Would You Hire a Plumber to Do Your Taxes: The Importance of Professional Strength Coaches
The Benefits of a Professional Coach for Strength Training and Sports for Student Athletes
At Mighty Oak Athletic, we often hear from parents that their kids don’t need to train with us because they’re either working out on their own at the gym with friends or with the team at school. However, there’s a critical distinction between working out and training. Working out is an aimless attempt to make progress in the gym, while training is a systematic approach to long-term success. A well-structured training plan ensures progress toward a specific goal, and with progress comes success, which builds confidence.
When student athletes go to the gym on their own or with friends, they often focus on the “mirror muscles” like chest and biceps, typically avoiding the challenging compound movements such as barbell squats and deadlifts that build foundational strength. They almost certainly skip the compound power movements like cleans and snatches, which develop explosiveness on the field. If they are attempting these complex movements, it’s unlikely they have a partner who can give the detailed feedback necessary to ensure proper technique and safety. They also tend to spend a lot of time on their phones, which is both a distraction and a missed opportunity to engage with others and focus on training.
At Mighty Oak Athletic, we have a strict no-phone policy. We believe in creating an environment that encourages athletes to engage with their coaches and peers and disconnect from technology for a healthier, more productive experience. This leads to more focused training sessions, fostering both mental and physical growth.
On the other hand, working out with a school team comes with its own set of challenges. In many cases, schools don’t employ professional coaches dedicated to strength training. Often, the coach is a teacher who is stepping into the role of a sports coach. While they may excel in their sport, asking them to develop a strength and conditioning program is like asking an off-duty firefighter to replace the tiles in your kitchen and then fix your electrical wiring—there’s simply more complexity and nuance to the task than meets the eye.
Professional coaches are trained to consider factors like a student athlete's chronological age (how old they are), biological age (the physical development of their body), and training age (how long they’ve been engaged in formal training). These distinctions are crucial for creating programs that meet athletes where they are in their development, keeping them safe, and ensuring they grow in strength and confidence. A professional coach can also adjust programs based on the athlete’s individual needs, such as injury recovery or the need for extra development in a particular area of their training.
Another critical factor is the flow of training, which must align with the different stages of the sports calendar—off-season, pre-season, in-season, and post-season. This requires a comprehensive approach that considers not only the immediate needs of the athlete but also their long-term performance and health. School coaches, while well-intentioned, often have to juggle full-time teaching responsibilities with their coaching duties, which means strength training becomes an afterthought, often cobbled together from a YouTube video or rushed during practice.
Strength training is essential for student athletes because it enhances sports performance, builds confidence, and helps reduce the risk of injuries. More importantly, instilling a strong foundation in strength training early in life empowers young athletes to continue training well into adulthood, fostering long, healthy, and active lives.
At Mighty Oak Athletic, we believe in more than just helping athletes perform better today—we’re helping them build a future. With the right coaching, student athletes learn how to train systematically and effectively, unlocking their full potential on and off the field.
