8:30-9:00 am – CHECK-IN/REGISTRATION

9:00-9:05 am – WELCOME
Overview of Day’s Activities / Presentations by Zach Even-Esh, founder of The Underground Strength Gym and Creator of The Underground Strength Coach Certification

9:05-10:05 am – DUAL: LECTURE+HANDS-ON
Jason Gallucci

OVERVIEW: COMING SOON

10:30-11:30 am – DUAL: LECTURE+HANDS-ON
Implementing Olympic Lifts in a High School Setting by Steve Bare

OVERVIEW: In the presentation, we will delve into various crucial topics. Starting with Pedagogical Exercise Selection, we’ll discuss the importance of choosing exercises that align with an athlete’s current skill level, including strategies for regressing or progressing the complexity of these exercises as needed. Then, we’ll transition to Optimizing Training Logistics, exploring how to efficiently incorporate these exercises into the full scope of a student athlete’s day, week, and even annual training plan, ensuring that the integration is practical and effective.

Finally, Maximizing Your Impact will broaden the discussion, encouraging high school coaches to look beyond the traditional confines of their roles and find innovative ways to enhance their influence and effectiveness in shaping young athletes. This comprehensive approach promises valuable insights for anyone looking to integrate Olympic lifts into a high school sports program.

11:30 am-12:30 pm: ROUNDTABLE + LUNCH COMBO (Lunch Provided)

TOPIC/FORMAT: This session, led by Scott Land, a Physical Education Teacher and Strength Coach at Clearview Regional High School, will focus on “Coaches Who Have a High School Program + Schools Trying To Start / Build a Program.” It will feature a Q&A format, allowing interactive discussions in groups.

12:30-1:30 pm – DUAL: LECTURE+HANDS-ON
How/Why to Implement Bodybuilding Methods Into Your Athletic Programs by Eddie Hernandez

OVERVIEW: In this presentation, Eddie Hernandez provides a comprehensive exploration of integrating bodybuilding techniques into athletic training. This insightful guide delves into the rationale behind incorporating bodybuilding methodologies, highlighting how these techniques can enhance muscle strength, endurance, and overall athlete physique. Hernandez emphasizes the importance of understanding the unique demands of various sports and tailoring bodybuilding methods to suit these specific needs.

He covers practical aspects such as designing programs that balance bodybuilding with sport-specific training ensuring athletes gain muscle mass and strength without compromising agility and performance. The presentation also addresses common misconceptions and provides evidence-based practices for effectively blending bodybuilding with athletic training, aiming to optimize athletes’ performance across different sports disciplines. Eddie Hernandez’s expertise offers valuable insights for coaches and trainers seeking to enrich their athletic programs with proven bodybuilding strategies.

2:15-3:15 pm – DUAL: LECTURE+HANDS-ON
Earning Your Progressions: The Exercise BELT System by Eric D’Agati

OVERVIEW: This dynamic presentation is designed for the varied landscape of the high school weight room. It introduces the BELT System, a structured approach to exercise progression and regression inspired by the colored belt system in martial arts. This system addresses the challenge of scaling training for various athletes, from beginners to advanced.

The presentation combines interactive lectures and practical demonstrations, focusing on the “3 Cs of Progression” and the “RST Principle.” These concepts guide customizing the 9 fundamental movement patterns to fit each athlete’s skill level and goals. Attendees will gain insights into creating effective, adaptable training programs, ensuring safe and progressive athlete development.

3:15-3:30 pm – CLOSING REMARKS
From Zach Even-Esh, founder of The Underground Strength Gym and Creator of The Underground Strength Coach Certification