High School Strength Coaches Use Standard Weight Training Performance Programs

Strength training is a standard part of most high school sports and athletic programs. Yet we often hear about so many variations in training approach, exercise prescription and program development, that it was interesting to read a recent survey of high-school strength coaches published in the Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research.

From the results, it looks like most high school trainers are following proven strength and conditioning and weight training principles. Here is what they found:

• 89% of the survey respondents were certified by the National Strength and Conditioning Association.
• Coaches assess an average of 5.83 different parameters of fitness, with strength as well as power being the most common parameters assessed.
• Coaches tested an average of 3.86 times a year with an average of 8.51 specific tests per testing session.
• All coaches used a variety of flexibility development strategies using dynamic stretching more frequently than static.
• Thirty-six of 38 (95%) coaches follow a periodization model.
• 37 of 38 (97.4%) coaches indicated that their athletes used Olympic-style lifts.
• 37 of 37 (100%) coaches (who responded) used plyometric training with their athletes.
• The squat and its variations, as well as the Olympic-style lifts and its variations, were most frequently identified as the most important exercises prescribed.
• All coaches use speed development and agility training strategies with their athletes.

Duehring MD, Feldmann CR, Ebben WP. Strength and Conditioning Practices of United States High School Strength and Conditioning Coaches. J Strength Cond Res. 2009 Oct 12p