Bringing It All Together: Real Summer Systems That Work
#40 - Strength & Speed Coaching - Pursuing Your Best ⚡️
We’ve talked summer training philosophy.
We’ve covered how to lead, modify, and manage it all.
Now it’s time to show you the system in action.
This final issue in the Summer Training series is all about application—what we actually ran last summer at Mount Vernon, how we adapted to real-world constraints, and the tools you can take and tweak to fit your setting.
Whether you’re refining an existing summer model or starting from scratch, this one’s built to help.
Why Logistics Drive Programming
The best programs aren’t just smart—they’re runnable.
Every program is shaped by the same four factors:
Time. Space. Equipment. People.
We had:
Three training days/week (Mon/Tues/Thurs)
75-90 minute sessions, back-to-back
Large, multi-sport groups with wide-ranging experience
Limited rack space, shared across multiple sessions
That meant our program had to be:
Simple to execute across sessions
Flexible for movement between warm-up space, racks, dumbbells, and open court
Efficient—getting loadable lifts done in each of our weight rooms
Structured to support accountability across athletes, coaches, and weeks
Coaches often get stuck asking, “What’s the best program?”
A better question is: What’s the best program you can run in your reality?
That’s where strong logistics meet strong programming.
What We Ran Last Summer
Our summer training wasn’t built around perfect conditions—it was built around consistency.
Just like we train total body in the weight room, we aim to hit small, intentional doses of speed, power, strength, and movement in every session. That means athletes sprint, jump, throw, and lift across the week—not just on designated “speed” or “lower body” days.
To make that possible, we ran station-based training that rotated athletes through focused blocks. This allowed us to stay organized, keep everyone moving, and get high-quality work done—even with big groups and limited space.
Facilities Used:
Weight Room – Barbell work, accessories
Choir Room “Annex” – Converted into a second weight room using half our equipment – Trap Bars & Dumbbells
Gym – Plyos, med balls, mobility, relays, COD
Track/Field – Sprint drills, jumps, sleds, battle ropes
Thinking outside the box—literally—helped us create smooth transitions, keep intensity high, and maximize every square foot we had. The choir room might not have looked like a weight room, but it functioned like one. That second space kept groups moving instead of waiting.
This rotating structure helped us keep the energy up, reduce logjams at equipment, and ensure athletes were exposed to all key qualities without overloading any one area.
Whether you’re working with one space or four, the lesson is the same: design sessions that match your reality, not someone else’s facility. Creativity beats perfection every time.
How We Tracked It
Our Summer Attendance Tracker was built in Google Sheets and integrated Horsepower Club tracking:
Daily attendance logged as full, partial, or excused
Make-ups submitted via Google Form
Progress auto-calculated toward 100% Club
On the final day, qualifying athletes were celebrated at Feed the Stampede—a team breakfast and exclusive Horsepower Club t-shirt drop.
But this wasn’t just a reward. It was reinforcement. A way to normalize commitment and give athletes a reason to show up consistently—even in an unstructured season.
What We Learned (and Adjusted)
Every summer reveals new coaching lessons. A few standouts we’re carrying forward:
Day 1 Matters Most: Set expectations, explain the Horsepower Club, and show what “all in” looks like.
Let Logistics Lead: Train with what makes the most sense for your constraints. Use stations to reduce bottlenecks and keep momentum.
Pair effort with feedback. Track attendance, celebrate consistency, and coach kids on what growth actually looks like.
Final Thoughts
Summer can either be a gap—or a launchpad.
It all depends on the structure, standards, and systems you put in place.
You don’t need 10 racks or elite-level athletes to run a great program.
You need a smart, flexible plan… and a culture that shows up.
If you want help building, organizing, or evaluating your summer training system, I offer custom consulting for Strength & Speed coaches and PE teachers.
Whether you need tools, structure, or an extra set of eyes, just hit reply or email pursuitpe@gmail.com.
Until next time—thanks for reading, and keep pursuing excellence.
— Preston ⚡️
What’s Next?
In the next edition of Pursuit PE, we’re diving into one of the most misunderstood areas of athlete development: supplements.
You’ll get real-world clarity on:
What’s actually worth considering (and what’s not)
What educational discussions can look like
What coaches and parents need to know about safety, efficacy, and responsibility
We’ll keep it simple and help you build a clear, safe plan for athletes asking, “Should I take this?"
Explore More
Want to see how we communicate all this to athletes and parents?
Check out the full 2025 Mustang Strength & Speed Camp Info Page at MVStrength.com.
You’ll find registration details, session times, Horsepower Club criteria, make-up protocols, and summer logistics—all laid out to help your program run smoothly and build trust with families.
Paid Subscriber Downloads:
Upgrade your subscription to Pursuit PE to get access to these resources ⤵
🔒 6-Week Summer Training Overview (.XLSX)
2024 High School Training Program Overview. Our full summer session outline. The full training plan.
🔒 Summer Attendance Tracker Template (.XLSX)
A ready-to-use sheet for tracking daily attendance, auto-calculating progress toward 100% Club, and organizing make-up submissions.🔒 Middle School Training Sessions (PDF)
Simple and scalable templates for younger athletes. Emphasizes movement quality, effort, and engagement—no fancy equipment needed.
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