Repetitions Versus Seconds (Time)

Reps or repetitions. They are the number of times that we lift, hold, carry, walk, run, move, etc an object or weight, which includes ourselves.

Seconds is simply put as time.

When training, it certainly is important to differentiate between reps and seconds. We do not always have to use reps, which are widely utilized. Sometimes, it may be better to measure a set with seconds. Keep in mind that we still reach a total rep point when using seconds, depending on the exercise (i.e., 20 reps can equal 30 seconds of an exercise).

Do not get this rep-to-second talk mixed up with changing the tempo (speed) in exercising.

For example, let us take an offensive lineman [OL] in football. When the ball is hiked, the job of the OL is to, most likely, block the rushing defensive end/defensive lineman [DE/DL]. The OL does not know how many times he/she will have to leave his/her hands up in order to correctly execute the block. The OL has a better chance in judging how long the block will take place based on the movement of the defensive lineman (remember the OL's back is to the quarterback and running back). However, there are set plays in which the OL just goes all out and pushes the DE/DL out of the way, creating a hole for his teammate (which could be the quarterback [QB], running back [RB], fullback [FB], or tight end [TE]).

Also, there is not a guarantee on how long the QB will hold the ball in the back field as he/she looks for an open receiver. Three to four seconds is a good amount of time for a QB to be attentively idle, waiting for an open receiver. In this case, imagine that the OL has to pound at the DE/DL with force - a powerful force over a quick and short amount of time.

Trust me. That OL is not counting 1, 2, 3, 4, 5... to represent the number of times the OL touches the opposing player.

That's it for a training tidbit. Hope the NFL lockout ends soon. Hope the younger players (pop warner, high school and college) continue to develop.

For the grid-iron,
Derek