Should coaches make their players lift weights year around

[former_raider80]

In my opinion i think so what about you all?

[blackcatforever]

Every now and then kids need a break. They need to learn to be a kid, not just a football player. But yes, it is the only way to get them better and stronger because during the actual preseason and season, you have to learn plays and practice. It keeps kids in shape- instead of sitting on the couch exercising their thumb and eating potato chips, it gets them prepared for the season, helps them bond more with the team, etc. And in some ways, a lot of ways, keeps them out of trouble!

[PHSFAN]

Great answer...

[Kitty]

I agree. Does Belfry?
:wieghts: Every now and then kids need a break. They need to learn to be a kid, not just a football player. But yes, it is the only way to get them better and stronger because during the actual preseason and season, you have to learn plays and practice. It keeps kids in shape- instead of sitting on the couch exercising their thumb and eating potato chips, it gets them prepared for the season, helps them bond more with the team, etc. And in some ways, a lot of ways, keeps them out of trouble!

[Tough Turf]

Yes and no

I think 5 days a week off seanson in during 2 or 3 days a week

[CliffClavin]

Only if they want to win!

[KentuckyHillBilly5321]

Wow. No wonder why the mountain schools have a hard time beating the "powers that be".

Anyone who knows anything about weight lifting knows that you should NOT be lifting 5 days a week. You muscles have to repair their selves to get stronger/bigger. That doesn't happen if you are lifting 5 days a week. You want to lift, heal, lift, heal . . . . etc. You don't want to lift, lift, lift, lift, lift, heal. You get very little strength gain.

Being from NKY (and a team that historically competes for the state championship every year--we never lift more than 3 days a week. Plus--we don't see a lot of injuries--because our kids ALWAYS get a chance to HEAL.

This post has been enlightening.

[MCHS_FBALL#14]

yes football teams are made in the offseason lift 3 days a week i prefer lifting mondays,wensdays, and thursday

[HeartOFaChampion]

IMO they should get 2 weeks off and coaches make them start hitting the weights slowly but then step it up and push the play to go harder in the weightroom. And if the schools have a weightlifting class let them take that to just to get into shape. If players get along rest out of the weightroom they will lose everything that they had during the year before.:yesno:

[former_raider80]

I think players should lift easy in the offseason then in preseason players should lift hard....thats how i done it

[HappyGilmore]

Wow. No wonder why the mountain schools have a hard time beating the "powers that be".

Anyone who knows anything about weight lifting knows that you should NOT be lifting 5 days a week. You muscles have to repair their selves to get stronger/bigger. That doesn't happen if you are lifting 5 days a week. You want to lift, heal, lift, heal . . . . etc. You don't want to lift, lift, lift, lift, lift, heal. You get very little strength gain.

Being from NKY (and a team that historically competes for the state championship every year--we never lift more than 3 days a week. Plus--we don't see a lot of injuries--because our kids ALWAYS get a chance to HEAL.

This post has been enlightening.

You know, NKY arrogance is borderline obnoxiousness.:Puke: I am 100% positive that no EKY program soley lifts weights 5 days a week.

The ones I know that are active 5 days a week have this sort of schedule.

Monday - weights
Tuesday - agility drills
Wednesday - weights
Thursday - agility drills
Friday - one or the other

But thanks for reminding me once again that we are beneath you, and for also letting me know why its great to be a country boy.:champ:

[KentuckyHillBilly5321]

You know, NKY arrogance is borderline obnoxiousness.:Puke: I am 100% positive that no EKY program soley lifts weights 5 days a week.

The ones I know that are active 5 days a week have this sort of schedule.

Monday - weights
Tuesday - agility drills
Wednesday - weights
Thursday - agility drills
Friday - one or the other

But thanks for reminding me once again that we are beneath you, and for also letting me know why its great to be a country boy.:champ:

Happy--

Good to see that that HUGE CHIP is still on your shoulder. Whether you like it or not--there are some very big differences in the ways that NKY schools do things compared to the way that things are being described here (remember--I am going off the stupid comments of someone from your area--I am not just pulling things out of the air).

