You’ve probably seen this before—an athlete who crushes their lifts but looks average when it’s game time.

It’s frustrating. You’ve built the horsepower, but for some reason, they’re not getting off the line faster, jumping higher, or moving more explosively.

That’s where the Transfer Phase of Triphasic Training II comes in. Because adding weight doesn’t mean adding performance—unless you teach the body what to do with the new horsepower.

The Problem: Great Lifters, Poor Movers

We’ve all had those athletes who own the gym floor but barely make the starting lineup. They’re strong—but their movement doesn’t match their force production. Why?

Because tissue strength alone isn’t the goal. It’s transfer.

“Once you create new stronger tissue... you must transfer it to performance.”

That means the nervous system has to re-learn how to use that strength in a sport-specific context. Without that step, all you’re doing is building horsepower with no transmission.

The Solution: Direct Transfer Methods

Triphasic II lays out practical tools for creating this link. Here are a few that we use with serious success:

• Performance Pattern Cycling (PPC): cycling through force, speed, and technique days to wire high-output movement
• Angular Shank Loading: adjusting stance width to train different movement qualities—wider for power, narrower for speed
• 3-Way Foot Integration: teaching the foot to absorb and transmit force from multiple angles
• Functional Transfer Complexes (FTCs): pairing weight room movements with field-specific patterns
• Trinity of Transfer: the principle-based framework that ties all of it together

This isn’t just theory—it’s a system. You’re not guessing which drill might work. You’re plugging into a transfer model that’s built on principles.

Teaching Example: 3 Way Foot Position

The 3-Way Foot Position is a method of adjusting the external rotation of the feet during training exercises to align with the specific demands of the strength, power, and speed phases of athletic development.

The internal rotation at the foot remains consistent at 10 to 15 degrees across all three phases; only the external portion changes.

This concept aims to optimize movement and function by mimicking the foot positioning observed during different athletic movements depending on the phase of training.

Here's a breakdown of the specific external rotation for each phase:

Strength Phase: 15-25 degrees of external rotation

This wider stance in the strength phase, often coupled with isometric and eccentric loads above 80% of 1RM, helps reinforce stability and engage the posterior chain for maximal strength development.

During this phase, athletes may naturally place more weight on their heels and roll through the outside of the foot

Power Phase: 15-20 degrees of external rotation

This slightly narrower stance compared to the strength phase mimics the push-off position during running, allowing for effective power generation with loads approximately between 55% and 80% of 1RM.

Speed Phase: 10-15 degrees of external rotation

This narrowest stance aligns with the foot rotation observed during top-speed sprinting (10 to 15 degrees internally and externally).

Training in this range with lighter loads (approximately 25% to 55% of 1RM or body weight) focuses on rapid foot strike and pivoting.

You can further cue your athletes to squeeze their big toe toward the ground during hip extension to help ingrain correct patterns.

By consciously incorporating these specific foot positions into your training program, you can better align the exercises with the biomechanical demands of different athletic movements, potentially leading to enhanced transfer of strength, power, and speed to the field.

Ready to Close the Gap Between Gym Strength and Game Speed?

Triphasic Training II shows you exactly how to move from tissue remodeling to real performance outcomes.

You’ll learn how to assess, program, and train for one thing: transfer.

​https://triphasic2.com << order here

All the best,

Mike and Cal

PS - Here is what Edward had to say:

"I have a home gym that my college / high school aged sons (4) and friends use to train in the summer. Two of my sons felt "clunky" and unathletic after traditional squatting and powerlifting programming. Incorporating the GOAT drill as a warm-up and implementing functional transfer complexes within performance pattern cycling was a game changer. They play college sports and felt prepared for tryouts and in-season recovery is much better with their demanding practice schedule. Triphasic Training principles have allowed them to compete and maximize their athletic ability.
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As a 54 y/o orthopedic surgeon who trains 2-3x week focusing on longevity and injury risk reduction, their training recommendations are diverse, adaptable and effective within one's specific method of training or programming. We have long days in surgery and have to position heavy patients. I move better, my focus is improved, and recovery is not as taxing. I have used the breathing techniques to effectively manage stressful situations and conflict." - Coach Edward

​https://triphasic2.com << order here

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Coach Cal Dietz, U of MN
Dr Mike T Nelson
Triphasic Training II: 14 High-Performance Methods to Unlock Elite Athletic Development - out NOW

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