K.I.S.S.

Since this is my first post, I figure I'd start by talking about the basics. And there is nothing more basic to training than K.I.S.S., otherwise known as Keep It Simple, Stupid. Nothing works like the good, old basics. Look at the title of this website: Sprints, Squats, Jumps and Hops. I can personally guarantee that if all you ever did was those four things (and did them right!), you would end up one, athletic son of a gun. 

An athletic son of a gun.

Obviously, there are ways to get to that desired level faster and more efficiently, but training really is simple. If you want to get stronger, you have to lift weights. If you want to increase your speed, you have to run sprints. If you want to jump higher, you are going to need to use plyometrics (and use them how they were meant to be used. Doing 27,000 box jumps is not how they were meant to be used). And if you want to improve your conditioning, you are going to have to run, whether it be tempo, fartlek or any other form of conditioning out there.

It seems like a lot of people out there think they have the secret formula to turning Stevie Nicks into Stevie Nash, but they don't, solely because there is no secret formula. People think running with parachutes on TV is going to really improve their speed (only if they're ghastly out of shape) or running through agility ladders talking about how much quicker it's going to make them (if they're a beginner, yes). Or other people think sitting in a squat position for five minutes a day is the answer (once again, if you're a beginner, injured or in dire need of some mental toughness since those holds are painful!). Or others might say it's all about being flexible (yea, if you have everything else solid and are really tight, getting more flexible will help). Those are all good things. They can all be utilized, but it depends on entirely on the athlete in question. Remember, everything works, but nothing works forever. All those things I mentioned before are quite gimmicky. You can use them. I'd just prefer easier, faster results, which will come in the form of (drum roll please...) the basics. 

So, remember, Keep It Simple, Stupid!