2026 NHSSCA New Jersey State Clinic

8:00-9:00 pm – CHECK-IN/REGISTRATION

9:00-9:10 am – WELCOME
Overview of Day’s Activities & Presentations

9:15-10:00 am – LECTURE
Starting a High School Strength & Conditioning Program from Scratch by Tommy Reardon

OVERVIEW: This session outlines the step-by-step process of building a school-wide strength and conditioning program from the ground up. Attendees will learn how to effectively communicate with coaches, school staff, administrators, and athletes to establish alignment and buy-in when launching a first-ever S&C initiative.

Drawing from real-world experience testing, tracking, and coaching hundreds of athletes, this presentation will highlight practical lessons learned in program development, performance monitoring, and culture building.

We will also explore why public schools need full-time strength and conditioning coaches, how to design and organize an effective weight room, and how to navigate the challenges of launching a brand-new position.

The session concludes with a dedicated Q&A time to discuss implementation strategies and practical next steps.

10:15-11:00 am – LECTURE
Managing a Year-Round High School Weight Room by Mike DeFazio

OVERVIEW: This session provides a comprehensive framework for building and managing an effective year-round strength and conditioning program at the high school level.

Topics will include:

• • • Foundational influences and coaching philosophy
    • Developing a sports performance preparation model
    • Creating and establishing a new strength coach position within a high school
    • Implementing technology to enhance organization and athlete development
    • Designing a functional and efficient weight room layout
    • Structuring effective workouts and long-term program design
    • Using charts, clocks, and visual systems to drive accountability
    • Identifying and tracking the metrics that truly matter
    • Strategies for training large groups efficiently
    • Adjusting training for medium and small groups
    • Managing in-season versus off-season programming
    • Utilizing tri-set structures for group training environments
    • Practical advice for new strength coaches entering the profession

The session will conclude with time for discussion and questions.

11:10 am-12:00 pm – DUAL: LECTURE / HANDS-ON
How Proper Training Creates a Winning TEAM Culture by Nate Stout

OVERVIEW: This session explores how intentional strength and conditioning creates not only better athletes, but stronger team culture. When training standards are clear and consistently applied, athletes learn discipline, resilience, accountability, and competitive excellence.

Key concepts include:

• • • Leading by Living It: Modeling the standard — training and competing alongside your athletes
    • The Clipboard – A License to Carry: The responsibility that comes with leadership and authority
    • Optimal vs. Overboard vs. Undertrained: Finding the balance between pushing performance and preventing burnout
    • The “Supernova” Effect: Why athletes (and programs) can burn out without proper structure and progression
    • Get Strong & Become Unbreakable: Building durability as the foundation of sustained performance

Hands-On Application:

This session also includes practical implementation strategies:

• • • Using structured competition to teach athletes how to train with intent, compete properly, and objectively assess strength and speed
    • Identifying the most effective exercises for developing strength, size, athleticism, and overall performance
    • Applying progressions and regressions to accommodate varied ages, abilities, and experience levels within a team setting

Attendees will leave with both cultural frameworks and practical tools to immediately elevate their program.

12:15-1:00 pm – LUNCH PROVIDED
More Than a Meal, It’s a Networking Opportunity

Lunch at the NHSSCA Clinic is not just about grabbing a plate and catching up with your usual circle. It’s a chance to collaborate, share, and expand your professional network. Whether you’re a seasoned veteran or just stepping into the field of high school strength and conditioning, this is your moment to connect with coaches who inspire, mentor, and challenge you to grow.

If you leave this clinic without making at least one new connection, you’ve missed an incredible opportunity to grow professionally and personally. The NHSSCA is more than an organization—it’s a #FAMILY, built on shared knowledge, support, and a commitment to making each other better.

So, don’t just eat—engage, listen, and learn. The people sitting around you might change how you approach coaching forever. Let’s make this lunch one to remember! #NHSSCA #FAMILY #CoachingConnections #GrowYourNetwork

1:00-1:45 pm – LECTURE
Journey to Athletic Director: Building a High School Strength & Conditioning Program from the Administrative Side by Eric Pritchard

OVERVIEW: In this session, Eric “Pritch” Pritchard shares his transition from teacher and athletic coach to Athletic Director and school administrator at Henry Hudson Regional School.

Drawing from his leadership experience, Pritch will outline the practical steps required to advocate for facility upgrades, secure funding, and establish a stipend-based Strength and Conditioning Coach position within a high school setting.

Key topics include:

• • • Navigating the shift from coach to administrator
    • Strategically planning and funding weight room and facility improvements
    • Creating and implementing a high school Strength & Conditioning position
    • Establishing a clear philosophy of strength and conditioning in secondary athletics
    • Developing athlete mindset and culture
    • Effectively communicating with Central Office leadership to build alignment and long-term support
    • Creating a unified performance program that positively impacts the entire school community

Attendees will gain administrative insight into how to successfully build, advocate for, and sustain a comprehensive strength and conditioning program within a public school system.

2:00-2:30 pm – ROUNDTABLE

2:45-3:00 pm – CLOSING REMARKS
Sweep The Shed