April/May 2022 - 32

Strength & Conditioning
Yes, You
Should
Tips For Integrating The Snatch
and Clean & Jerk
By Jimmy Pritchard
Valor Christian High School performance coach
A
..conversation I frequently have with fellow
..coaches and colleagues is whether or not
..weightlifting derivatives are worth the time
they take to teach their athletes. While the answer
(like most things in sports performance) has been
inconclusive, a lot of coaches state that it's not a great
return on investment and that the risks outweigh the
benefits in most cases.
I don't believe there is, nor should be, a one-sizefits-all
approach when it comes to training athletes,
particularly the exact exercise variations coaches select.
I believe that with the right system, enough support, and
efficient coaching cues weightlifting can be implemented
into a program clearly making the case that the benefits
far outweigh the risks.
Myths surrounding the safety or lack thereof in
weightlifting have widely been debunked, while
numerous pieces of literature have highlighted the
performance-enhancing benefits of power and the rate
of force development it has to offer. That point, however,
deserves an article completely in and of its own. The
major discrepancy that this article will tackle is how
the heck we efficiently, effectively, and appropriately
implement these movements into a well-rounded
training program.
WHAT TO CONSIDER?
Before diving into weightlifting, we must first check the
pre-emptive boxes with our athletes that matter most.
Do we know their injury history? Can they squat, hinge,
32 | Training & Conditioning | April/May 2022
press, step, pull, carry, etc. adequately? Are they mature
and advanced enough in their training to necessitate the
teaching of these movements? If yes, then we can start to
consider things a bit more seriously, here's your checklist:
How comfortable are you as the coach teaching these
movements and executing them yourself? Be honest and
don't let your ego get in the way.
Do you have enough time to properly teach and
progress your athletes through these highly technical
movements? If you only see them one month out of the
year, it may not be worth your time.
Do you have adequate coaching staff and supervision
relative to the number of athletes you are dealing with?
If you are a one-man wrecking crew holding down an
800-athlete high school program, things can get dicey.
What's your goal with teaching these athletes and do
you have a plan in place to instruct them?
Have you done your research and truly understand why
you should be training this way? Don't blindly follow the
advice of others without educating yourself first.
Overall, do you believe this is a good idea for your
program and your situation?
If you've can confidently say that weightlifting is a
good fit for your program, there are some major keys to
implementing them in your program that will determine
their success.
EASY IMPLEMENTATION
When it comes to teaching complexity kills learning,
plain and simple. If you give athletes too many cues
April/May 2022

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