield significant results.
Sprint Before Lifting:
Sprinting should be the priority in workouts, as it builds explosive power and athleticism.
Train for Speed and Power:
Emphasize explosive movements, speed, and power over endurance and excessive conditioning.
Avoid overtraining or "draining" athletes, as fatigue diminishes performance.
Minimalist Approach:
Short, high-quality sessions are preferred over long, grueling practices.
Rest and recovery are crucial to maintain peak performance and avoid injuries.
Practical Application:
Sprint Training Guidelines:
Sprint as fast as possible, as often as possible, while staying fresh.
Use timing to track performance and motivate athletes.
Limit sprint sessions to 2–3 times per week with adequate recovery.
Avoid Overconditioning:
Excessive conditioning (e.g., repeat sprints, long runs) can reduce speed and explosiveness.
Instead, focus on speed development, which indirectly improves game endurance.
Game Simulation:
Let the game itself be hard rather than overloading athletes with conditioning drills.
Athletes who are faster perform better even when tired.
Cross-Sport Insights:
Speed training benefits all sports, from football and lacrosse to soccer and even golf.
Developing general athleticism (sprinting, jumping, lifting) improves performance in specific skills.
Supporting Arguments:
Speed as the Foundation:
Speed is neurological and impacts all aspects of athletic performance.
Faster athletes are more efficient and less fatigued during games.
Efficiency over Volume:
Quality (speed and power) trumps quantity (endurance and conditioning).
Faster players can sustain game speeds more effectively than slower, over-conditioned players.
Real-Life Examples:
Success stories from various sports illustrate how prioritizing speed over conditioning leads to better performance.
Athletes trained for speed outperform peers in repeat efforts and overall explosiveness.
Takeaways:
Shift focus from traditional conditioning to speed and power training.
Train athletes to be explosive, fresh, and efficient rather than overworked and fatigued.
Embrace a minimalist approach: prioritize high-quality, targeted efforts for maximum impact.