[Brooks4Prez]

I am a firm believer that working hard in the weightroom can make a huge difference for an individual as well as a team.

[Mama Bear]

I have read the benefits of weight lifting in this thread. I hope this questions isn't too off topic, but here goes: At what age should one begin weight lifting? Our 8th grader and even our 6th grader wants to "hit the weights" because they hear and read how important weight lifting is. We've allowed them to do very light weight and lots of reps. I'm a little afraid of all this weight lifting.

Someone mentioned injuries, I worry about proper form, I worry about getting in a room with other boys and by trying to show off (as boys do), somebody gets hurt. I worry about not stretching before or afterwards and how that will affect thier flexiblility and speed. To be honest, I worry more about the weight room than being injured on the field ..at the level they are playing right now.

[NIECE]

I have read the benefits of weight lifting in this thread. I hope this questions isn't too off topic, but here goes: At what age should one begin weight lifting? Our 8th grader and even our 6th grader wants to "hit the weights" because they hear and read how important weight lifting is. We've allowed them to do very light weight and lots of reps. I'm a little afraid of all this weight lifting.

Someone mentioned injuries, I worry about proper form, I worry about getting in a room with other boys and by trying to show off (as boys do), somebody gets hurt. I worry about not stretching before or afterwards and how that will affect thier flexiblility and speed. To be honest, I worry more about the weight room than being injured on the field ..at the level they are playing right now.

I would suggest around 13 years old. It is very important to stretch before and after to keep the muscles loose. Low weight and high reps should be okay as long as they are using the proper form. It has been proven that lifting too early can stunt the growth of a child. Just be careful with them and I would suggest asking your new head coach, he is one of the best coaches in the state.

[Patriot]

I am a firm believer that working hard in the weightroom can make a huge difference for an individual as well as a team.

I think that working hard in the weight room helps give a player confidence, but you can also tell a lot about a player by their work ethic in the weight room.

[dfblackcat53]

ALL THE DIFFERENCE! IMO
It has been argued on here that the weight room has no bearing and TEAMS ARE NOT MADE IN THE WEIGHT ROOM. I strongly disagree with that NIECE.
Stronger, Faster, Self confidence all are attributed to a good weight program. In your opinions, Just how important is " the weight room" to high school football players? Appreciate your input and opinions

I agree..Teams are made in the offseason

[youknowwhoibe]

Weight lifting certainly has its benefits, but kids shouldn't be lifting in middle school. I believe it's a little too much. Kids shouldn't be worried about hitting the weights at that age. However, for high school programs, I think weightlifting is great. It not only can help to make you stronger, it can also help to make you quicker (if you do Plyos) and help to build to team unity and discipline.

HOWEVER, weightlifting does not nearly make as big as a difference as practice makes in my mind. Weightlifting can help mold a player into someone who is strong and disciplined, but it does not make athlete. Athletes are born not built in my opinion, and from that point, it is a matter of harnessing this athleticism in practice through drills, watching film, etc. But, that is just my opinion, and it's fine if others disagree.

[Meaty]

Working hard in the weight room makes a HUGE difference on the field.

[cougarpride08]

we also need to add confidence in the mix...a running back needs to be confident when he hits that line, wr need to be confident when they run the routes..weight lifting gets if ready, but a great player is also a confident player.

[Real Badman]

Well without weight lifting how is an athlete to get stronger? Sure there is other ways but weight lifting and conditioning are the way to go. Thats what improve these young men that play football these days. When I played ball we didnt have a weight room, so my dad made me carry cinder blocks a half mile up the road. Im sure these young men who bust there *** each and every day in that weight room are glad they have that luxery.

[NIECE]

Weight lifting certainly has its benefits, but kids shouldn't be lifting in middle school. I believe it's a little too much. Kids shouldn't be worried about hitting the weights at that age. However, for high school programs, I think weightlifting is great. It not only can help to make you stronger, it can also help to make you quicker (if you do Plyos) and help to build to team unity and discipline.

HOWEVER, weightlifting does not nearly make as big as a difference as practice makes in my mind. Weightlifting can help mold a player into someone who is strong and disciplined, but it does not make athlete. Athletes are born not built in my opinion, and from that point, it is a matter of harnessing this athleticism in practice through drills, watching film, etc. But, that is just my opinion, and it's fine if others disagree.

Well put! Sounds like you know a bit about coaching and the importance of fundamentals. Believe you me, others will disagree.

[methodtothemadness]

Explain good fundamentals as you understand it, what are they ?

