Lifting Before Practice

I think that it should be a matter of priority...

IN season, the priority should be to get better at your sport. That would mean practice THEN lift.
Out of season, priority is getting bigger, faster, and stronger. That would mean lift and THEN practice.

I don't like lifting within 24 hours of a training session. Like Coach Easton, I think its quite obvious.

WITHOUT ALL THE SCIENCE BEHIND IT, JUST ASK YOURSELF DO YOU WANT YOUR KIDS TO BE ALL TIGHT FROM LIFTING BEFORE YOU HIT THE PRACTICE FIELD. I THINK MOST OF YOU WILL SAY NO.

Coach Easton

The best time to lift IN-SEASON is early morning. 7 AM or 8 AM!

OK, lifting to the point of failure before practice...bad idea, but lifitng for conditioning before practice is not and has not been proven to be bad. Matter of fact, there are some college strength and conditioning coaches that have their linemen do bench press prior to a game(2hrs.) Now we're not talking max out bench, but 75% of max. The key factor you need to look at as a coach is to see what specifically you want to work on and what goals you want to accomplish for your athletes. In other words, let's say I have an athlete or a group of athletes I know need leg strength and flexibility, doing squats would be counterproductive before a practice. However lunges (3x10-12) or one legged hip squats would benefit them in terms of quad strength, hip flexibility, raising the core temperature of the body, etc...

Yes, I want my athletes to get stronger, and what coach doesn't, but I have the post post season-preseason to do so rather than trying to get my athletes to peak while in season. What's more important for the high school coach, to get the athlete to reach peak strength while in season or to get the athlete to be more fundamentaly sound on the field? Let's not forget, if you are trying to lift for peak strength while in season you need proper recovery time and if an athlete is not getting it, it's not a matter of if he/she will possibly injure a muscle but when due to muscle fatigue. Muscle fatigue is the number one reason for muscle injury(not the only reason.)

Can a coach have an athlete reach peak strength performance and be fundamentally sound as well? Sure, matter of I have seen athletes who were sub par gain some good strength while in season and still see playing time. One of the best athletes I have been around took such a beating on Friday nights (was a tailback and an OLB) spent time in the whirlpool Sat. Sun. Mon. & Tues. prior to practice and was back to normal by Wed. and still lifted, however not for peak strength simply because his muscles were not capable to take any more stress. Matter of fact, I would venture to say that had he tried to lift for peak strength while in season, he would not have been as effective in his high school career.