The Power Position—Characteristics and Coaching Points

by Michael Stone PhD
NSCA Coach August 2018
Vol 5, Issue 1

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The power position is an integral position for a variety of power lifting movements. Athletes can develop their power position via an integrated approach involving sound exercise selection and purposeful instruction leading to enhanced strength and technique.

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This article originally appeared in NSCA Coach, a quarterly publication for NSCA Members that provides valuable takeaways for every level of strength and conditioning coach. You can find scientifically based articles specific to a wide variety of your athletes’ needs with Nutrition, Programming, and Youth columns. Read more articles from NSCA Coach »

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References 

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2. Beckham, GK, Lamont, HS, Sato, K, Ramsey, MW, Haff, GG, and Stone MH. Isometric strength of powerlifters in key positions of the conventional deadlift. Journal of Trainology 1: 32-35, 2012.

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4. Beckham, GK, Sato, K, Santana, HAP, Mizuguchi, S, Haff, GG, and Stone, MH. Effect of body position on force production during the isometric mid-thigh pull. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research32(1): 48-56, 2018.

5. DeWeese, BH, Serrano, AJ, Scruggs, SK, and Burton, JD. The midthigh pull: Proper application and progressions of a weightlifting movement derivative. Strength and Conditioning Journal 35(6): 54-58, 2013.

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7. Dos’Santos, T, Thomas, C, Comfort, P, McMahon, JJ, Jones, PA, Oakley, NP, and Young, AL. Between-session reliability of isometric mid-thigh pull kinetics and maximal power clean performance in male youth soccer players. Published ahead of print. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, 2017.

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14. Hornsby, WG, Haff, GG, Sands, WA, Ramsey, MW, Beckham, GK, Stone, ME, and Stone, MH. Alterations in strength characteristics for isometric and dynamic mid-thigh pulls in collegiate throwers across 11 weeks of training. Gazzata Medica Italiana – Archives of Science and Medicine 172(12): 929-940, 2013.

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17. Stone, MH, Sands, WA, Carlock, J, Callan, S, Dickie, D, Daigle, D, et al. The importance of isometric maximum strength and peak rate of force development in sprint cycling. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research 18(4): 878-884, 2004.

18. Suchomel, TJ, Comfort, P, and Lake, JP. Enhancing the force-velocity profile of athletes using weightlifting derivatives. Strength and Conditioning Journal 39(1): 10-20, 2017.

19. Suchomel, TJ, Comfort, P, and Stone, MH. Weightlifting pulling derivatives: Rationale for implementation and application. Sports Medicine 45(6): 823-839, 2015.

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23. Thomas, C, Comfort, P, Jones, PA, and Dos’Santos, TA. Comparison of isometric mid-thigh-pull strength, vertical jump, sprint speed, and change-of-direction speed in academy netball players. International Journal of Sports Physiology and Performance 12(7): 916-921, 2017

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Michael H. Stone, PhD, CSCS,*D

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Mike Stone is internationally recognized as a favorite presenter atevents across the nation and considered one of the leading mindsin research in the ...

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