Aug. 14, 2008
UNM FOOTBALL PILATES PHOTO GALLERY
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — The New Mexico football tradition has been built on hard-hitting defenses, the Hitmen up front on the offensive line and determination to be successful. This fall, the Lobo football team has tried to continue those standards but has inserted the core-based exercise of Pilates? Yes, Pilates, the same exercises used at health clubs and in various physical education programs across the country to increase flexibility and movement.
“We mainly decided to use Pilates to help with conditioning, their core strength and flexibility,” said head coach Rocky Long. “The plan is that it will help them get over the soreness so that the next day’s practice they will perform better.”
UNM certainly hasn’t cut back its practice schedule as the team has been doing two-a-day workouts three times a week. The first week of practice the Lobos had two-hour workouts in the middle of the afternoon in 90 degree New Mexico heat. Despite all the hitting drills and hard-nosed practices, UNM has developed an understanding of the importance of being flexible.
“I was surprised because Pilates really has helped me in my flexibility,” said offensive lineman Byron Bell. “I’ve been able to move better since taking the course over the summer and doing it between practices. It really does give you a workout and allows us to recover faster.”
The benefits of Pilates are to build core strength and increase flexibility. The increase in mobility and joints from the center out is the objective. Once a core has been developed then you can work more freely with joints. Understanding the idea behind Pilates gives you a better understanding of how a collegiate football player would gain from the course.
“Almost every football player is muscle bound because they continue to do the same thing over and over again,” said instructor Jennifer Predock-Linnell. “The muscles are developed in a certain kind of way. I see working with them that they have a lot of very tight hamstrings and are very muscle contracted. That limits them in their flexibility in their shoulders and hip areas. Hopefully, we will increase those areas with our training.”
UNM football players may have enrolled in the course for summer credit but have really seen the benefits of the program.
“Those guys really enjoyed the course over the summer and thought it made them more flexible and they felt really good after doing it,” said Long. “We thought it was a good idea to do it with the whole team so we are going to do it throughout training camp.”
The Lobos have gone through two days of Pilates after Thursday’s workout. UNM splits the team into three groups and allows 40 minutes per unit. The coaching staff and some of the support staff have gone through the sessions as well. The courses have been taught by Predock-Linnell who is the Professor of Dance in the Theater and Dance department at UNM. She was invited by coach Long and accepted.
“One of the biggest challenges I’ve found is that the athletes need to learn where their limitations are,” said Predock-Linnell. “It’s so vital to know what their mobility limitations are and not to overdo it while still breathing properly.”
UNM hopes the use of Pilates will continue to allow the team to grow and become stronger. The Lobos open the 2008 season on August 30 at home against TCU starting at 4 p.m. MT.