Summer Training Standards: How to Build Buy-In Without Burning Kids Out
#38 – Strength & Speed Coaching – Pursuing Your Best ⚡
Summer is full of potential—and full of pitfalls.
No school bell. No bus schedule. No guaranteed structure.
You get kids who show up early, ready to work. You get others who drag in late (if they show at all). And in a mixed group with different sport demands, maturity levels, and motivation—holding a high standard without burning everyone out is a balancing act.
This issue is all about that balance.
We’ll walk through how we structure accountability in a way that builds buy-in, drives consistency, and still leaves space for grace. Whether you’re coaching summer PE, running a full team program, or just trying to get kids to take training seriously, you’ll walk away with systems you can adapt right away.
Let’s get to work.
Why Summer is a Different Beast
Summer athletes aren’t operating inside the normal rhythm of school. They’re juggling:
Work shifts
Family vacations
School & club team events & practices
Showcases and tournaments
Sleep schedules that don’t always match morning sessions
And yet, the summer is where culture is built. If we want to train athletes for moments that matter, we need to help them commit to the daily ones first.
But fear-based compliance doesn’t build culture.
Summer is where we hold the standard—with care.
How We Do It: Systems, Standards & Support
Here’s how we balance accountability and flexibility in our Mustang Strength & Speed summer program:
1. Horsepower Club: Rewarding the Right Things
Our Horsepower Club is earned—not given.
100% attendance. Full effort in both speed and lift. No shortcuts.
If you have to miss, you communicate and do a make-up.
We tell athletes up front: this isn’t about perfection. It’s about consistency and responsibility. Make the club, and you earn the black Horsepower t-shirt and a spot at our Feed the Stampede breakfast. Miss the standard? No shame—but no shirt or breakfast either.
2. Make-Ups with a Purpose
Life happens. We don’t punish kids for missing. But we do ask for communication and ownership.
We have a make-up system that lets athletes bank missed days if they show initiative.
The goal isn’t to be rigid—it’s to be respectful of the time we’re all investing.
3. Clear Expectations from Day One
We spell it out early and often: what it means to show up ready, what the sessions will look like, and what we expect in terms of attitude, attention, and accountability.
This sets the tone. No guesswork. No surprises. And we reinforce it week by week with check-ins, shout-outs, and reminders.
4. Standards Without Shame
We don’t call kids out to embarrass them. We call them up because we care.
If effort dips, we pull them aside. If attendance is spotty, we have a conversation.
Every interaction is a chance to coach character—not just correct behavior.
Why It Works
Because kids want structure—even when they act like they don’t.
They want to know what’s expected.
They want to be seen when they’re doing it right.
And they want to know that if they commit, it actually matters.
The Horsepower Club and everything around it works because it’s clear, consistent, and connected to something bigger: the pursuit of being their best—not just for them, but for their team.
Final Thoughts
You don’t need to reinvent your summer training.
You just need a system that sets expectations early, reinforces them often, and gives athletes a reason to care.
Hold the standard. Be flexible where it counts. And keep showing athletes that the work they put in today shapes who they become tomorrow.
That’s how you build a program—not just a summer.
What’s Next?
Next Up: Coaching In-Season vs. Out-of-Season Athletes in the Same Summer Group
Baseball/Softball kids have games. Fall sports kids are grinding. Others are in three sports and just trying to stay on track.
In the next issue, we’ll tackle the layered challenge of programming when everyone’s on a different timeline:
How we modify for in-season athletes without watering down the session
Why we still push hard with out-of-season athletes—and how we make it stick
Strategies for grouping and rotating that keep things moving without confusion
You’ll see how we navigate real-world complexity while staying true to our training goals.
Explore More
Want to see how we run summer training from top to bottom?
Visit MVStrength.com for full details on our 2025 Mustang Strength & Speed Camp. You’ll find our schedule, training structure, expectations, and what we do to keep athletes progressing in the most chaotic time of year.
If you’re a coach looking for ideas to bring back to your setting, this is a blueprint worth studying.
If you are a paid subscriber see our section below for some helpful summer resources.
Would you like help tightening up your summer systems?
I offer consulting for coaches and PE teachers looking to build buy-in, structure their summer calendar, and balance accountability with care.
Just reply or reach out directly and we’ll get started.
Until next time—keep pursuing excellence.
— Preston ⚡️
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Horsepower Club Implementation Guide
This PDF gives coaches a plug-and-play framework for creating a high-accountability attendance system like Horsepower Club. It includes step-by-step setup instructions, example make-up policies, t-shirt/incentive ideas, and ready-to-use communication templates. Perfect for building summer buy-in and recognizing consistent effort in a way that fits your program's culture.
Horsepower Make-Up Policy & Workout Guide
This guide outlines a clear, structured approach to summer make-up sessions that balances accountability with flexibility. It includes eligibility rules, approved workouts, and submission protocols—giving coaches a practical system to manage attendance while maintaining high standards.
Not a paid subscriber yet? Upgrade to unlock the full breakdown and exclusive resources!
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