[EkyLb]

The weight room is like most other things in life. You get out of it what you put in. Ive yet to understand why there are still programs today who don't have mandatory 5 day a week weight lifting, if not participating in another sport.

[dadawgs]

Mandartory Weightlifting, No Way..
I agree that weightlifting is beneficial for the high school athelete. Making an athelete come 5 days a week is a little too much. Many high school kids don't have a lot of spending money and are trying to help out thier families and making it on their own. If the athelete (child) and the parent(s) think this is what they need to do everyone needs to be somebody.

[NIECE]

Russell Red Devils-- live in the weight room
Great Middle School program
Great JFL program-- our motto is- "Tradition starts here!"
it all goes together.

Estill lives in the weight room too. The only problem, it takes more than that. We both must face BREATHITT and it isn't pretty when that happens, however, Russell does play them better. I know Breathitt's coach and he does lift weights but I promise it is not their main focus. 3 state championships says enough, especially coming from Eastern Ky.

[NIECE]

Mandartory Weightlifting, No Way..
I agree that weightlifting is beneficial for the high school athelete. Making an athelete come 5 days a week is a little too much. Many high school kids don't have a lot of spending money and are trying to help out thier families and making it on their own. If the athelete (child) and the parent(s) think this is what they need to do everyone needs to be somebody.

If they are not 3 sport players, they need to be doing some type of weights and/or agilities. I understand about the money situation, that is why the coaches should be willing to take them home or pick them up if they need a ride. I agree that 5 days a week is a bit much, there comes a point when the body breaks down and cannot rebuild without rest. Most will go a month and take a week off for this reason.

[NIECE]

You would lose that bet. Russell's practices are not that tough. It is more about preparation for an opponent. Conditioning is done in the off season. Not that Coach McGlone is soft but he does not like to wear out his team by having them beat up on themselves in practice.

If you beat up on yourselves in practice, then it is definately more fun to beat up on others on Friday nights. And it does not hurt as bad either once you get used to it. A good example is last year Russell and Breathitt, Russell was stronger, bigger, more numbers, etc., but the outcome was in favor of Breathitt. They beat on each other throughout the week, 3 days anyway. Ol' country boys have to learn the hard way, and I feel the hard way still works.

[NIECE]

Are you saying Hilliard and Ben Howard wasn't?

Looks that way. Coach Howard is as intense as they come, I have seen his practices, they are gut wrenching.

[methodtothemadness]

There are lots of ways to skin a cat. Coaches vary on their approaches, I don't think you can say this is the only way to do it.

[methodtothemadness]

I would say Estill and Russell live in the weight room because of their style of play.

[BlackcatAlum]

I would say Estill and Russell live in the weight room because of their style of play.

Every successful football program lives in the weight room, the style of play doesn't matter.

[Some_Kid]

Weights make all the difference.

[EkyLb]

I would say Estill and Russell live in the weight room because of their style of play.

Estill may, I know Russell doesn't. Their are some kids who do pretty good. Majority of them do not lift much. 3 times a week is not lifting much for football. Look at most major HS programs. Someone let me know what Trinity and St. X do. I know any good team in Texas is in the weight room 5 days a week. Don't try playing at Ironton without lifting.

[EkyLb]

Mandartory Weightlifting, No Way..
I agree that weightlifting is beneficial for the high school athelete. Making an athelete come 5 days a week is a little too much. Many high school kids don't have a lot of spending money and are trying to help out thier families and making it on their own. If the athelete (child) and the parent(s) think this is what they need to do everyone needs to be somebody.

If thats what ya think, go ahead and check out any college program, or major HS program. Most of them have two-a-days during the season. In the year 2008 there really is no excuse in my eyes not to have this if your school and fans are serious about football. If not, then don't worry about it.

[NIECE]

If thats what ya think, go ahead and check out any college program, or major HS program. Most of them have two-a-days during the season. In the year 2008 there really is no excuse in my eyes not to have this if your school and fans are serious about football. If not, then don't worry about it.

Comparing college to high school is a bit much. That is like comparing jr. high to Varsity or worse. College's do it year around with the talent that they can get which is the best of the best. High school's don't have that luxury unless they have a good recruiting base (Private Schools). College players play one sport unless you get a Deon Sanders or Bo Jackson type player, so yes, they can lift during and after the season and all summer. The best high school athletes "generally" play two or three sports and excel at all.

[EkyLb]

Comparing college to high school is a bit much. That is like comparing jr. high to Varsity or worse. College's do it year around with the talent that they can get which is the best of the best. High school's don't have that luxury unless they have a good recruiting base (Private Schools). College players play one sport unless you get a Deon Sanders or Bo Jackson type player, so yes, they can lift during and after the season and all summer. The best high school athletes "generally" play two or three sports and excel at all.

