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How Alabama Football Saw a 50% Decrease in Injuries

Alabama football is used to being the best. They are regular guests of the NCAA College Football Playoff, flirting as the top-ranked team year in and year out. The Tide gets its pick of five-star high school recruits. And with all that success comes the financial backing of a top-tier program to help them remain a top-tier program.

So when head coach Nick Saban shares some insight into the secrets of Alabama’s success, we should all listen.

alabamaDuring the Southeastern Conference Media Day this week, Saban noted the significant changes in his program over the last few years that have helped decrease injuries by 50 percent in some cases.

“Last year our injuries were down by about 50%, soft tissue injuries. We increased explosive movement during the season by almost 5%, which we had not done for several years,” Saban said.

What was the big change? According to a report from the Tuscaloosa News, transitioning from a powerlifting approach to more of focus on explosive movement. The Crimson Tide did that by letting David Ballou, Dr. Matt Rhea, and the rest of the strength and conditioning staff incorporate this velocity training approach in conjunction with an emphasis on technology to test the players.

The results have spoken for themselves. Alabama won the CFP National Championship in 2020-21 — the program’s fifth in the last 10 years. Additionally, the 2021 NFL Draft was the fourth in a row in which NFL teams have drafted 21 players from the Crimson Tide — seven of whom were selected in the first round.

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Saban said Alabama has been able to eliminate all running tests. With their new technological approach, there is no need for them — the staff can already track how fast a certain player is running on any given day.

“So it’s a much more positive approach. The players have really bought into it from a flexibility standpoint and a strength and conditioning standpoint, and the technology has been very instrumental in helping the players see their progress and buy into this process,” Saban said.

To read the full story from the Tuscaloosa News, click here.