As we begin preparation for year two at Mercer County High School (KY), we are making progress but still have much to do. One area that we have had to adjust has been our June workouts. Although we had made progress, our overall strength as a team still needed substantial improvement.
Our team council met twice at the end of May. The first meeting was to set up our June workouts. The second meeting was to draft teams for competition during the month. In the first meeting, our council decided the following point values: attending 1 workout would earn 1 point. A new bench, clean, or squat max at the end of June would earn 5 points. Because we want our guys to play multiple sports, we told them that any baseball or basketball athlete that came to a workout would earn two points. Those sports are the priority in June. In July, football will be the priority.
The council decided that the winning team would have dinner at a local restaurant. We will use ‘QB Club’ money to pay for their meal.
We wanted to complete each workout in one hour. Athletes were expected to attend at least two workouts a week. Each workout began with running ropes. From there, we ran our conditioning. We still use Danville & Highlands Coach Tom Duffy’s Jingle Jangles (40 yards down & back, 15 seconds to run it, 15 to rest, then repeat. A one minute rest after every four). We either ran Jingle Jangles (we call them “Titans”…. at Paris High School they were “Greyhounds”…. at Mason High School they were “Royals”) or a variation of them. After that, we went to the weight room. Coach Chuck Miller is our strength coach and he did a great job with the intensity of the workouts. He pushed our kids and we got a lot done. In addition to the core lifts we wanted to get done, Coach Miller had some greatresults using sleds & bands. We have an indoor facility with turf that helped make that work more convenient.
Attendance was strong for the workouts. It can always be better, but overall I was pleased with our kids and their commitment to getting there. Once they were there, the effort was good.
Most of our guys got at least one new max. A handful had multiple new maxes. This was the first time as a head coach that I felt like we needed to max out in June.
I do believe our kids are stronger but are still learning how to lift, max out, and attack the weight room. I think this because back before spring practice, we were looking at selling a sled that a previous staff had bought that was exceptionally heavy. It was a collegiate style sled. The coach that bought it told me that is was much heavier than he expected it to be. Another coach between me and the one that bought it told me that he had planned to sell it as well but had been unable to raise the money to sell it & and buy a new one. We struggled moving that sled in the fall. This spring, our kids did a great job with this heavy sled. We are going to keep it!
Without a doubt, we are stronger. Without a doubt, we still have work to do and tremendous room for improvement.
Overall, our June was a success. We will get after it again starting July 11th.
Also, I really like having a team council. They help me with decisions and have input with me throughout the season and off-season. I also use them to explain the reasoning behind the adult decisions that I must make at times. Even when I have to make a tough decision, they at least get a chance to say what is on their mind and if they disagree. Generally, if I do a good job of explaining why we will do what we are going to do, the kids are supportive. I think our council helps to keep our locker room together through the rough times a program can experience.
The council is elected by class. It is set up so that there are always more seniors and only 1 or 2 sophomores.
Which brings me to my final point and pulls it all together… June, getting stronger, our council, the locker room, etc. I am biased but I have always thought, at all 3 schools (Paris, Mason & Mercer) that my kids were great kids. I am excited that I am getting ready for another season with a group of great young men!