Discover this core workout for athletes to elevate your athletic prowess with dynamic core workouts tailored to functional training. Discover exercises designed to bridge the gap between gym sessions and sports performance, enhancing stability, power, and agility. Unveil a comprehensive guide to optimize your core strength for the demands of your sport.

Core Workout Schedule for Athletes

Here’s a month-long core workout schedule designed to enhance functional strength and power for athletes. This schedule includes a variety of exercises that target different aspects of core strength, stability, and power. Remember to warm up before each session and cool down after each workout. Adjust the intensity and repetitions based on your fitness level and progress.

Week 1-2: Foundation Building

Day 1:

• Plank Variations (Standard, Side, Plank with Hip Dips) – 3 sets of 30-45 seconds each
• Russian Twists – 3 sets of 15-20 reps per side

Day 2:

• Deadlifts – 4 sets of 6-8 reps
• Hanging Leg Raises – 3 sets of 10-12 reps

Day 3:

• Medicine Ball Slams – 3 sets of 12-15 reps
• Pallof Press – 3 sets of 10 reps per side

Day 4: Rest or Active Recovery

Day 5:

• Bicycle Crunches – 3 sets of 20-25 reps per side
• Woodchoppers – 3 sets of 12-15 reps per side

Day 6:

• L-Sits – 3 sets of 15-20 seconds
• Turkish Get-Ups – 3 sets of 5 reps per side

Day 7: Rest

Week 3-4: Power and Integration

Day 1:

• Explosive Mountain Climbers – 4 sets of 20-30 seconds
• Deadlifts – 4 sets of 4-6 reps (increase weight)

Day 2:

• Hanging Leg Raises with Medicine Ball Throws – 3 sets of 8-10 reps
• Medicine Ball Slams – 4 sets of 10-12 reps (increase intensity)

Day 3:

• Plyometric Push-Ups – 3 sets of 10-15 reps
• Turkish Get-Ups – 4 sets of 4 reps per side (increase weight)

Day 4: Rest or Active Recovery

Day 5:

• Side Plank with Hip Raises – 3 sets of 12-15 reps per side
• Russian Twists with Medicine Ball – 3 sets of 20-25 reps per side

Day 6:

• Swiss Ball Rollouts – 3 sets of 10-12 reps
• Sprint Intervals (5-6 sets of 20-30 seconds with rest)

Day 7: Rest

Throughout the month, gradually increase the intensity, weights, or repetitions as you become more comfortable with the exercises. Listen to your body, ensure proper form, and stay consistent. Adequate nutrition, hydration, and recovery are essential for optimal progress. If you’re unfamiliar with any exercises or have any underlying health conditions, consider working with a fitness professional or coach to tailor the program to your needs.

How To Get Explosive Core Strength For Athletes

10 Best Exercises for Athletes

1. Plank Variations: Standard planks, side planks, and plank with leg lifts engage multiple core muscles, enhancing stability and endurance.
2. Deadlifts: This compound movement strengthens the entire core while promoting proper lifting mechanics, crucial for athletes.
3. Russian Twists: Improves rotational stability, important for sports involving twisting motions like golf and tennis.
4. Hanging Leg Raises: Enhances lower abdominal strength and grip strength, essential for activities like rock climbing.
5. Medicine Ball Slams: Combines power and core engagement, benefiting sports requiring explosive movements.
6. Pallof Press: Enhances anti-rotation stability, critical for maintaining posture during dynamic movements.
7. Bicycle Crunches: Targets obliques and rectus abdominis while mimicking pedaling motion for cycling-related sports.
8. Woodchoppers: Develops rotational strength, beneficial for activities like baseball swings and tennis serves.
9. L-Sits: Builds isometric core strength and enhances hip flexor flexibility, valuable for gymnastics and martial arts.
10. Turkish Get-Ups: Full-body exercise that challenges core stability during transitions, ideal for functional strength.

The Best Strength Exercise For Athletes

10 Worst Exercises for Athletes

1. Sit-Ups: Overemphasis on hip flexors can lead to imbalances and potential lower back strain.
2. Machine Crunches: Limited range of motion doesn’t translate well to athletic movements.
3. Side Bends: Isolates obliques with potential for creating muscle imbalances.
4. Superman Lifts: Hyperextending the lower back can increase the risk of injury.
5. Leg Press Machine Crunches: Similar to machine crunches, lacks functional relevance.
6. Bent Knee Windshield Wipers: Puts strain on the lower back and may lead to discomfort.
7. Russian Twists with Weights: Excessive load can cause strain and limit rotational mobility.
8. Incline Bench Sit-Ups: Similar issues as standard sit-ups, exacerbated by the incline.
9. Ab Roller on Knees: May lead to overextension of the lumbar spine and potential strain.
10. Standing Side Bends with Dumbbells: Can contribute to muscle imbalances and strain on the spine.

Remember, individual preferences and physical conditions vary. Consult a fitness professional to tailor a core workout that suits your specific needs and sports requirements.

9 Powerful Exercises to Increase Athleticism

Functional Training for Athletes

Functional training exercises aim to improve athletic performance by focusing on movements that mimic real-life activities and sports-specific motions. The key difference between functional training exercises and other exercises lies in their relevance and specificity to real-world movements and sports demands.

Functional Training Exercises:

1. Sport-Specific Movements: Functional exercises closely resemble the motions athletes encounter in their sports. For instance, a tennis player might perform rotational exercises to enhance their serve.
2. Multi-Joint Movements: Functional exercises engage multiple joints and muscle groups simultaneously, reflecting the complexity of athletic movements.
3. Stability and Balance: These exercises often challenge stability and balance, which are essential components of athletic performance and injury prevention.
4. Core Engagement: Functional exercises prioritize core engagement to enhance stability and transfer of force through the body.
5. Proprioception: Functional training often integrates proprioceptive (body awareness) exercises to improve spatial awareness and coordination.
6. Dynamic Movements: Many functional exercises involve dynamic movements, preparing athletes for the unpredictable nature of their sports.

Non-Functional Exercises:

1. Isolation Exercises: Traditional isolation exercises target specific muscle groups in isolation (e.g., bicep curls). While these can be valuable for muscle development, they may not translate directly to athletic movements.
2. Limited Range of Motion: Some exercises, like machine-based movements, may restrict natural joint movement and lack the dynamic range required for sports.
3. Lack of Transfer: Non-functional exercises might not directly apply to the demands of sports, potentially leading to minimal improvements in athletic performance.
4. Single-Joint Focus: Isolation exercises tend to involve a single joint, ignoring the interconnectedness of movement patterns in sports.
5. Less Core Emphasis: Core engagement might not be prioritized in isolation exercises, even though a strong core is fundamental for athletic movements.
6. Predictable Patterns: Non-functional exercises often follow predictable and controlled patterns, unlike the unpredictability athletes face in their sports.

In essence, functional training exercises strive to bridge the gap between gym workouts and real-life performance. They prepare athletes for the challenges they encounter during sports, enhancing overall performance, injury prevention, and movement efficiency.

If you enjoyed this info about a core workout for athletes and would like to keep it close to you at any time, just save this pin to your Pinterest Board.

Home › Workout for Athletes ›Core Exercises for Athletes

Sharing is caring!