Beware the Volume Trap

How to improve performance

If you are a beginner exerciser then one of the best ways to improve performance is to increase volume.

If you are training for 20 minutes every day a week, or for 45 minutes twice a week, then increasing to 45 minutes 6 times a week will lead to performance improvements.

However, coaches can then get carried away with “volume” meaning better. But this has a limited time span of effectiveness. At some stage you will have to increase the intensity, complexity or tactical relevance of the exercises.

I have seen recently some very high level athletes being given 40 minutes of low level “core” work to do a day. Worse still, one footballer was told “to stand on a trampette for an hour a day“.

This is sheer madness as this is just extra work to be done with little or no relevance and the athlete could use the time to rest, or do something constructive.

Admiral Ackbar has some sage advice to coaches who insist on adding volume to an experienced athlete:

Further Reading

• Principles of Training: Overload
• Planning your training In Season