WORKOUT ATTENDANCE CHART

RISING 11th - 12th GRADE_________________RISING 9th-10th GRADE

I will upload the chart each week so you can see what is going on. I think we have some dedicated guys and I am real proud of them. Remember the weight room is open next week Monday through Thursday from 8-11am--They can workout anytime.

MENTAL TOUGHNESS!

As we were working out this morning, we finished up with a pretty tough run at the end. While we were doing it I started thinking about mental toughness and its affect on our performance. Here is what poppped up into my mind about mental toughness:

MENTAL TOUGHNESS is challenging kids to do more, expecting them to do more and holding them accountable to do more. As we do this we start to train their (our) minds in all areas of our lives. I was studying with two guys last night and after we went over the English words one time they were ready to be done. That is a process of training our minds to do something quick and get it over with. We feel satisfied that we did it and even may get the false sense of feeling prepared. I let them know that we will go over the words until we know all of them. Anything less would be developing weakness--bad habits. And it took us a long time but good habits were reinforced.

What is the difference between pushing on the last set of 6 suicides for perfection and pushing to know every last vocabulary word? Both of them require mental toughness. This is what we strive to develop. This is why I must be vigilant in not settling for excuses from these kids and myself as to why we can't workout or can't study. I get from them: its too early, I have wrestling, I have basketball, I have to study, etc. We must teach mental toughness...you will excel in your sport, lifting (preparation) for your sport and you will excel in the classroom. We will challenge them with this, expect this from them and hold them accountable in this area. College and life will be a breeze for these kids that accept the challenge! We must mold and shape them now! Teach them great habits now! If not, they will suffer later in life from the poor behavior we allowed to develop.

Mental Toughness is a habit. It is taught. It is developed. Let's make sure our kids have it!

CHRISTMAS BREAK LIFTING HOURS

Exam Week:

Before or after school--30 minute workout to maintain and relieve stress/anxiety.

1st week of break

Monday Dec 21st- Thursday Dec. 24th 8am-11am

Friday Dec. 25th - Monday Dec 28th- Weight room will be closed

Tuesday Dec 29th - Friday Jan 1st - 8-11 am

Monday Jan 4th - 8-11 am

Tuesday Jan 5th - Closed

Wednesday Jan 6th--Back to school--resume regular lifting schedule

To the left, is our commitment chart broken up in a 6 week cycle. Everyday is an opportunity to lift. You either get a W or L for each day because you either got better or you didn't. You should be lifting everyday. If you have a game then you will get a W for that day. If you are in season than I will only require 3 days a week and give you credit for the other two. However, I expect any varsity starter or anyone who expects to start on varsity to go over and above. Team Captains will be taken from this chart and other criteria...this being the main one!

Here are the avaiable times to lift during a regular school week so that all may lift:

6:00-7:00 Am
6:45-7:25 (for in season sport athletes only)
1st Period 8:00-8:40
4th Period 11:00-11:40
7th Period 2:20-3:00
After School 3:20-4:00

In season athletes are expected to lift 3 times a week. People who are not in season are expected to lift 5 times per week. Our goal is not to be average, but to maximize our ability through hard work and sacrifice. Does it hurt getting up at 6 to make a lift at 6:45? Do I have to sacrifice my TV watching at night in order to go to bed early enough to make this happen? YES--that is how we want it. Success does not come without a price. See the post below.

CHARGER WEIGHT LIFTING EXPECTATIONS

The preparation for 2010 has already started. I have challenged the seniors with not missing more than 3% of workouts between now and August 1st. We have been so close the past two years and I want to make sure we prepare to not lose in the 4th quarter ever again.

Byrnes High School in Spartanburg South Carolina is a nationally ranked football program year in and year out. Granted, they have some great athletes but there program has been built on hard work. Scott Fowler from the Charlotte Observer wrote a great article on the program appearing in the Charlotte Observer on Thursday, October 1st 2009. In this article the strength coach of Byrnes High School has some comments that has really motivated me to push harder and expect more:

The question was posed, "So what makes Byrnes so special?" Head strengh coach Michael Srock responds: "I'd say consistent and relentless...Everybody looks for the magic, the silver bullet. There is no silver bullet. It's because we work." For example, "The kids do get off for Christmas, Easter and one week at the end of July. That's it. We workout on Christmas Eve. We work out on New Year's Day. We work out on New Year's Eve. The don't need to be going to any New Year's parties--they're 16 years old. We lift weights on the Fourth of July at 8 a.m. no one has a Fourth of July picnic at 8 a.m., so get in here! On snow days, as long as you can make it safely into school , we work out at 3 p.m. People say the kids need a break! The kids don't need a break! The coaches might, but these kids are 16 years old!"

What a great mentality. We need to be training these kids for a tough life right now. I as well as many of you baby them and coddle them. We need to fix this. We need to demand more and get more. I've never seen it work where if you demand less you get less. Let's hold them accountable and make them work.