What is Lineman Special Strength [LSS]?

Lineman Special Strength [LSS] is the acknowledgment and coherent understanding that it is the optimal generation of strength that enables the lineman to block – whether that be pass block or run block. Logically, we defined and refer to the strength the lineman generates to block as lineman special strength.

Why Define Blocking as Lineman Special Strength?

The sole aim of LSS is to establish a system of training that totally physically unleashes the lineman to fulfill his genetic potential. The only way for us to establish a highly specific strength training system for the lineman was to: define and coherently understand what the lineman generates to block as a special strength – which was done in the Master Class.

Lineman special strength is the generation, organization, and synthesizing of different types of special strength coherently in time which enables the lineman to block.¹

Blocking = Lineman Special Strength

Understanding blocking through the lens of strength enabled us to use training science to: identify, define, and quantify the requisite physical capacities the lineman must possess if he is to have the ability to generate lineman special strength (i.e., block). Doing so transformed how we at LSS program, organize, and manage the training specifically for the lineman.

“Strength conditioning theory is part of a broader field of knowledge, the science of training athletes, also termed training science.”²
 
How so? For the first time, we were able to establish a very specific target (i.e., the trained lineman) which then enabled us to establish a means to hit the target that is the trained lineman. The means that hits the target and transforms an untrained lineman into a trained lineman is the LSS system of training.

Trained Lineman = LSS Training Target

The target we are aiming to hit (i.e., the trained lineman) with our system of training is shown below:

You can see the core of the trained lineman is absolute strength. Layered on top of appropriate levels of absolute strength is joint function. Lineman understand: training is the only means that enables absolute strength and joint function to be possessed. It is our belief that it is only when appropriate levels of absolute strength and joint function are possessed by the lineman that he is fully physically unleashed.

Works Cited:

 

  1. https://www.linemanspecialstrength.com/masterclass – lecture: Anatomy of Lineman Special Strength

  2. Zatsiorksy, V.M. Science and Practice of Strength Training. Human Kinetics 2022

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