CrossFit: Theoretical Hierarchy of Athletic Development

Here is a great technical explanation of how the theorectical hieracrchy of athletic develeopment works from the CrossFit journal and written by the founder of CrossFit, Greg Glassman.

"It starts with nutrition and moves to metabolic conditioning, gymnastics, weightlifting, and finally sport.  This hierarchy largely reflects foundational dependence, skill, and to some degree, time ordering of development.  The logical flow is from molecular foundations, cardiovascular sufficiency, body control, external object control, and ultimately mastery and application in sport. This model has greatest utility in analyzing athletes' shortcomings or difficulties".

"We don't deliberately order these components but nature will.  If you have a deficiency at any level of "the pyramid" the components above will suffer".