Engagement is the Name of the Game: Why Atmosphere Beats Percentages
#45 - Strength & Speed Coaching - Pursuing Your Best ⚡️
Kids don’t care about percentages.
They care about atmosphere, flow, and engagement.
When it comes to high school strength & speed, the best programs aren’t always the most advanced on paper—they’re the most alive in the room.
We’ve all seen coaches obsess over data, percentages, and spreadsheets while losing the attention of the kids standing in front of them. At the high school level, engagement isn’t just a nice bonus—it’s the engine that drives everything else.
This new series is about building that engine:
The Engagement Advantage.
We’ll explore the practical ways great coaches create energy, drive buy-in, and keep athletes coming back ready for more.
Let’s get to work.
Why Engagement Wins
High school athletes don’t show up for perfect programs.
They show up for:
Coaches who know their name.
Sessions that move with rhythm.
Training that feels fun, challenging, and rewarding.
Environments where they feel seen, valued, and pushed.
If you can create that room, your athletes will keep coming.
And if you can keep them coming, you can keep developing them.
The best strength coaches?
They aren’t always the best programmers.
They’re elite at orchestrating the room.
Atmosphere > Percentages
You could have a flawless 12-week progression written—but if your athletes aren’t engaged, none of it matters.
Engagement drives:
Consistency
Effort
Energy
Long-term buy-in
This doesn’t mean we throw programming out the window. It means we design for both structure and atmosphere.
The Core Engagement Principles
1️⃣ Simplicity Wins
Complicated programs confuse kids.
Simple, clear sessions build rhythm.
Few key movements.
Small wins built into every session.
Predictable flow with purposeful variety.
Complexity kills engagement. Clarity fuels it.
"Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication." - Leonardo da Vinci
2️⃣ Connection > Communication
Connection happens when:
You know every name.
You’re present on the floor, not behind a computer.
You coach everyone—not just the top performers.
You meet kids where they’re at, not where you wish they were.
Athletes don’t respond to lectures. They respond to connection.
3️⃣ Proximity Matters
Energy is felt through presence:
Stay close.
Move around the room.
Get your steps.
Be physically near your athletes throughout the training session.
Steve Nash averaged 239 high fives per game in the NBA.
There’s science behind proximity and physical interaction (high fives, fist bumps, handshakes, etc.)—it builds trust, energy, and engagement.
4️⃣ Fear Kills Flow
Do you perform your best when you’re afraid to mess up?
Your athletes don’t either.
Create safety for effort, mistakes, and growth.
Correct with care.
Demand standards—without shame.
Standards without fear create high-trust, high-output environments.
5️⃣ Plan Well. Adjust Better.
The best engagement is responsive:
Anticipate the session’s rhythm.
Adjust on the fly.
If energy drops, pivot.
If attention fades, regroup.
If chaos creeps in, simplify.
The best coaches don’t just plan—they coach what’s in front of them.
The Engagement Advantage
Here’s the real secret:
If you win the room, you win the program.
High energy drives high intent.
High intent drives high transfer.
High transfer builds better athletes.
Action Step
Pick 3 behaviors you’ll commit to every session.
You can make your own or pick from the list below.
Know every name.
Move around the room.
Coach every athlete.
Start with a Question of the Day.
Open with a quick relay or race.
Use Kickstarters (small-sided games to create energy early).
Build partner races into warm-ups.
Use tennis ball drills or reaction ball work.
Rotate leadership—let athletes lead warm-ups.
High-five or fist bump every athlete every day.
Limit computer work during sessions—be where your feet are.
Use the Horsepower Database or an equivalent to track progress.
Incorporate simple gamification (small competitions, KPI scoring system, etc.)
Use proximity—stay close to athletes throughout work sets.
Keep explanations short—coach with quick, actionable cues.
Balance accountability with encouragement—standards without fear.
Celebrate small wins daily (effort, attendance, form improvements).
Orchestrate transitions—without flow there is no harmony.
Coach the quiet kids as much as the stars.
Use music to set the room's energy and rhythm.
Build mini-challenges into cooldowns or finishers.
Plan well, adjust better—be flexible when sessions don’t go perfectly.
Small behaviors, repeated daily, create environments that kids love to train in—and love to come back to.
Final Thoughts
You don’t need more fancy programming.
You need simple, consistent systems paired with daily coaching presence.
When your athletes know you care, sessions move, and energy stays high—everything else works better.
Want Help Building a Program That Sticks?
I offer consulting for PE teachers and Strength & Speed coaches looking to:
Build year-round training systems that fit your school schedule
Improve coaching systems for large groups, mixed levels, and multi-sport demands
Create engagement-driven training environments that kids love
If you're ready to build a structure that works where you are, I’d love to help.
Just reply or reach out directly and let’s get to work.
Until then—keep pursuing excellence.
— Preston ⚡️