No matter what sport you play or art you practice having a great training partner can bring many benefits.
Common Benefits
- Opportunity to build a bond or relationship
- Opportunity to get into “the zone”
- Opportunity to express yourself
Extraordinary Benefits
- The Köhler Effect
- Mentorship
- Learning new workouts and the science behind them
- Improving your agility, endurance, flexibility, and strength
- Building Character
The Köhler Effect
No one wants to be the weakest link of any group. As a result, weaker individuals in the group respond to this by working harder than they normally would. This gain is even more visible when they are part of a group working out together. This is known as the Köhler effect, where performance gains are seen in weaker individuals who are striving to keep up with the accomplishments of other group members. [2]
In Soccer individuals that play with people at a higher level naturally tend to play better. This result may be due to the Köhler effect. Players instinctively desire to be at the level of the better players and work harder to achieve their goals.
Real Life Example
Cristian Cardona, exercise physiologist and soccer coach located in Orlando FL, during an interview told us, “I remember when I first joined a club soccer team. I was the worst player on the team and I was in the worst shape. When we did conditioning I was always the last player.”
“After a little more than six months, I was performing well in the drills. I then made my highschool team. One day the owner of the club team recognized my progress to all of the players and our parents. By the next season, I received an offer to join the A team of the club for my age group.”
What motivated you? “Where I grew up in Medellin, Colombia the school boys and girls only were friends with the good players and I didn’t want to be known as the weakest link in the group. Over time, I grew a powerful love for the game. A love that I admired in my idol Ronaldinho. I wanted to play like him.”
Mentorship
Over time, players choose their favorite positions and techniques in soccer to focus and develop. Over time some players become experts at handling certain situations, like defending, shooting, and assisting soccer plays. When training with someone that has more developed skills, you can learn from them and over time develop a similar skillset.
The Science Behind Workouts
Having a training partner brings the opportunity for each to share and collaborate what they have learned about working out. This can create a thriving environment of learning where the group creates a common knowledge about a workout.
Raul Penagos, Personal Trainer and Fitness Medal Winner in the Florida State Championship, told The Soccer Arena, “Training with someone that is experienced can motivate you and show you what exercises work best for certain muscles and the safest ways of doing them.”
Improve your agility, endurance, flexibility and strength
Working out in a friendly and challenging environment can allow you to reach new limits in your workouts. Training partners often encourage each other to reach a goal and push themselves. Over time you can reach your goals and improve your fitness.
Raul Penagos recommends having a spotter during strength training and says, “A spotter can help you overcome your fear of lifting heavy weight, weight that most people would not do otherwise.”
It Builds Character
When training with a partner, there are certain character values that are mutually shared and allow them to train effectively in harmony.
Values such as respect, teamwork and trust. Through this acceptance of values over time, leadership and character is built.
References
Steiner, I.D. (1972). Group Processes and Productivity. Academic Press.
Köhler, 1926
Weber & Hertel, 2007
So… How do you find a great training partner?
Just ask… want to workout?
Cristian – (786) 486-2011
Sebastian – (561) 603-5184
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