(Revised August 2018)

The summer is winding down and coaches are beginning to set their sights on the beginning of a successful program for this year.  In this mini-blog series I’d like to ask about your planning process and how to evaluate your program. What worked well in your program design and implementation last year?  What didn’t work very well and maybe even fell short?  What technology tools did you use to monitor your program?  What nutritional assessments were used in your program?  Did you succeed in the areas you wanted to?  Did your program succeed in any areas you didn’t expect to?

For years I’ve invested the last few weeks of the summer evaluating my programs as best I can.  This year I’d like to invite you to join the process through these four blogs and explore some ways you could design a more successful program in this coming year!

Plan your work and work your plan.

The purpose of this series is to share some tried-and-true methods I’ve used to build a successful planning process.  I’ve found that planning takes time, skill, and practice.  I’ve learned to make careful observations and implement feedback mechanisms along the way which breathe life into a program.

Part 1:  What are some ways to evaluate your program?

Part 2:  What are some ways to deliver and monitor the progress of your programs?  Do you utilize the correct technology tools?

Part 3:  What kinds of nutritional assessments will work best for your program?

Part 4:  How do you piece together the different areas of your program?

Step 1: Long-term reflection is required to develop a long-term training plan.

Many coaches agree and appreciate how powerful a well-delivered plan can be in preparing for success.  Sport coaches invest hours on their game plan.  How much time should strength coaches invest on their plan? What did you do last year during the first week of your training program?  I’d guess that you have it recorded digitally or physically somewhere and could look it up.  What were the target/s for training during the first cycle?  This year your group of athletes’ has probably changed some so how will you vary the weeks to accommodate these differences?

• Use assessment tools for movement, nutritional, and training experience

• Use questionnaires about what activities they have done over the summer

• Use goal building sessions to develop motivation and build expectations

I currently use overhead squats, push-ups, and sit-ups as assessment tools.  I currently video the overhead squat to mark progress.  In the area of nutrition I have a simple assessment for hydration, protein, and meal timing.  This year I’d like to make this resource available digitally by using google docs.  Last year I did some training history with bigger groups like the winter conditioning program and this year streamlining the process would be even more helpful.

The honest reflection is required to get my program started off well.  Long-term reflection is required to build the program better each year.  I’ve found that many coaches and trainers will expect last year’s program to get better results this year.  I don’t believe this is the correct approach because I think you’ve grown as a coach and the group changes.  The assessments and monitoring should grow if coaches expect the group to get better.

Step 2: What coaching support and education tools will be needed this year?

I’ve learned over the years that there are usually more needs than can be met in the short term of a program design.  The key to success is narrowing down what is needed versus what is wanted.  The method of Block Periodization by Vladimir Issuin says to focus on two compatible physiological targets in a single meso-cycle.  Once these things are targeted then the assessments can happen, goals can be made, and expectations be built.   I prioritize what is the most important thing to bring about success.

I start with what support will be needed for success.  This produces coaches in key roles that will provide better hands-on technique training for the program.  I’ve develop a system to train our volunteers or others that will assist in the program.  We start small with reviewing exercise techniques cues (15-20 seconds) and then using good communication skills.  Doing this will serve your program well and create sustainable growth as you start off the year.  In 2017, I created a digital mentoring guide for my coaching assistants and found it effective to reinforce the direction of our program.  Here is the link if you want to check out the mentoring guide. Also, I look for opportunities to sell the strength program to create buy-in so everyone has the opportunity to join in the successful experience.

• Create a support system for those in your program

• Develop education tools (will talk more about this in Part II & III)

• Sell your program to all those involved in the process

Step 3: What equipment resources are needed this year?

Many times this is where strength coaches can be tempted to begin the process of planning for a better year. How can a doctor know what type of tool to use if the problem hasn’t been assessed yet?  There are many ways a good coach is like a good doctor.  My primanry doctor and I have a great relationship.  I’ve been helping him with his fitness over the last 10 years and can see how he assess a problem I might have and provide a prescription.  As a coach, I’m trained to see these problems too (lack of good technique, upper body strength, power deficit, etc.).  It is my job to put a program in place by designing an appropriate exercise prescription, and then give an appropriate dose over time get results.

So, when gathering the appropriate equipment, you should always address the known problems that are found.  In may experience, I think about the history of the group from last year and ask what will the new problems be this year?  Last year, I acquired some long rubber 5 lb tubing of to do overhead squats patterns.  This one exercise really helped our transition into the front squatting technique to regular squatting.

In conclusion, the planning process takes some honest long-term reflection, a healthy dose of support from others, and the right equipment to help reach the desired goals.  Many coaches have great intentions for the year but the real questions is how those intentions become reality.  If you desire to achieve higher levels of success this year, follow this series on planning.  If you have some feedback about what I’ve written please let me know by adding a comment below!

Chris Morland, MS, CSCS

MorlandSTRENGTH CEO

Educator and Coach | Visionary in High School Strength and Conditioning
Director of Strength and Conditioning at Cardinal Gibbons High School | Teacher

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