The Impact of How Elite Professional Athletes Sharing Physical Training Methods via Social Media Influences Amateur Athletes’ Approach To The Sport.
Social media has completely changed the way society functions over the last decade, it is one of the number one marketing tools used by most businesses today. The way in which we interact so freely and easily with millions of people from all around the world has led to new methods in which information is published with just a click of a button. Social media could be deemed as a popularity contest in many senses, the more followers and likes you have, the more followers and likes you gain. The methods in which you gain followers and likes come from attractive, visual, engaging posts, not necessarily the most accurate, informative or correct posts. This equation has led to a mass shift towards, quick, attractive click bait style information being pushed by millions of people every single day, all looking to post their profile on social media. Prior to this, information was published via books, newspapers, academic work and seminars. These methods, although not in all cases, did offer some attempts to ensure information was factual and reliable. This new era we now live in creates two distinct unique challenges to all walks of life. Firstly, dodging the information that is not relevant or reliable. Secondly, finding the information that is relevant and most importantly reliable.
These two challenges are one’s young athletes regardless of sport face today. In my experience within boxing, mixed martial arts and also grappling, the process usually goes something like this. A young amateur athlete who is extremely dedicated conducts high volumes of skill work, as this is the direction for most sports. From this they then look up to the elite athletes within that sport, usually by following them on social media/YouTube. From this they then get exposed to the training methods of their favourite elite athlete. As the amateur athlete progresses, they naturally stumble across the question of ‘What strength and conditioning (S&C) should I do for my sport?’. It is common for athletes to then attempt to mimic the S&C that elite athletes are posting on social media, in either promotional videos or short 10 second clips on Instagram stories. In many cases the movements/training that are advertised on these platforms are either highly technical or very attractive looking movements to gain people’s attention. Not necessarily the safest, most effective training for that sport.
This process may offer some benefits to the young amateur athlete. For example, if the elite professional athlete has a qualified, experienced S&C coach who is doing structured, periodised, science backed training with the athlete. This information being shared on social media could help the young athlete by inspiring him to engage with this S&C coach on social media, learning beneficial information that he may be able to implement into his training. Although receiving small amounts of information is not the most optimal way of to receive physical training, if the information being posted is specifically selected by the elite athlete/coach knowing it can add benefit to aspiring athletes, then this could add value. For example, if the elite athlete shares a clip to their social media performing a rear elevated split squat, with the information of rep ranges/rest/reasons for this movement, this could clearly show some value to the youth athlete.
Now onto the main reason for this article, the actual reality of what elite athletes share on social media, specifically combat athletes such as MMA Fighters and grapplers. Crazy circuits involving heavy loads and 300 deadlifts, ice baths every morning, massage guns, CBD oil, red zone workouts, kettlebell workouts that promise to increase your punching power, the list goes on. So, looking at combat sports, a common trait amongst these sports is amateur athletes over training. This may be down to MMA and Grappling not having any significant governing bodies that the likes of football, boxing and rugby have. For example, sport England offers help to improve and evolve practices within sports disciplines using their expertise’s to set up frameworks of developing youth athletes, govern sporting practice and also evaluate current practice. This support to governing bodies such as the FA in football, ABAE in boxing and RFU in rugby creates a clear pathway for youth athletes to transition from school athlete to amateur athlete to professional athlete. As athletes develop through the systems introduced from the governing bodies, talent selection schemes highlight individuals who may have the potential to progress to Olympic or professional levels. As this talent is selected, they then received expert support and advice from qualified staff ranging from nutritionists, strength and conditioning coaches, physiotherapists and psychologists. Granted the amateur athletes may not get to work with these personnel on a one to one basis until at the elite level, however they would receive workshops, PDFs, informative content and general team support. This support then reduces the risk of amateur athletes copying extreme workout methods or fashionable methods that they then see elite athletes promoting on social media, usually for a financial incentive.
Another common contributor of amateur athletes copying professional athletes’ workout from social media within combat sports is the lack of money within MMA and grappling. With the lack of funding and money available to amateur athletes or the gyms that they commonly train at, individuals simply do not have the money to employ a qualified strength and conditioning coach. Again, leading to the athletes resorting to quick easily accessed training information seen on social media.
Finally, from a strength and conditioning coach who works with multiple amateur combat athletes, I believe it is our job as coaches to get as much beneficial information to these athletes as possible for as little cost as possible or even no cost at all. From free PDF training guides, introduction sessions to lifting for sports, mini online/in person lectures explaining the importance of topics such as nutrition, recovery, sleep, intensity management, scheduling etc. This is something I have personally implemented at my MMA gym and there is a shift from over training and extreme workouts towards smart, specific training.