The Need for Speed: Eccentric Training

UKSCA Coach Considerations

Dr. Jonathan Hughes' presentation at the UKSCA 2024 annual conference highlighted the significance of eccentric training in high-performance sports. Drawing on his experience across team sports like rugby, hockey, and individual athletes in cycling, Hughes emphasises how eccentric training helps with multi-directional decelerations and complex movements. While not a new concept, its benefits, especially when combined with the latest technology to measure training transfer, are increasingly recognised. One of the main challenges coaches face is accurately measuring and applying eccentric training to achieve real performance gains. Dr. Hughes shares research findings showing that most high-performance coaches already use some form of eccentric training, but he stressed the importance of understanding the “why” and the optimal applications in real-world sports environments. He also touched on the neural mechanisms behind eccentric actions and how they differ from traditional strength training methods, focusing on improving athletes’ braking capacity, control, and speed in dynamic environments.This podcast was recorded live at the UKSCA Annual Conference. Supporting materials and the full video presentation are available on the UKSCA website. Visit www.uksca.org.uk for more details.