Perseverance

You may recognize Austin from being our November Athlete of the Month. Austin was having a very productive senior year of football when his leg was rolled up on from behind- tearing his ACL and MCL. This was a devastating injury as Austin prepared for MONTHS (since December, not just the 2 months in the summer) so he could have a great senior year and potentially fulfill his goal of playing college football.

Competition, Progress, and Rewards with High School Athletes

Competition

Competition is a good thing. You need to compete in training to test yourself physically and mentally. To learn how to not quit when things get challenging and push farther and harder than you ever thought you could. I think it’s necessary for athletes to constantly train in a competitive environment.

25 Things from 25 Years

I had my 25^th birthday this past week. 25 sounds a lot older than 24. Knowing this, I had mixed feelings about it. I’m not big into my own birthday- meaning I don’t feel the need to celebrate it for a week, or even a month like some people (these people are attention hogs).  I got to thinking about my life. 30 is just around the corner and after that it’s a blur… or so I hear. Personally the last 5 years was a blur. So I decided to sit down and write a random list of things I’ve learned and observed about training and life. I left some stuff off, but some stuff on this list will most likely change, as I grow older. I sure hope the numbers at least get higher…

Build it Up

I can’t stress enough the importance of building a foundation of strength before you progress in your training program and go after the big weights. The other night I was watching YouTube videos of unsupervised AND supervised kids in weight rooms performing heavy lifts with terrible, back breaking form. Awful coaching, incorrect and unsafe spotting, and obviously improper progressions that prepared these kids to work up to that weight. (*Yes, athletes need to train heavy. But keep in mind that they aren't powerlifters or olympic lifters- they're athletes. Use the tools from these separate sports to build the athlete.)

Could probably see his spine literally sticking out of his shirt if the camera angle was better...

All In- Part 2

 To be all in you have to take a step back and be honest with yourself and what you want. In part 1 I related being “all in” to some of the stuff going on in my own life. In part 2 I want to shift the focus towards athletes and their training. You’ll see that these steps and guidelines can transfer to any part of life- not just the gym or the field. Anyone who has truly trained knows how training can mold a mindset like little else can. Whether you want to earn more playing time, become a starter, pack on muscle, earn a college scholarship, or just go after what you want in life- you’ll have to start by being all in towards your goals. Start with these 5 guidelines listed below.