There are few things more near and dear to my heart than Crossfit training for strength, power and speed. It enables you to gain muscle and strength along with perform and look your best all at the same time.
If you’re looking to take it to the next level at a sport such as tennis, football, baseball, soccer, rugby or any other activity of an anaerobic nature, there is a version of Crossfit with a twist of power that is suitable as well. If you’re the sports athlete type, here’s a rundown of the CrossFit Football program (CFFB) that just may be the program for you – no matter what your level of competition.
Unlike the traditional sport of CrossFit which has higher volumes, more endurance and focuses on being prepared for both the known and unknowable through not specializing, Crossfit football focuses on heavier weights and a lesser volume of conditioning.
It is a strength and conditioning program designed for not only football players but participants in almost any anaerobic sport. It is also popular with those people that just want to look good and be more than just a little functional in their weekend recreation.
So even if you are not a professional athlete, this program is geared at putting on size, gaining strength, and making you one powerful individual.
Similar to mainstream Crossfit, the focus of the Crossfit football program is functional movements performed at high intensities but they simulate the demands placed on an athlete during a sporting event. Anaerobic games are of seconds and inches; with that in mind the stresses and situations a player will face on the field are replicated in the training.
By combing high intensity movements with a comprehensive strength and speed program, the results are unparalleled.
The programming was designed by NFL players along with some of the top coaches in the world and has been used at the highest level of professional competitive sport. The beauty of the program is that it was also designed to work for all players regardless of age or experience.
Just like in mainstream Crossfit, the loads, distances, times, intensity and programming can be scaled to meet the needs of athletes at all levels of training advancement. Any athlete or person for that matter needs to be strong in body, mind and heart. He (she) needs to be fast and explosive and able to perform when tired and exhausted whether on the field or in the game of life.
Let’s take a look at the specifics of this type of training:
- The strength & conditioning is based on 5 days a week with 2 “rest” days. Depending upon the particular sport of the participant one of those days and/or Saturdays are usually spent on the specifics of the sport and/or field work. The program is divided into an on/off season for those involved in a sport.
- The lifts or movements are basic: squats (back, front and oh), presses (oh, bench, push presses and push jerks), deadlifts, pull ups and chin ups, power cleans, power snatches and variations of each in the collegiate and professional levels.
- There are assistance exercises programmed into the lifting portion and/or the metabolic conditioning portion.
- Strength days are usually Mon/Tue/Thurs/Fri with Wed off. Saturdays are for metabolic conditioning (met con) or sport specific work. Sundays are a rest day. Athletes in varying sports arrange to suit needs/schedules/seasons.
The 3 levels–Amateur, Collegiate and Professional
- Amateur refers to an athlete just starting to train regardless of age and through 1 year of consistent training.
- Collegiate refers to an athlete with 1 + to 3 years of training experience.
- Professional refers to an athlete with several years of training that is so advanced that linear improvement of strength no longer works. As a result more complex programming is needed to make gains.
There are usually 2 workouts for each day; a strength training aspect (SWOD) and a daily workout or metabolic conditioning component (DWOD).
The strength is performed before the daily work out of the day (wod). On Saturdays there is only a daily wod option but many opt for sport specific skills/field work. If a player is in season, a different version of the workout is performed so as not to interfere with games or cause overtraining. The met cons tend to be under 15 min in length and the sweet spot is 9-12 min. They include violent hip extension, change of direction, and multiplanar and full-body movements.
This brings us back to WAYTF (what are you training for)? If your sport has short bursts of high power, repeat; if you want to be bigger, stronger, faster and more capable and take your sport or life in general to a more powerful level, Crossfit football may be just what you are looking for.
Click here for more information about Crossfit football.
I joined CrossFit Football program two months ago. Today I am feeling healthy and fit. I think gives a lot of benefits after join CrossFit Football program.
I would love to try Crosfit training! I’m so ready to do this. Where can I enrol for this training program? Can I do this on my own or I really need to go to the gym?
I’m really interested to undergo Crossfit training but I just started my weight loss program. I’m not really athletic so I’m not confident enough to be in this training. If ever I will avail for this training, I’m not sure if I can maintain it.
I would say CF differs the most from Insanity because of the weightlifting exercises. IMO bodyweight exercises alone (while they have their place) do not cut it. My advice would be to create a “gym” in your garage. This can be done gradually while learning how to do the exercises, starting slowly and progressing from there in knowledge, training and equipment. Ideally with a few sessions from a qualified trainer initially–well worth the investment in the long run.
I have been wondering how Crossfit compares to a workout program like the popular Insanity one. Several people I know rave about Insanity but I wonder if it is safe or ideal. If one cannot afford to join Crossfit or for other reasons like living too far from town cannot commit to it, what might be a suitable replacement for someone who wants to achieve similar fitness and health goals while at home?
Crossfit Football is a great program- it’s fantastic for getting strong and powerful without some of the burn out and adrenal issues that can come from doing really long Crossfit.com workouts. The program also places a lot of emphasis on proper nutrition, basically paleo plus high quality dairy. As John Welbourne says “You can’t outtrain a crappy diet”.
Ditto Alec! I personally have been following the program for 8 months and at age 53 have seen gains in muscle mass and strength along with better recovery from the shorter wods. The CFFB cert was amazing.
Just my two cents…if you think you have a hint of adrenal fatigue don’t even think about Crossfit. I did Crossfit for a year and thoroughly enjoyed it. While I certainly got stronger, I remained winded and never seemed to be able to increase my endurance. Also, I never lost any weight, which was important to me. Once I stopped and treated my body more gently, the weight came off and I feel like I can do more. Swimming and yoga worked for me. I enjoyed Crossfit, and may be I’ll get back to it someday, but I definitely think you have to be in decent shape, “adrenally” speaking, going in.