Major Blog Post #3

I have chosen to write my week three blog post on a Thursday because my lifting session with my athletes as well as school for St. Vincent St. Mary HS is cancelled tomorrow, the 23rd, because our boys basketball team has made it to the state playoffs down in Columbus. 

Although this week was a short week and it may seem like there might not be much to post about, it is actually quite the opposite because I had the opportunity to experience a different kind of lifting week.  Monday and Tuesday were both early release days, which meant the athletes had a lot of time between the end of school and my lifting start time.  Since, I work full time, my head coach and I decided to keep lifting as scheduled and everyday it began at 3:00 p.m.  Since the first two days were early release, attendance numbers were down since many athletes, once they left school, were not able to come back for lifting.  This was a challenge that was foreseen and addressed the week before. 

Wednesday, however, was not a challenge that was prepared for.  Wednesday, was a snow day for the school, which meant my athletes would be away from campus until lifting began.  In our football program, we use a piece of technology called Hudl.  In this application, we send, share. watch and breakdown film.  I also use this application to communicate with my eighty some athletes.  When I received the call in the morning that school would be closed, I jumped on Hudl after speaking with my head coach and my school's administration and messaged my athletes that lifting would go on as scheduled.  Wednesday was also a lower attendance day. 
In a snowball like effect, today was also a low attendance day because of the altered week schedule. 

As I stated above, Friday there will be no lifting.  I bring all this up because I have now altered my strength program schedule.  Next week was supposed to be a very low intensity week, somewhat of an off week, because we are at that point where body recovery is a necessity.  I now have decided to make this week our recovery week and next week will resume as a higher intensity week.  My athletes will have a long weekend of three full days of body recovery. 

With lower numbers each day, before our lift began, I made changes to accommodate the attendance.  Monday was still our lower body day, but I incorporated low intensity lifts such as speed squats, band workouts, and core exercises.
Picture 1

Tuesday and Wednesday, I again made similar changes to lower intensity.
Picture 2

Today was again a less intense day, which included more body weight and corrective lifts.
Picture 3

Since my max results from last week showed that some athletes benefited from the heavier, muscle building lifts and some benefited from the lower intensity, speed, and corrective type lifts, our three week preparation for our next max week will incorporate both styles of lifts to accommodate both types of athletes.  I was glad I was able to experience a week like this because it made me think on the fly and problem solve on the spot.  I had to make game time adjustments to have the most beneficial week.  I am also looking forward to the three day weekend because sometimes coach needs an off week too.