But, while you speak of arrogance--I will take my 8 rings over your 2 any day of the week and twice on Sunday.

In addition, your 5 day schedule still does not give the student-athlete an adequate chance for their muscles to heal. The agility drills would be better placed on Monday/Friday as opposed to taking up 2 potential rest days.

Is there a difference--ABSOLUTELY! Anyone who has any clue as to how the body works should understand this one.

If you consider that arrogance--good for you. I have to be honest, some of the "theories" I have heard on strength training from your part of the state are alarming. Also, you guys HAVE THE ADDED BENEFIT OF HAVING STRENGTH/CONDITIONING AS A CLASS IN SCHOOL! Are you kidding me? I would hate to see how bad we would maul the rest of the state if we could take weightlifting as a class in NKY.

The funny thing is--I have a LOT of respect for teams from EKY. I DON'T have any respect for people like you who SEEM TO USE IT AS A CRUTCH. Straight up--some of the ideas from down that way don't even seem logical. Or at the very least--don't seem like they are in line with common sense.

Bring on a few more insults. I am bored today anyway.

[Football24_7]

Happy--

In addition, your 5 day schedule still does not give the student-athlete an adequate chance for their muscles to heal. The agility drills would be better placed on Monday/Friday as opposed to taking up 2 potential rest days.


Then I guess the majority of Div. 1 programs out there know nothing about giving THEIR athletes "an adequate chance for their muscles to blah, blah, blah."

There is a principle in strength and conditioning that says for every rep of a 'push' there should be a 'pull.'

There is nothing in the literature that says it is detrimental to the development of the muscle group if these two different exercises are done on the SAME muscle group on SUCCESSIVE days.

This is similar to the idea that doing AGILITY work involving a muscle group that was worked on the day before somehow "hurts" the recovery of that muscle.

So, by your way of thinking, Michael Jordan (and virtually every other NBA player today) is doing something wrong when they lift (resistance work) one day, then PLAY the next (NBA teams play basically every other day)??? Not at all! The muscles they used the day before in resistance work are actually BENEFITING from the ELONGATION in the muscle fibers they're getting through shooting, running, cutting, jumping, etc.

Further, CORE STRENGTH (abs, lower back, hip flexors) are made up of a type of muscle fiber that is EXTREMELY resilient and actually BENEFITS from less than 48-hours recovery between workouts (evidenced by the fact that these muscles don't "grow" like other muscle groups with exhaustive work).

I've done a "little" ;) work on this stuff in my past.

Hillbilly (no need for anyone on here to have a "chip" on their shoulder towards someone with such a complimentary nickname like your's huh, by the way?), wondering what exactly is YOUR background in strength and conditioning and human kinesthesiology/sports science?

[i-dono]

I believe there are 2 different reasons for lifting: lifting for say football, and lifting for the beach. I f you lift for football, and you have the right program, you can LIFT 3 days a week Monday-Friday. Say, Mon. Wed. and Fri. are the "lift days" then Tues. and Wed. should soley be dedicated to speed and agility.

IMO lifting for the beach, or body, should be done 5 days a week, but hiting dfifferent mucle groups every day. ex. Mon. chest, Tues, back, Wed. legs, Thurs. Shoulders, and Fri. arms. Also Cardio about 2-3 days a week.

Just my oppinnion.

[Tampa2]

More than 1 way to skin a cat.

[WOW]

Successful programs are going to have some type of conditioning/strength program all year. Especially for those players who are not playing another sport.

