Many people have a sport as a hobby. Common ones are golf, tennis, basketball, cycling, running, volleyball, or even horseback riding. If you are one of those people, you might want your fitness routine to help with your sport, as it should. However, it is important to know that that does not mean your training should mimic the sport you play.
Strength Is Strength
The first thing to know is that strength is always useful. Strong muscles and a coordinated body simply perform better. So even though something like a squat or chin up might not come up very often in golf, tennis, or cycling the benefits of that exercise still apply. In fact, large movements like a squat or a chin up are some of the best ways to build overall strength, which will benefit your general athleticism.
Less Is Often More
Sports are often repetitive. A golfer, for example, who performs rotating movements dozens of times on the course could use some time not rotating. They may even need to spend some extra time doing anti-rotation. Cyclists might benefit from some lateral (side to side) movements for their hips. You get the picture.
You Most Need What You Don’t Do
This rule applies particularly to cardio lovers. If your primary sport or activity is heavy on the cardiovascular system then what you should focus on in the gym is strength. Contrary to popular belief, running does not do a lot for leg strength. (To understand the strength spectrum, click here) Because of this deficit, it makes a lot of sense to spend gym time working on muscle strength, not muscle endurance.