Overtraining vs Overreaching: Squat Protocol That Adds Kilos – with Lee Bell
Evidence Strong | Weightlifting Science · Evidence Strong
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Show Notes
🏋️♀️ Extended version of this interview: https://www.patreon.com/posts/overreaching-in-137765501 🏋️♀️
Coaches, how do you balance productive overreaching with fatigue risk in your athletes? Can a structured 5-day back-squat protocol really lift strength after a taper, or is overtraining a warning? Lee Bell breaks down functional vs nonfunctional overreaching, taper timing, and practical coaching moves you can apply this week to sharpen performance without burning athletes out. He ties findings from a pilot study to real-world coaching decisions and highlights the variability across athletes.
Lee Bell is a Senior Lecturer in Sport and Exercise Science at Sheffield Hallam University. His research and teaching focus on strength and hypertrophy programming strategies, with a PhD centered on overreaching and overtraining in strength sports. His work bridges theory and practice for strength-sport coaches and athletes alike.
Enjoy!
Original research paper:
Bell L, Ruddock A, Boriel J, Maden-Wilkinson T, Thompson SW, Wright KJ, Burke K, Rogerson D. Effects of a 5-Day Back Squat Overreaching Protocol on Strength Performance, Perceived Recovery and Wellness Responses: A Pilot Trial. Journal of Functional Morphology and Kinesiology. 2025 Jun 13;10(2):227.
https://www.mdpi.com/2411-5142/10/2/227
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