[Midee1]

I could argue this all day. I've worked out 5 days a week. 3 days a week on a push/pull/legs split. I have also did a every other day full body workout. If you are making gains doing what you are doing then keep at it. If you plateau then switch things up. The one thing that I will say that many may argue is that diet is the most important part of any weight training program. You can lift and lift and lift and if your diet sucksthen you will make minimal gains because you are not giving you body sufficient nutrition to repair damage and grow muscles. The main thing that youngsters need to concentrate on is getting plenty of protien (1-1.5grams per lb of body weight) and allow yourself enough carbs to keep your energy up on lifting days. With all the Test these young men are producing they should grow like weeds if they eat and train right. I have seen to many youngsters (my son included) try to lift what their buddy is lifting and really make no progress because they are cheating. They should chart their progress in a notebook and try to up weights or reps every session and quit worrying about what Jos Blow is doing.

[Enigma]

I feel that a coach should incourage his players to lift whenever he/she can in order to keep his/her body in shape. That being said, I do not think that heavy lifting year round is a good idea, but I do think that light to moderate lifting 2-3 times a week is wise if a kid wants to be the best he.she can be.

[Football24_7]

I feel that a coach should incourage his players to lift whenever he/she can in order to keep his/her body in shape. That being said, I do not think that heavy lifting year round is a good idea, but I do think that light to moderate lifting 2-3 times a week is wise if a kid wants to be the best he.she can be.

I LOVE this approach -- "light-to-moderate lifting 2-3 times a week"...

...for ALL MY OPPONENTS!!! :)!

[Tampa2]

24/7, where do you coach?

What kind of workout does your team do?

[BC75]

haha yes u think their should be lifting year round but not everyday, but according to some caoches i know young people can't get worn down. lol

[BC75]

sorry bout that, i think

[football dad]

If the kid wants to excell at football you shouldnt have to make them, they"ll be knocking down the door to get in the weight room..Strength conditioning is the most important part of it, the stronger a kid is the least likely to get hurt...I got a 14 yr old benching over 200lb right now getting ready for his first year of varsity and he only weighs 185 5"10....only motivation he needed was the 2-8 season they had last year......

[sf_football]

every coach in every sport should make there players lift wieghts

[SVHSFootball]

I think that players should only lift 3 day's a week for the first month or so of lifting when they get back into it after the season..I prefer Monday..Wednesday..Friday...than after their body's have adapted to the heavy lifting..you go to Monday.. Tuesday.. Thursday.. Friday..Because after a while the body becomes adapted and needs less time to heal...

[PC_U_KNOW_98]

Every now and then kids need a break.

Exactly, when the football season is over the players should get until after Christmas break before they hit it hard. Weightlifting and conditioning should be MANDATORY to ALL players who aren't involded with another sport. I don't agree with some football coaches MAKING players who also play basketball lift weights, that player should be concentrating on basketball, same goes for baseball, it messes with arm motion and swing. I do agree with the players who participate in track and field lifting weights. And no team should lift more than 3-4 days a week.

[ACE]

Exactly, when the football season is over the players should get until after Christmas break before they hit it hard. Weightlifting and conditioning should be MANDATORY to ALL players who aren't involded with another sport. I don't agree with some football coaches MAKING players who also play basketball lift weights, that player should be concentrating on basketball, same goes for baseball, it messes with arm motion and swing. I do agree with the players who participate in track and field lifting weights. And no team should lift more than 3-4 days a week.

I agree

[Football24_7]

same goes for baseball, it messes with arm motion and swing.

THIS "OLD-WIVES TALE" IS SUCH B.S. and stated out of such IGNORANCE of what's true about HUMAN PHYSIOLOGY and SPORT SCIENCE!!!

What you are talking about -- "hurting the swing of a baseball player" -- would be caused by BODYBUILDING!!!! (doing exercises to SHORTEN the muscle, thereby making it "bulge" and making the person look "bulky").

WE'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT "BODYBUILDING!"

A GOOD, WELL-THOUGHT-OUT weight program for a HS athlete should be based on building strength through MOVEMENT!!!

Correct lifting in the off-season (and even IN-season) should actually INCREASE flexibility WHILE increasing STRENGTH!!!!

