Almost all sports require weightlifting, because any athlete needs to develop strength and muscle resistance in order to be competitive. In the past, coaches used to believe that weightlifting sports training had no other achievements except for a bulky muscle mass. Well, those days are long gone. Presently, weightlifting is part of the training routine of athletes, rugby and football players thanks to the now-recognized benefits for athletic performance. We should not consider weightlifting sports training in the limited context of lifting heavy weights only. Resistance training is about much more, and a refined approach makes a difference.
The development of muscle bulk is neither a primary concern nor a goal. Other elements deserve more attention in all weightlifting sports applications. While some athletes need hypertrophy or bulk muscle mass, others require maximal strength for outstanding performance. Football and rugby players are examples of athletes who use weightlifting sports applications to achieve muscle mass in order to be able to cope with very aggressive body contact. In other cases, very large muscles are a hindrance, and very big fibers do not necessarily stand out for strength as well. The force level is a lot more relevant and this is not expressed in bulk.
Weightlifting sports sessions should mainly aim at developing endurance, maximum strength and explosive power. The workout efficiency and the exercises economy increase with endurance training. Explosive power will seldom be necessary for an athlete, because one does not need to generate maximum of effort too frequently. Mention must be made that the development of the latent potential lacks purpose unless it is converted into a sport-related advantage.
Distance running, rowing, swimming or cycling also depend on weightlifting sports endurance. By using circuit training most athletes will also avoid the trap of plateaus and will have a good sports evolutions. In case of high performance exercises, the weightlifting workouts ought to stimulate the neuromuscular system. Periodization can contribute to the athletic success by the possibility to gradually increase the difficulty level so as to enhance the capacity of the muscle to generate strength.