THE STRONG TABLE / TRAINING PROGRAMS18+ · Gym · Beginner

ATHLETIC / 2 DAYS PER WEEK / ABOUT 40 MINUTES

18+ · Court & field strength foundations

Build a strength base alongside football, basketball or court practice.

Lower-body strength, controlled lateral movement and upper-body capacity support general preparation. This beginner block avoids maximal jumps and sprints; sport skill remains a separate practice.

Schedule2 days each weekTypical sessionAbout 40 minutesEquipmentGymStarting levelBeginnerIntended audience18+

Your weekly sessions

SESSION 1 / Controlled leg strength and lateral capacity

Leg strength & lateral control

Controlled leg strength and lateral capacity

  1. Supported split squat — 3 × 6–8/side · 2 min rest

    Quadriceps and glutes; hip stabilizers assist. Use a wall or rail for balance; lower vertically and press through the front foot.

  2. Dumbbell Romanian deadlift — 3 × 6–10 · 2 min rest

    Hamstrings and posterior chain. Keep weights close and shift hips back with a long spine.

  3. Lateral lunge — 2 × 6–8/side · 90–120 sec rest

    Glutes, quadriceps and adductors. Step sideways, sit into that hip, keep other leg long and push back to center.

  4. Single-leg calf raise — 2 × 10–15/side · 90–120 sec rest

    Gastrocnemius and soleus. Use balance support and move through a comfortable range.

SESSION 2 / Upper-body strength and trunk control

Upper-body support

Upper-body strength and trunk control

  1. Dumbbell bench press — 3 × 6–10 · 90–120 sec rest

    Pectorals, anterior shoulders and triceps. Set shoulder blades and press weights over the chest.

  2. Lat pulldown — 3 × 6–10 · 90–120 sec rest

    Lats, rhomboids, mid-back and biceps. Pull elbows toward ribs while keeping your chest tall.

  3. Chest-supported row — 2 × 8–12 · 90–120 sec rest

    Lats, rhomboids, mid-back and biceps. Keep chest against the pad and row without swinging.

  4. Suitcase carry — 3 × 25–30 sec/side · 60–90 sec rest

    Abdominals, obliques and trunk stabilizers. Walk with one weight while keeping shoulders level.

  5. Pallof press — 2 × 8–10/side · 60 sec rest

    Abdominals, obliques and trunk stabilizers. Press hands forward without letting the band turn you.

How to progress

Weeks 1–2: learn the setups with 2 sets per lift. Weeks 3–5: use the listed dose and build repetitions while keeping 1–3 in reserve. Weeks 6–8: when every set reaches the top of its range at the same effort, add the smallest practical load and return to the lower end. Reduce sets for a week if performance repeatedly declines.

Adjust the plan to your starting point

Begin with 2 sets and lighter loads. No maximal strength tests are needed. Coordinate these two gym days with your sport coach and reduce lifting during dense match weeks.

Recovery and weekly placement

Put an easier day between full-body or demanding lower-body sessions. Session time includes 5–8 minutes of warming up and lighter practice sets; allow longer if technique or equipment changes need it. Add easy movement on other days without turning every rest day into another hard session.

Continue building your plan

Use the exercise library to review technique, then explore sport guides, recipes and planning tools to fit the week around your life.

Open the training builderFind sport-specific trainingBrowse free recipesRead the evidence reviews

General fitness education. Choose loads and ranges that match your ability. This program is not individualized medical care and does not guarantee a particular result.

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