There are plenty of non private HS's with mandatory lifting and conditioning. These are necessary for the program and the players. Its very tough for a kid who goes to a school that puts minimal effort into the weightlifting and conditioning program, to then go and try and adjust to a college program.

As stated before obviously multi-sport athletes are an exception.

Lets look at the major programs in the state, and see if they have mandatory weights.

St. X, Trinity, Male, Highlands, Lex Cath, NCC, Beechwood, Danville, Boyle Co., Lou. Cent., Belfry, Boone Co., Paducah, Bell Co, Rockcastle, Ashland. Go across the river Ironton, Portsmouth, Wheelersburg, Port. West.

I'd bet most of those teams have it, other programs should be following the lead of the top programs in the state/area, not sticking to 1970 standards.

[DevilsWin]

Estill may, I know Russell doesn't. Their are some kids who do pretty good. Majority of them do not lift much. 3 times a week is not lifting much for football. Look at most major HS programs. Someone let me know what Trinity and St. X do. I know any good team in Texas is in the weight room 5 days a week. Don't try playing at Ironton without lifting.

You don't play for Ironton if you don't lift. You may get a jersey but you won't play.

The reason Ironton had so much success in the 1980's and 1990's was because Coach Lutz was one of the first HS Coaches to have a mandatory weight program.

[NIECE]

There are plenty of non private HS's with mandatory lifting and conditioning. These are necessary for the program and the players. Its very tough for a kid who goes to a school that puts minimal effort into the weightlifting and conditioning program, to then go and try and adjust to a college program.

As stated before obviously multi-sport athletes are an exception.

Lets look at the major programs in the state, and see if they have mandatory weights.

St. X, Trinity, Male, Highlands, Lex Cath, NCC, Beechwood, Danville, Boyle Co., Lou. Cent., Belfry, Boone Co., Paducah, Bell Co, Rockcastle, Ashland. Go across the river Ironton, Portsmouth, Wheelersburg, Port. West.

I'd bet most of those teams have it, other programs should be following the lead of the top programs in the state/area, not sticking to 1970 standards.

St. X, Trinity, Highlands (UK prep), Lexington and Newport Catholic, Danville have an excellent recruiting base, except for Danville and maybe Highlands, tuition is paid at the other schools which makes them private. Boyle Co. may still have a mandatory weight program, but they are not what they used to be since Coach Smith left. So, that leads me to think coaching has a lot to do with it also. Beechwood has not been as dominate either since the departure of Coach Yeagle.

[methodtothemadness]

Good coaching in the weight room has alot to do with it, as I said before, weights can take a poor player to average, average to good, good to great.

[EkyLb]

St. X, Trinity, Highlands (UK prep), Lexington and Newport Catholic, Danville have an excellent recruiting base, except for Danville and maybe Highlands, tuition is paid at the other schools which makes them private. Boyle Co. may still have a mandatory weight program, but they are not what they used to be since Coach Smith left. So, that leads me to think coaching has a lot to do with it also. Beechwood has not been as dominate either since the departure of Coach Yeagle.

What does a recruiting base have to do with a mandatory weight program? Plus I don't think nearly as much recruiting goes on as people assume, if any at all. I think its more like they have developed a reputation for developing players for the next level, that kids with aspirations of playing college ball in the areas of these schools choose to attend them.

Anyone know if Lou. Cent. has mandatory weight lifting and conditioning? They have 4 or 5 D1 prospects on their team this year.

Not to mention local schools need a massive upgrade to their facilities. Ive seen just about all of them, and they are pretty sad to be honest. I know money is tight right now, but these things should have been replaced 10+ years ago.

[NIECE]

What does a recruiting base have to do with a mandatory weight program? Plus I don't think nearly as much recruiting goes on as people assume, if any at all. I think its more like they have developed a reputation for developing players for the next level, that kids with aspirations of playing college ball in the areas of these schools choose to attend them.

Anyone know if Lou. Cent. has mandatory weight lifting and conditioning? They have 4 or 5 D1 prospects on their team this year.

Not to mention local schools need a massive upgrade to their facilities. Ive seen just about all of them, and they are pretty sad to be honest. I know money is tight right now, but these things should have been replaced 10+ years ago.

It does not have anything to do with madatory weight lifting. However, it has a lot to do with a good athlete playing in his/her district or driving across county lines or across the city limits to play for a private school.