Master the Restart: Refining What Works for the Second Semester
#74 - Strength & Speed Coaching - Pursuing Your Best ⚡️
Second semester starts this week for us.
For many schools, that means new rosters, new energy, and a clean calendar—but the same athletes, the same room, and the same systems.
That’s an important distinction.
This moment isn’t about starting over. It’s about stewarding what’s already been built.
I’m grateful for the opportunity to step into another semester of this work—to coach, teach, and continue refining systems that serve students well. This is my 20th semester as a high school Strength & Speed coach—and I’ve learned that second semester leadership matters just as much as the first. Every semester is a gift, and every restart is an opportunity to lead with more clarity than the last.
January is a rare window.
It’s the one time during the school year where reflection and action can happen at the same time.
Not a reset.
Not a rebuild.
A restart—with intention.
The Restart Most Coaches Miss
Most programs don’t struggle because the plan is broken.
They struggle because small cracks compound over time:
Standards soften
Transitions get sloppy
Weekly rhythm drifts
Intent fades into survival mode
Second semester is your chance to tighten the screws—not overhaul the machine.
This is where strong programs separate themselves.
Reflection First: What Actually Worked?
Before changing anything, pause.
Ask yourself—and your staff—these questions honestly:
What systems held up under real pressure?
What routines made the room calmer, faster, or clearer?
Where did confusion show up most often?
Which days felt the most chaotic—and why?
What habits did athletes respond to consistently?
Reflection is about clarity.
If something worked in August, October, or December—it probably still works now.
If you don’t name what worked, you’re likely to abandon it by accident.
If something wasn’t working, this is the perfect time to try something new.
Refinement Beats Reinvention
The biggest mistake I see this time of year is coaches reaching for novelty.
New exercises.
New formats.
New ideas—without fixing the foundations.
Refinement is smaller.
And more powerful.
This might look like:
Clarifying your weekly rhythm
Tightening your exercise menu
Re-centering intent standards
Simplifying transitions
Re-teaching expectations you assumed were “set”
Most programs don’t need more content.
They need clearer standards. Better communication. Cleaner execution.
Double Down on What’s Working
Second semester is where you double down, not spread thin.
Pick a few priorities and commit to them:
Movement quality
Session flow
Intent standards
Consistent expectations
The goal isn’t perfection.
It’s consistency.
Athletes don’t need surprises.
They need reliability.
This Is Where Systems Pay Off
If you’ve been following Pursuit PE, this moment should feel familiar.
This restart connects directly to the systems we’ve already covered:
Strong Start to the Year – Standards, routines, expectations
A Week in the Life – Rhythm, flow, consistency
Programming Mastery – Structure, load management, intent
Start Here – Building programs that actually work inside the school day
If your system is clear, the restart becomes simple.
You’re not starting over.
You’re sharpening.
Using Pursuit PE as a Tool—Not Just Content
This is exactly how Pursuit PE is meant to be used.
Not read once.
Not skimmed.
Used.
Second semester is a great time to:
Listen to a few Big Time Strength Podcast episodes.
Use the Pursuit PE Newsletter Series Library to target one or two areas of focus
Share language or articles with assistants or colleagues
Align your staff around fewer, clearer priorities
That’s professional development in action.
A Note on Professional Development
If you’re using this newsletter to reflect, refine, and improve your program—you are already engaging in meaningful professional development.
Pursuit PE is designed to support:
High school Strength & Speed coaches
Physical Education teachers
Programs operating under real schedules and real constraints
Many schools and athletic departments cover resources like this through professional learning budgets.
If that’s an option in your setting, a paid subscription is a simple, cost-effective way to support ongoing growth—for you and your program.
Looking Ahead
The weekly Pursuit PE newsletter isn’t going anywhere.
I’ll continue publishing practical, school-tested content every week.
In the near future, I’ll also be rolling out:
Workshops
Podcasts
More tools to support coaches inside real school environments
And soon, we’ll turn our attention to speed—not just running fast, but building a clear, repeatable system for teaching, programming, and tracking speed inside the school day.
But first…
You master the restart.
Final Thought
You don’t need a new program.
You need:
Clear standards
Strong systems
Intentional refinement
Second semester isn’t about doing more.
It’s about doing what works—better.
Keep pursuing excellence,
Preston Pedersen, M.Ed., CSCS
Strength & Speed Coach • Pursuit PE ⚡️
★ Paid Subscriber Resources
For paid subscribers, this edition includes:
Master the Restart Checklist
Standards and system review tools (pulled from prior series)
Mustang Strength & Speed Behavior Standards
Coach’s Guide: Setting Standards That Stick
Holding the Line Daily Coach Checklist
Day-One Coach Checklist
These resources are designed to help you apply this restart—not just think about it.
Want the tools behind this system?
Paid subscribers get access to the checklists, charts, templates, and real-world examples we actually use to manage load, intent, and adjustments inside the school day.
If you want help applying these ideas—not just reading about them—consider upgrading your subscription. Upgrade today to unlock this, the complete archive, and all upcoming resources.