VIRTUALLY EVERY PROFESSIONAL BASEBALL AND BASKETBALL PLAYER (AND EVEN TIGER WOODS, THE BEST GOLFER EVER -- IN A SPORT THAT NEEDS MORE UPPER-BODY FLEXIBILITY THAN ANY) DOES FREE-WEIGHT STRENGTH TRAINING BASED ON BUILDING STRENGTH WITH FLEXIBILITY BY DOING MOVEMENT LIFTS!

Let's look at the previous assumption in today terms:

...so if LIFTING and getting STRONGER is such a bad thing for a baseball player's swing, why is it being said that many of the great power hitters today getting into steriods gives them an unfair ADVANTAGE???

If lifting and getting stronger HURTS a baseball player's swing, wouldn't then Barry Bonds, Mark McGwire, Rafael Palmiero, Jose Canseco, etc, etc, have doing something to put them at a DISADVANTAGE?

Seems to me, they're WANTING to do steriods...wanting to get STRONGER...LIFTING to get stronger...because it makes them a BETTER hitter!!!!

Hurts your swing...wow. I thought baseball and basketball people were finally starting to come around with all the SCIENTIFIC and REAL-LIFE EVIDENCE out there, but I guess I was wrong.

[football player]

i think they should. sf has been lifting all year. coach gave us a two week break after we lost to paintsville but ever since we have been lifting except for christmas break

[45countertrap]

**** ya

[roadrunner]

They sould lift year round. Remember that old saying if you dont use it you'll lose it.

[Horse Head]

if you want to win you have to be strong and fast work for it .

[HawkNation]

i guess i have 2 veiws personnaly on the subject... yes, it is great to see players lifting year round... but i dont think it is exactly the best thing to make players that play more than just football lift constantly

[ShakeandBake]

all teams should lift 4 days a week

*monday- upperbody
*tuesday- lower body
*wednesday- upper body
*thursday- lower body
focus on certain mucles certain days and then get the rest of the week to recover. this is if u want to get good

[HIT ME]

Lifting is excellent mental and physical exercise.

[OLINEGUY]

Absolutely!!

[BruteForce01]

Coaches shouldnt have to make their players do anything. Palyers should have enough drive heart and love for the game and want to go in at 140 bp and 400 lp and surprise the other teams next year with a new strength of 200 bp and almosst 600 lp. You dont love the sport unless you are the sport. So be a sport and show us what ur made of

[The Cheem]

Ahh yes but Kids need the time to be kids, you all are acting like kids are machines, Kids are kids they want to have fun, I myself am a Kid, and I've seen from personal expericene that kids grow up to fast. I myself want to stay as young as I can.

These kids should do stuff like eb kids get out of the house adn run around and be kids. Play some school yard ball. get out Have fun be kids. but as soon as your dead period is over kids should get into the weight room for 1 hour to an hour and a half 3 times a week.

[Football24_7]

Play some school yard ball. get out Have fun be kids. but as soon as your dead period is over kids should get into the weight room for 1 hour to an hour and a half 3 times a week.

Sounds like a great off-season workout plan...for a CHURCH-LEAGUE team!

Sorry, but if you want to be COMPETITIVE against other SCHOOLS, and those other schools LIFT year-round, how could you EVER hope to compete by doing what you said (which I read as "do whatever you want from the end of the season until July 9th every year...then start lifting 3 times a week)???

[Smokey]

Sounds like a great off-season workout plan...for a CHURCH-LEAGUE team!

Sorry, but if you want to be COMPETITIVE against other SCHOOLS, and those other schools LIFT year-round, how could you EVER hope to compete by doing what you said (which I read as "do whatever you want from the end of the season until July 9th every year...then start lifting 3 times a week)???

You can do this if you are ok being mediocre at best.

24 7, you are exactly right. If you want to compete, you must train seriously....in every aspect of training.