Thanks for starting this site

Hi,

My name is Joe Mullins and I am the Strength and Conditioning coach a Pickens High School. I just wanted to thank you guys for starting this site.

JOE MULLINS

Thanks coach, glad to have you aboard. Jump in on the discussions and spread the word. Thanks again for checking us out and getting registered.

Thanks for starting the site! Now down to business! The infamous most asked question in football/weight training, what is the "best" way to train athletes during football season? Do you use the same system year round? The old school approach is to just maintain, but what kind of methods do you practice that promotes strength gain during the season?

God Bless

We use pretty much the same template. We still do some max effort work early in the week and then later in the week we obviously cut back on volume and intensity. I am talking about varsity guys that have a chance to play when the outcome is still in doubt. JV and 9th graders will lift on gameday with very little changes in volume and intensity. I feel like to get them ready for Friday nights, they need to keep training at a high level. When I say ME for the older guys, it is different from what they might do in the off season. I will strictly control the volume and intensity during the season and exercise selection will be lifts I feel are less likely to allow for injury. Later in the week we concentrate on active recovery methods for the lower body to help rejuvenate the legs for Friday night.

I would keep the same template consisting of max effort/ dynamic effort/ and repetition work. I would back off on max effort days and only go to a 3-5rep max, no max effort singles during the competition season. All repitetion and dynamic work could remain the same as off season. I would set up my training days like this:

Mon.-max effort lower body 3-5RM(after main lift hit hams, glutes, lower back, abs)
Tues.-max effort upper body 3-5RM(train triceps, shoulders, lats after main lift)
Wed.-agility/conditioning(absolutely no weight training on this day)
Thurs.-dynamic effort lower body(box squats just below parallel)
Fri.-repetition effort upper body(alternate w/ dynamic work every other week)


I can't promise this will make you win ball games, but I will guarantee big, strong, quick athletes.

Good stuff Niblett, thanks for the informative post. I am right there with you. I follow basically the same template. I want to believe that the success we have had on the field the past couple of years using this template during the season is correspondence and not coincidence. I guess time will only tell for sure.