Weight Training with Dumbbells

This is an example dumbbell weight training program to develop an athlete's general strength.

Before You Start

Prior to starting any training, it is recommended you have a medical examination to ensure it is safe for you to do so. Any application of this training program is at the athlete's own discretion and risk.

Exercises

The following are examples of exercises you could use to make up your program. Select the link for an explanation of the exercise:

• Decline dumbbell bench press
• Incline dumbbell bench press
• Standing dumbbell side laterals
• Standing dumbbell bent laterals
• Standing front dumbbell raises (alternate)
• Incline seated dumbbell curls (alternate)
• Seated one arm triceps extension
• One arm dumbbell rows (alternate)
• Squats with dumbbells
• Lunges with dumbbells
• Standing one leg calf raises
• Wrist extensions
• Wrist curls
• Back Arches (max reps)
• Sit ups (max reps)
• Plank (max duration)

How many

To conduct this program you will need to determine your 14 to 20RM, 11 to 14RM, 6 to 11RM and 3 to 6RM. The amount of weight to be used for each exercise is based on a percentage of the maximum amount of weight that can be lifted one time for that exercise, generally referred to as one repetition maximum (1RM). Where appropriate determine your 1RM for each exercise and then calculate the required weight as follows:

• 14 to 20RM = 60% of 1RM
• 11 to 14RM = 70% of 1RM
• 6 to 11RM = 80% of 1RM
• 3 to 6RM = 90% of 1RM

A Thirty Week Program

General notes:

• Perform all sets on an exercise and then move to the next exercise
• Perform all sets until fatigue prohibits the completion of an additional repetition
• For each exercise monitor the average number of repetitions/set and if the range is exceeded then adjust the weights accordingly at the next session
• Allow 1 to 2 minutes recovery between each set and each exercise
• With each exercise use a 2/3 cadence, that is, a count of two to move to the exercise end position and a count of 3 to return to the exercise start position
• For weeks 18 to 30 repeat weeks 5 to 17

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Associated Pages

The following Sports Coach pages should be read in conjunction with this page:

• Strength Training Articles
• Circuit Training
• Dumbbell Exercises
• Strength Training
• Weight Training

Associated Books

The following books provide more information related to this topic:

• Explosive Power and Strength, D.A. Chu, ISBN 0 87322 643 7
• Strength Training Anatomy, F. Delavier, ISBN 0 7360 4185 0
• Strength Training for Athletes, A. Winch, ISBN 1 86126 650 2
• Serious Strength Training, T.O. Bompa et al., ISBN 0 88011 834 2
• Strength and Conditioning for Games Players, C. Brewer, ISBN 1 902523 85 7
• Strength Training for Coaches, B. Pauletto, ISBN 0 88011 371 5
• Advanced Studies in Physical Education and Sport, P Beashel et al., ISBN 0 17 4482345
• Physical Education and the Study of Sport, B. Davis et al., ISBN 0 7234 31752
• Essentials of Exercise Physiology, W.D. McArdle et al., ISBN 0 683 30507 7
• Physical Education and Sport Studies, D. Roscoe et al., ISBN 1 901424 20 0
• The World of Sport Examined, P. Beashel et al., ISBN 0 17 438719 9
• Advanced PE for Edexcel, F. Galligan et al., ISBN 0 435 50643 9
• Examining Physical Education, K. Bizley, ISBN 0 435 50660 9
• Sport and PE, K Wesson et al., ISBN 0 340 683821
• PE for you, J. Honeybourne, ISBN 0 7487 3277 2