What is GPP in the context of recreational lifting?

[ionRod]

I was recently thinking about the difference between GPP and sport-specific training (SST?) and how they depend on the sport you choose. So everything that helps you develop skills relevant to your sport most directly get the label of SST, everything else is GPP, right? So for a powerlifter the paused squat helps with competition squat directly - that's SST. HIIT doesn't make him squat more, but it improves his work capacity so it is GPP. But for a sprinter SST will be more sprints, hill sprints, plyometric exercises (I am guessing here), maybe some squats. Something like a bench press will help him get stronger, but not in a way that is directly transferable to sprinting. So for him bench press is GPP?

If this line of thinking is right, than what is GPP for a recreational lifter, for somebody who does not practice any sports? Isn't it all GPP at that point?

[llaffin]

How do you define a recreational lifter? You could never compete and only lift for fun, but if you're running BBM templates I'd argue you're still a barbell squat, bench, and deadlift "specialist", much akin to a Powerlifter.

[ionRod]

How do you define a recreational lifter? You could never compete and only lift for fun, but if you're running BBM templates I'd argue you're still a barbell squat, bench, and deadlift "specialist", much akin to a Powerlifter.

I would say that a recreational lifter in general is not defined by any specific program, like BBM templates and does not necessarily do SBD lifts. They are not necessarily interested in "specializing" in any of the lifts. Somebody doing bro-splits, for example, would fall in the general category of a recreational lifter in my opinion.

[llaffin]

I would say that a recreational lifter in general is not defined by any specific program, like BBM templates and does not necessarily do SBD lifts. They are not necessarily interested in "specializing" in any of the lifts. Somebody doing bro-splits, for example, would fall in the general category of a recreational lifter in my opinion.

Yeah I guess in this scenario I don't think it's really important to make any distinction between Sports Specific and GPP. Although I suppose you could still argue someone do a "bro split" still specializes in hypertrophy, so any conditioning or non-hypertrophy work is still GPP.