The Training Year: Act 4 - Summer Programs (Take Home and On-Campus)
It’s done! The Summer Training program is in the hands of the athletes that care enough to pick it up. Screw the other chuckleheads that chose not to get their road map for success over the summer. Over the last few summers I’ve gotten a little too fancy with the take home programs. In the […]
4-Week Training Cycle Progression Idea
This is a progression idea that I’ve been thinking about for our summer training. It’s based off of what I do in-season. It’s nothing magical. I’m just sticking to a couple basic ideas that seem to hold true regardless of your goal (athlete, lifter, suburban commando, etc…). In this case, this progression is for football […]
The Training Year: Act 3 - Spring Practice
Spring Football is upon us. We get 5 weeks of training and 4 weeks of football. I kind of like tis because I get to introduce the in-season training a week before practice officially starts. When we played our covid season last spring and then again this past fall I opted not to Squat. This […]
The Training Year: Winter Team Training - Act 2 1/2: Winter Training Ove...
We just finished out Winter Team Training. As usual, we didn’t follow the plan exactly as it was written. The plan got us going in a direction and adjustments were made along the way. Nothing out of the ordinary. And nothing we did was terribly innovative or fancy. Yet, somehow, it worked? The Winter was […]
The Training Year: Act 1 - Take Home Winter Training Manuals
Take Home Manuals are always fun. For Fall sports they're starting their new training cycle right now (preparation for next fall). For anyone involved in collegiate strength and conditioning you know that it's hit or miss if the athletes will actually follow the program. There are always a few that just follow it to the […]
Training Results and Some Things of Note
We put another semester under our belt. There were some slight adjustments to the program, but in general, it has stayed intact. I'll go over a few of the things that I find important or interesting. 1-Train too light This isn't news to anyone, but I think it bares repeating. There's very little need for […]
A Few Thoughts on Job/GA Opportunities for Young Coaches - Maybe some th...
I hired 2 new GA's over the summer. One of them is not good. The other one was pretty good. They ended up getting another opportunity that, on paper, they couldn't pass up. I advised them to take the opportunity and here's why: School, books and stipend (we can only offer school) FBS football (we're […]
Some Thoughts on Prioritizing My Own Workouts
For those that do follow me, I'm sorry I haven't been posting much. The beginning of the semester is always busy. On top of the normal, I had two new assistants. Getting them taught and up to speed is a lot of work. I'm not sure how other people handle new assistants, but I'm a […]
In-Season Football
We are two weeks into the season. I have a good set-up for how these lifts will go. It's organized, simple and leaves a lot of room for variety if I want to give it to them. With two lifts a week I'm trying to get as many different movements in without overdoing it. I […]
Pre-Season Camp is Over and We're Into the Fall Season
Here’s a brief look at the tentative training plans for Football, Women’s Soccer and Cross Country/Track for the Fall In-Season.
Summer Football Training - End of Cycle 3 - Results and Some Thoughts
This has been a good summer for the football team. We have some work ahead of us, but the improvements they have made, beyond just strength, are awesome.
Summer Football - Cycle 3
Summer Football - Cycle 3 (Final Training Cycle of the Summer). SOme thoughts and observations of what I've seen over the last 7 weeks.
Summer Football Training - Cycle 1 and Cycle 2
This is a brief review of the first 3 week cycle I ran with football in June and the set-up for the second 3 week cycle.
Summer Training Progression
Training Cycle Progression for the summer. I'm not breaking new ground. Just taking an idea and manipulating it.
Summer Football Training - Volume 3: Strength/Power
Volume 3 of my Summer Football Program. 12 weeks of training ideas that may be of use to you.
How I Write Programs: Epsisode 9 - Running
How I Write Programs: Episode 10 - Running (a little delayed). A little insight into my running plan.
Different Progression Ideas
A bunch of different training cycle/progression ideas that might give you some ideas of your own.
Summer Football Training - Volume 2: Strength/Hypertrophy
Summer Football Training - Volume 2. This briefly outlines the running and lifting plan for June (4 weeks).
Summer Football Training - Volume 1: Reconditioning/Hypertrophy
Summer Football Training - Volume 1: Reconditioning/Hypertrophy. In reality, you can do this with any team. This just happens to be exactly what I'm doing with football. Softball is doing a very similar template with a few tweaks based on them being an overhead sport.
In-Season Football - Round 4 1/2
In-Season Football - Round 4 1/2 piggy backs on the previous installment. I had some great results this spring. Better than I had anticipated.
Also, I trimmed my beard. It's not as awesome as it was in the picture.
In-Season Football - Round 4
In-season - Round 4: Pushing Bench numbers up in-season? Definitely stumbled onto some good information for this fall.
In-Season Football - Round 3
I've stuck to the program, for the most part. Slight changes here and there, but the integrity of the plan is still intact. Changes I dropped the Pull-ups with the Trap Bar (not sure if I mentioned this in the last installment). I heard a few guys "complaining" about their hands. I get this during […]
Testing/Strength Check Results - Not Surprising
Training light and progressing slowly works every time. Testing results for our Cheerleading Team.
