Train Like a Super Bowl Champion

The Super Bowl – the pinnacle of American football, a gruelling test of athleticism, mental fortitude, and teamwork. But what truly happens behind the scenes to transform these athletes into peak-performing machines?

Building a Championship Foundation

Forget the superficial bicep curls and Instagram mirror selfies. A Super Bowl champion's workout revolves around functional strength and conditioning. Imagine lunges, squats, and deadlifts – all key for building strength across the body to power through tackles. Plus plyometrics, and core exercises that mirror the explosive movements and dynamic changes of direction on the field.

However, training Super Bowl champions includes a variety of activities:

^[1]One team’s manager had them running up and down a hill close to where they train. He believed running on an incline would be good for improving their endurance levels. This proved a successful technique when their opposing team tired and allowed them to win their game.

^[2]Another player honed his rocket-powered throwing ability through intense medicine ball workouts which helped him draw throwing power from across the body.

Another approach is to engage in numerous repetitions of low or no-weight exercises, targeting stabilising muscles, smaller muscles that support the muscles around the rest of the body. Weak stabilisers can increase a person's risk of injury and cause pain when trying to perform certain movements.

^[3] Yoga is a staple in the NFL and offers a blend of muscle-stretching poses and meditation techniques, promoting relaxation and improved body control.

^[4] Five-time Super Bowl champion, Tom Brady, revealed his unconventional training approach of using resistance bands, Thera-tubes, and sports bands, incorporating a vibrating foam roller and soft tissue tools for increased blood circulation and muscle tension relief.

Fuelling the Machine

"Garbage in, garbage out." Super Bowl champs prioritise clean, nutritious food – lean protein, complex carbs, healthy fats, and an abundance of fruits and vegetables.

The Mind of a Champion

Physical training is only half the battle. Super Bowl champs train mental toughness too. Visualisation, meditation, and goal setting are crucial for maintaining focus and motivation throughout the long season.

How You Can Train Like a Superbowl Champion

If you love Super Bowl, then why not try these game inspired exercises (or adapt them to your favourite sport!):

1.     Touchdown Challenge: Burpees equal to the final score of your favourite Super Bowl game.

2.     Field Goal Frenzy: 15 push-ups for every field goal made.

3.     Penalty Flag Fun: 30 seconds of jumping jacks for every penalty flag.

Whatever your sport, at AB Performance Training and Fitness, we use a science-based approach, designed to help you build strength, agility so that you can achieve your full potential.

Our performance coaching includes examining your current abilities and what your sport required of you.  We find your strengths, weaknesses, and areas with room for improvement and come up with a customised plan to enhance your performance. We also provide corrective exercises for injury prevention and specialised support from sports psychologists and physiotherapists.

If you’re not working towards a sporting goal, but simply want to improve your fitness, our Personal Trainers will make similar assessments of your abilities and will come up with a personalised fitness plan to help you achieve your goals. Find out more here.

^[1] https://www.businessinsider.com/patriots-players-hill-sprints-paid-off-in-super-bowl-2017-2?r=US&IR=T

^[2] https://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-11728669/The-crazy-food-fitness-schedules-Super-Bowl-stars-revealed.html

^[3] https://edition.cnn.com/2021/02/05/health/mike-daniels-yoga-nfl-workout-wellness/index.html

^[4] https://brobible.com/sports/article/tom-brady-mens-health-interview-workout/

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