This question comes up a lot, and rightfully so.
With so many options to choose from, it’s hard to make a decision on what’s really best for you. So, that’s what this article is intended for.
If you don’t know what a “Training Split” is, it’s basically just how you organize and program your workouts on a weekly basis. Some of the most common are: Upper Body/Lower Body, Push/Pull/Legs, Full Body, Dynamic Effort/Max Effort. There’s also the traditional bodybuilding splits, such as: Back and Biceps/Chest and Triceps/Legs.
Now, there’s a few questions that you need to ask yourself before choosing a Training Split going forward.
- How many days per week can you realistically commit to training?
- What’s your #1 goal at the moment?
- Are you an Athlete or just someone looking to stay healthy and in shape?
Once you can answer these questions, then I think we can make a solid, well educated decision on what’s best for you.
If you’re an athlete that is looking to train for a specific sport and improve performance on the field or court, then a training split is probably not the answer for you. Athletes have to consider so many more factors than just the Average Joe. They have to think about:
- Speed and Plyometric Training
- Energy System Development (ESD)
- Practices and Games
- How many other sports do you play?
- Are you in-season or in the off-season?
These are just a few, but every single of them plays a role in how coaches should be creating your training programs. If you don’t account for one of them, your performance on the field/court could take a big hit.
If you need further help on deciding what to do with your training moving forward, email me at: jonathanvalentini@gmail.com