Functional Training for Sports: Superior Conditioning for Today's Athlete

"no good for bodybuilders, perfect for athletes. Easy to read, plenty of exercises and very informative for everyone from casual trainer to competitive athlete.If you are a sportsperson following a bodybuilding style program do yourself a favour and buy this book."
~ Written on 2008-01-27

"I orginally borrowed this book from my local library but I was so impressed with it's contents, and so sure that I'd be using it as an on-going source of reference, that I purchased a copy. I've read scores of training guides, in book form and on-line, over the years but this book is the most balanced and practical guide to athletic conditioning (rather than looking good in the mirror 'fitness') that I've come across. If I were still working as an instructor/personal trainer I'd undoubtedley point my clients towards this book.

Although these days I'm a middle-aged, strictly recreational athlete the deceptively simple looking exercises in this book have been highly beneficial to me, in particular during recovery from a debilitating back injury. In my case chapters 6, 7, 8 and 9, covering lower body strength and balance, hip extension and healthy hamstrings, torso training/rotational strength, and upper body strength and stability respectively have become, and I believe will continue to be, the 'core' of my injury recovery and prevention routines.

In some ways the exercises are 'back to basics' but the crucial issue is Boyle's amalgamation of input from physical therapy, in the form of 'core stability', into the exercise program. Those athletes who are familiar with Pilates may find this book to be a logical progression, and more performance focused, than classical Pilates mat work.

In summary this is a highly recommended book that covers aspects of physical conditioning for sports focused performance in a clear, accessible and logical progression, focusing on the importance of balance and core stability. It is, I believe, a much more practical guide than Gray Cook's very good 'Athletic Body in Balance'.
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~ Written on 2006-05-01

"As a personal trainer myself I read/scan/flick through quite a lot of exercise-related books. This one caught my eye mainly because of its use of the buzzword 'functional' in the title! I was pleasantly surprised to find that the book does exactly what it says on the cover - it focuses on improved sports performance, not improved aesthetics. There is a sound emphasis on sports-general, multiple muscle integrated movement patterns, all presented with simplicity and clarity.

Mr. Boyle clearly speaks from a position of huge experience with athletes, and understands the practicalities of changing established training ideas. He points out the obvious failing of training too hard on the 'mirror muscles' (i.e. pecs/biceps etc - the ones we tend to see in the mirror), and not hard enough on the less visible ones (especially the scapular stabilisers).

The book is full of simple, implementable ideas for sports training (regardless of which sport you're training for, the majority of the ideas are useable). I found the chapters on lower leg balance/strength, torso training, and basic plyometrics particularly good."
~ Written on 2004-05-04