1RM Training for Athletes and Sports Performance
1RM Training for Athletes and Sports Performance After 15 years of coaching athletes across 12 different sports—from Division I football players to Olympic weightlifters to professional MMA fighters—I've learned a critical truth. Absolute strength matters. But not the way most people think. I've seen 220-pound football players with 500-pound squats get pushed around on the field by 190-pound players with 400-pound squats. Why? Because the second athlete knew how to apply their strength. And I've seen the opposite: athletes with impressive 1RMs who were slow, uncoordinated, and injury-prone because they trained like powerlifters instead of athletes. This guide is for coaches and athletes who want to understand 1RM training for athletes and sports performance —not just how to get strong, but how to turn that strength into on-field, on-court, or in-cage dominance. Why Athletes Need 1RM Training (But Not How You Think) Let me clear up the biggest misconception first...