We have all heard the idiom “You can’t see the forest for the trees”
Yesterday I took out an old file that had some workout cards (The Workout Card – Motivation and Efficiency) dating back to one of the first times we tested our current junior and senior student-athletes. It was interesting to see where this group started before beginning our program (A Weekly (not weakly!) Workout). It was equally interesting, fun actually, giving those original cards back to those athletes and watching their reactions! I think often the athletes forget, or don’t realize how far they have come because the strength gains are usually small and incremental. We talk about the breaking slope (The Breaking Slope) often, and how those small increases over time add up to really big strength gains. Yesterday it became crystal clear when I gave them their old cards.
As coaches, we are probably guilty of this as well. We often get so caught up in the minutia of the day-to-day dealings of being a teacher and a coach, that we forget or don’t see all the really positive ways we impact young peoples lives. Sometimes we forget how far our senior athletes have come, physically, mentally, and emotionally, because we just see that small, daily, incremental growth. We don’t have the “before and after chart” that makes it easier to see the really big gains those young men or women have made while in your program.
You make a difference.
I made the chart below comparing the 1RM’s from their initial testing in 2010 to their current (2013) strength level. I also calculated the percentage increase for each lift for each student, and the total. You can click on either of the links below to view or download a larger version – or just click on the image to get the PDF version.
The individual total increases ranged from a low of 37% (still a very good increase) to the highest percentage increase of 173%. The largest percentage increase on any single lift was one student’s Push Press max that went from 80 lbs to 240 lbs – an increase of 200%!
Remember – You Can Do More… your brain is lying to you… Don’t Believe It!
If you get a chance to go to the PrepsKC.com site and “Like” my article from yesterday, it would be appreciated!
Tomorrow I will be highlighting our Softball Coach, Amy Temples, and her off-season program.
Questions and Comments are always welcome!
Jeff Floyd – youcandomore1@yahoo.com