In-Season Football - Round 2
In-Season Football - Round 2
Not much to report. I'm taking that as a good thing.
In-Season Football - Round 1
We have transitioned to the in-season. Here's an updated look at what my plan is. I've identified a few areas of concern and I'll adjust as we go.
Pre-Season into In-Season Football
Matt Rhodes oversees the strength and conditioning program at Morehead State. He works directly with football, men's and women's basketball, volleyball, baseball, and softball.
A Real Strength Coaches Guild To Writting Training Programs
From Matt's Coaching Blog Part One I'm sure I've done something like this before. This process is evolving all the time. Not a lot has changed, but there's always a new "twist" as I try to improve what I do. My latest "improvement" is due to an intern that actually wants to be a […]
How I Write Programs: Episode 8 - The Fluff
Episode 8: The Fluff - All the little exercises that fill in the blanks in your program.
How I Write Programs: Episode 7 - My Exercise Pool (Puddle)
Episode 7: My exercise puddle. The few exercises that I use over and over. We're going to get very proficient in the weight room this semester.
How I Write Programs: Episode 6 - The Warm-up
Episode 6: The Warm-up. Technically, this isn't part of writing a program, but it's part of the program so...
How I Write Programs: Episode 5 - Choosing Exercises for the Circuits
Episode 5 in this critically acclaimed article series deals with how I choose exercises for my circuits based on what my Main and Supplemental Lifts for the day are.
How I Write Programs: Episode 4 - Pairing Main and Supplemental Lifts
Espisode 4 - Main and Supplemental Lifts. How I pair them to improve Main Lift performance.
How I Write Programs: Episode 3 - Hypertrophy v. Strength Cycles?
Episode 3: Strength v. Hypertrophy Cycles. Some of the ideas I use to put together a Training Cycle.
How I Write Programs: Episode 2 - Sets and Reps
Episode 2: Sets and Reps in a training cycle. This is just how I do it. It's very open to your own training style and what you're trying to accomplish.
Some Random Thoughts
Early morning thoughts on a half a pot of coffee and a 15 minute drive into work.
A Few Weeks in the Weight Room
It's been a while since I've posted. I have this pesky full-time job that's getting in the way. As usual, I couldn't resist talking about my training, but there are some strength and conditioning thoughts, as well.
We're Back (until the powers that be screw it up for everyone)
Some athlete training catch up and everybody's favorite subject - my training.
ARTC 7 - 3 Full Weeks
Quick recap of the first 3 weeks and an intro to what's ahead. Things may change, but there's a plan in place with contingencies.
ARTC 6 - 1 Full Week
Week 1 in the books with results that I'm pretty damn happy with! I'm either: 1.) genius because I did my research or 2.) I got lucky. Place your bets.
Athletes Return To Campus Training 5 - They're Here (some of them)
Hands on with some football players for the first time since March... life is starting to feel right (if the government doesn't screw us, again).
My Training - Week 1 (Bench/Deadlift)
Enjoying my last few weeks of free time as we prepare for the return of athletes to campus.
My Training - Week 1 (Press/Squat)
My "new" training cycle has begun with a bang. Vacation didn't mess up my routine like it usually does. Am I maturing?
Football Summer Training: Tenative 5-Day Template
My plan for when I get my hands on our football team.
Athletes Return to Campus Training 3
It seems we have a date to start training our athletes. Hopefully, things keep moving in the direction they seem to be moving in.
Training - Week 5 (75%)
Week 5 done! Training hasn't been exceptional, but it's very consistent. I like that.
Training - Week 4 (85%)
Week 4 in the books. Some good things happened and this train is continuing to roll forward. It better. My emergency brake is broken.
Athlete's Return to Campus Training 2
Episode 2 of athletes return to campus training ideas. You might agree or disagree with me, but hopefully it helps you figure out your own plan.
Training - Week 3 (70%)
Week 3 of my training cycle - deload. Good week of training and an even better improvement in my overall daily life routine.
Athlete's Return to Campus Training Thoughts
WARNING: This is a very "train of thought" article. I put absolutely no forethought into this. I don't know how intelligible it is. The random thoughts that popped into my head came out on the page.
Training - Week 7 (Heavy)
Another solid week under my belt. Despite my early mistake of thinking it was a Heavy Week when it was supposed to be a Light Week.
Training - Week 6 - Moderate
Another week under my belt. Obviously, I'm very lucky that I have the ability to train with everything going on. I'm not setting any records, but I'm just plugging along accumulating work.
The Apocalypse and What We Have To Do Next
Look at that beard in the picture. Beautiful, right? I screwed up trimming and had to bring it down to the biggest attachment on the clippers and start over. Sad.
Training - Week 5 (Light)
Beginning of a new experiment with the template. Seems like I may have a new focus and that's always a good thing.