September/October 2019 - 61

complete athletic program buy-in to year-round strength
and performance training. "
The contract hours for the strength coaches requires
a work schedule that spans all seasons and a schedulepacked
summer that can run weekdays from 6 a.m. to 1
p.m. As each season passes, differentiated programming is
mandated, where offseason versus in-season designs are
implemented to foster the best training climate for studentathletes.
Between regular weights classes during the school
day and after-school sports performance programming,
more than 400 students and athletes are served within the
weight room spaces on a daily basis. This includes a girls
athletics weights class and a second athletics class held at
the end of the regular school day. The benefits of these new
structures to support sports performance training is highly
evident within the football program.
" We have seen significant gains in a very short period
of time, " Novotny said. " When I arrived, we had one
300-pound squatter, zero 200-pound cleaners, and one
225-pound bencher. We now average 15 to 20 football
players squatting 350 pounds for a three-rep max, 15 to 20
players power cleaning 225 pounds or more, and 15 to 20
athletes bench pressing 225 pounds or more. It has and will
continue to be transformational for our football program. "
The cause of such gains stems from a strategic approach
to athlete performance evaluation that coaches Holland
and Dion have applied to refine and enhance their craft.
Based on physiological principles, training designs are
constructed from observations and functional movement
screening. By nature, some athletes are more innately
strong or flexible than others, so customizing a program
that reduces injury while increasing power, strength, speed
and coordination is a chief priority and the general goal for
each athlete. This is largely accomplished by developing a
sound culture that promotes offseason training.
" Working as the school's first head strength and
conditioning coach has been a wonderful experience
thus far, " Holland said. " It has taken time to build trust
with the coaches, but we have seen tremendous growth
in our athletes in a little less than one year from the time
of implementation. I have worked with boys and girls
swimming and diving programs since August (2018) and
we have already set new school records.
" Additionally, our football team is putting up record
numbers in the weight room, and last year was the first
time in my six years at the high school that we did not
have a major knee injury. Additionally, the number of
concussions has decreased dramatically. "
Jared Felice, CAA, is the athletic director at FountainFort
Carson High School in Colorado. He's also a recipient
of Coach & Athletic Director's 40 Under 40 award, a
program honoring the next generation of leaders in the
sports industry.
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September/October 2019

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