CCR-1 District Considers Weight Training Options

By Mike Scott

Which of the many weight training programs are best suited for student athletes at Clark County High School? The answer matters, because the choice will determine what weight training equipment is purchased for the new Fitness Facility at the high school.

As construction continues on the new building, that was the question before the CCR-1 School board on Thursday, February 12.

Clark County coaches and administrators have visited several regional weight programs, including those used by Mizzou, the University of Iowa, and Central Methodist University. Presenting choices for the board were varsity football coach Scott Murdock and girls varsity basketball coach John Weaver

“This will be a facility for all our athletes,” said CCR-1 Athletic Director Jason Church. “Every kid who is an athlete needs to be involved in weight training.”

“We want to make sure we’re all on the same page,” said Murdock..   “We’re hoping we will become more unified.”

“We’re all across the board because of varying philosophies,” added Weaver.

Currently, each of the coaches develops his or her own training program, based on their experiences with a number of sources.

The two leading contenders for a unified training program are “Better, Stronger, Faster” (BFS) and “TrainHeroic”.

BFS was developed in 1976, and is in uses in over 10,000 high schools nationwide, including 34 of the top 50 high schools in the country. BFS utilizes a Beat the Computer system to develop weight training goals per student, based on their individual abilities, their sport, whether or not they are in-season.

“BFS has been the gold standard,” Church added.

Areas of concern about BFS include the ability of coaches to adjust workouts, workouts that do not include six specific focal areas, and a “cookie cutter” approach.

In contrast, TrainHeroic is an internet base training program which updates athletes’ goals based on performance, provides a video description of each activity, provides coaches and administration with progress reports, and allows coaches to adjust the workout at any time, from any place.

“This is the future of where weight training is headed,” said Murdock.

Murdock and Weaver also reviewed equipment requirements for differing programs, as well as the projected costs for the equipment.

In other business, the board:

-Heard a report form Sheri Evans’ website development class, which currently has four students who maintain the CCR-1 website.

-Approved the renewal of the OPPA! food service contract.

-Approved allowing several acres of ground near the high school to be used as a test plot in exchange for the revenue from the crops.

-Accepted the bid from Prairieland FS for diesel fuel through June of 2016.

-Approved overnight trips for FCCLA, Key Club, and the Spearettes dance squad.