[Lambert #1]

Here is what Howard tells the parents they do in the weight room. He has two assistants that run the off season weight room for him. It's a progression. His younger kids many rep's with very light weight so that they do not damage the growth plates. He has his 7th graders doing a little more weight with fewer reps and when they are beginning their 8th grade year he opens it up and up's the expectations and they lift hard. If you have ever watched many teams from the Big Sandy play you will realize that you have to be strong across the board to compete, one or two strong kids will not help much in that conference. I know that Hillard is thrilled when he get's his freshmen because they already have the weightroom mentality, he will tell you that is the reason their freshmen and JV teams are so successful. I think this is the 4th year that the middle school has been lifting on a regular basis together as a team. When basketball is over they will get as many as 30 to 40 in the weight room two or three times a week at the grade school level. Over the past three years the middle school has won a minimum of 11 games each year and I think it's because Howard has them in the weightroom. You are right for being concerned, many coaches do not know what they are doing int he weightroom but his assistants (Tom Sayers, Chad Bates) both have worked at the high school in their weight programs and know what they are doing and bring the kids along slowly but successfully.