Building Rubrics That Work: From Framework to Feedback
#64 - Strength & Speed Coaching - Pursuing Your Best ⚡️
We’ve covered a lot in this series already:
#61: Grading for Growth → Why grades matter and how they shape culture.
#62: Attendance & Effort → Turning consistency into something measurable.
#63: Grading Made Clear → Defining success criteria so athletes know exactly what a “3” looks like.
Now comes the question that ties it all together:
How do you build a grading system that’s fair, transparent, and student-centered?
The answer is a rubric. Done right, a rubric becomes more than a grading tool—it’s a roadmap for growth. It tells students exactly what matters, it gives parents clarity, and it reassures administrators that this course is more than just “lifting weights.”
Why a Rubric is the Foundation
Without a rubric, grading is usually one of two things:
Vague: “You pass if you show up.”
Subjective: “I’ll know effort when I see it.”
Both destroy culture.
A good rubric makes expectations:
Clear – Every student knows what’s measured.
Fair – Everyone is graded by the same standard.
Transparent – Parents and admins can see the logic.
Actionable – Students can track where they stand and what to improve.
At Mustang Strength & Speed, our rubric rests on three standards, each with three targets:
Commitment (Attitude, Effort, Discipline)
Performance (Strength, Speed, Power)
Vision (Goal Setting, Tracking Progress, Reflection)
Three standards. Nine total targets. We want it to be simple, but complete.
Later in this issue, I’ll share the rubric we are building for Mustang Strength & Speed, a student-facing handout you can adapt for your own program.
Feedback That Fuels Growth
A rubric only works if the success criteria are clear. If students can’t describe what a “3” looks like, you haven’t defined the standard.
Examples:
Commitment → Attitude: A “3” = respectful, coachable, positive body language.
Performance → Strength: A “3” = proper technique, completed sets, safe progression.
Vision → Tracking Progress: A “3” = Sets, reps, weights, speeds, details written down and revisited in student folder.
Success criteria make grading objective and turn “effort” into behaviors students can own.
Tip: Revisit one criterion each week in class. Quick reminders keep standards alive.
Making Grades Student-Centered
Grades shouldn’t be something done to students. They should be a feedback loop that reinforces growth.
How to shift ownership:
Self-Reflection: Ask students to self-assess on the rubric regularly.
Peer Check-Ins: Rack partners give each other a quick score on readiness or effort.
Mid-Semester Reviews: Have students self-assess and compare with teacher assessment.
When athletes know how they’re graded—and get to play a role in grading themselves—it stops being about compliance and starts being about growth.
Why This Matters
A clear rubric protects your culture.
It takes subjectivity out of grading.
It shows parents and admins you’re aligned with PE standards.
It gives students the tools to take ownership of their learning/progress.
That’s why the rubric isn’t just paperwork. It’s part of the coaching process.
Wrapping Up the Grading Series
This closes out our 4-part series on grading in Strength & Speed programs.
If you missed the earlier parts, catch up here:
The big takeaway: Grades aren’t about compliance—they’re about culture.
When you measure the right things, communicate them clearly, and give students ownership, grading stops being a formality and starts being a driver of growth.
Next up: we’ll shift to a brand-new series on [insert your next series topic]—continuing to build tools that make school-based Strength & Speed programs clear, coachable, and culture-driven.
Need help building a system like this?
I work with schools to design grading frameworks, rubrics, and communication systems that fit their unique setting. If your program could benefit from hands-on consulting, reply to this email or reach out here to start the conversation.
Keep pursuing excellence,
Preston ⚡️
This Week’s Paid Subscriber Resource
Upgrade your subscription to Pursuit PE to unlock this tool ⤵
🔒 Strength & Speed Rubric Pack
A complete grading toolkit that makes expectations clear and growth measurable. Includes:
Coach Rubric Overview: Editable rubric overview with clear success criteria for Commitment, Performance, and Vision.
Student Rubrics (3 handouts): Breakdowns for each standard with simple “4/3/2/1” criteria, written in student-friendly language. Includes a Reflection Template that can be used as a mid-semester check-in sheet for student self-assessment and coach/teacher feedback.
Not a paid subscriber yet? Upgrade today to unlock this and all upcoming resources.
🔒 Strength & Speed Rubric Pack
Google Doc Link Below ⬇️ (You will be prompted to make a copy.)
Not a paid subscriber yet? Upgrade today to unlock this and all upcoming resources.
Keep reading with a 7-day free trial
Subscribe to Pursuit PE to keep reading this post and get 7 days of free access to the full post archives.