Why We Add Skill Work to Conditioning (and How You Can Too)

Conditioning doesn’t have to be boring or mindless. At Harper Strength and Speed, we use aerobic work as a chance to reinforce low-level athletic skills — giving athletes a double benefit in one session.

Why It Works:

• Keeps athletes mentally engaged during longer efforts
• Builds technical consistency under light fatigue
• Creates more variety in aerobic sessions without sacrificing intent

Examples of Skill-Infused Aerobic Work:

• Tempo Runs with Sport SKills: Program 50 Yard tempos with basketball, or soccer ball dribbling to keep things fun and engaging
• Med Ball Circuits: Light med ball throws between aerobic bouts to reinforce posture, rotation, and sequencing
• Low-Impact Plyos: Add pogo jumps, snap downs, or some skipping into aerobic intervals for coordination and rhythm without overloading the joints

Sample Session:

• 6 x 100y tempo runs @ ~70%, walk back recovery
• Between each run: 1 med ball rotational throw + 10 pogo hops

This approach keeps the work purposeful and enjoyable

Want to keep conditioning sharp without boring your athletes to death? DM “Conditioning” and we’ll send you our sample 3-day plan.

Smart, skillful, and effective — that’s how we build better athletes.