Pursuit PE Podcast

A strong Strength & Speed program doesn’t just exist in the weight room—it needs visibility and support from parents, school staff, and the community. If they don’t understand the value, you’ll always be defending your approach. But when you actively engage and educate them, you turn them into advocates instead of skeptics.

In this episode, we cover five key strategies to strengthen community buy-in, address concerns, and showcase the impact of Strength & Speed beyond athletics.

Main Takeaways

* Educate Parents on the ‘Why’ Behind Strength & Speed – Be proactive in explaining the benefits of training to prevent misconceptions before they start.

* Make Strength & Speed Visible in the Community – Use social media, school newsletters, and open sessions to showcase what’s happening in your program.

* Address Parent Concerns with Facts, Not Frustration – Acknowledge concerns, provide research-backed responses, and keep conversations solution-focused.

* Position Strength & Speed as a Community Investment – Strength & Speed training develops more than just athletes—it builds confident, resilient students.

* Highlight Strength & Speed as a Key Part of Student Success – When people see training as a tool for lifelong development, they’ll support it beyond sports.

Link to Full Newsletter

Strength & Speed Beyond the Weight Room: Engaging Parents & the Community

Thanks for Listening!

If you found this episode valuable, please take a moment to subscribe, rate, and review the podcast. Share it with other coaches looking to improve community engagement and strengthen program support.

Contact

Preston Pedersen, M.Ed., CSCS

* Email: [email protected]

* Twitter: @CoachPedersenMV

* Website: www.PursuitPE.com

* Podcast: BigTimeStrength.substack.com

* Linktree: @CoachPedersen

Your Strength & Speed program is only as strong as the support it gets from administrators. They control budgets, schedules, and resources—if they don’t see the value in what you’re doing, you’ll constantly be fighting an uphill battle. The best Strength & Speed programs don’t just succeed because of great training—they thrive because they have buy-in from leadership.

In this episode, we break down the five key strategies to effectively communicate with administrators, earn trust, and secure long-term support for your program.

Main Takeaways

* Build Relationships, Not Just Proposals – Decisions aren’t just based on logic—they’re based on trust. Invest in relationships beyond Strength & Speed.

* Speak Their Language – Connect training to school-wide goals like student success, well-being, and positive culture.

* Be Proactive, Not Just Reactive – Keep Strength & Speed on their radar by sharing success stories and checking in before problems arise.

* Make Budget Requests with a Clear ROI – Justify funding by tying requests to student benefits and school-wide improvements.

* Use Data to Strengthen Your Case – Administrators respond to numbers. Show how Strength & Speed improves participation, student development, and performance.

Link to Full Newsletter

Strength & Speed Starts at the Top: Communicating with Administrators

Thanks for Listening!

If you found this episode valuable, please take a moment to subscribe, rate, and review the podcast. Share it with other coaches looking to build stronger relationships with school leadership.

Contact

Preston Pedersen, M.S.Ed., CSCS

* Email: [email protected]

* Twitter: @CoachPedersenMV

* Website: www.PursuitPE.com

* Podcast: BigTimeStrength.substack.com

* Linktree: @CoachPedersen

Your Strength & Speed program is only as strong as the buy-in from sport coaches. Even the best-designed training plan won’t succeed if coaches don’t understand its value. In this episode, we break down the most effective ways to communicate, collaborate, and build trust with sport coaches so Strength & Speed training becomes an integrated part of their team’s success.

Main Takeaways

* Align Training with Sport Coaches’ Goals – Frame Strength & Speed training in a way that directly supports their team’s performance and success.

* Make Training Adjustments Easy – Use flexible approaches like the Stoplight System to fit training into their schedule instead of disrupting it.

* Involve Sport Coaches in the Training Process – When coaches feel like they have input, they are more likely to support and reinforce the program.

* Build Trust Through Consistent Check-Ins – Small, regular conversations go a long way in strengthening relationships.

* Be Their Go-To Resource for Athletic Development – Position yourself as someone who helps solve problems and enhances their program, not just as a coach running a weight room.

Link to Full Newsletter

Effective Communication with Sport Coaches: Building Stronger Partnerships for Athlete Success

Thanks for Listening!

If you found this episode valuable, please take a moment to subscribe, rate, and review the podcast. Share it with other coaches looking to strengthen their relationships with sport coaches and improve program buy-in.

Contact

Preston Pedersen, M.S.Ed., CSCS

* Email: [email protected]

* Twitter: @CoachPedersenMV

* Website: www.PursuitPE.com

* Podcast: BigTimeStrength.substack.com

* Linktree: @CoachPedersen

In this episode, we shift from programming and training mistakes to one of the most important—but often overlooked—aspects of coaching: effective communication. Even the best training plan falls short if you can’t connect with athletes, earn their trust, and create an environment where they want to work hard. This episode covers the most common communication mistakes coaches make—and how to fix them.

Main Takeaways

* Talking Too Much, Listening Too Little – Keep cues short and actionable. Less is more when giving feedback.

* Lack of Individualized Communication – Every athlete responds differently. Adapt your style to match their needs.

* Failing to Establish Clear Expectations – Set standards early, reinforce them daily, and lead by example.

* Giving Feedback Without a Clear Purpose – Feedback should be specific, actionable, and balanced between correction and encouragement.

* Not Creating an Environment Where Athletes Feel Valued – Build trust by recognizing effort, fostering relationships, and creating a growth-focused culture.

Link to Full Newsletter

Effective Communication with Athletes: Coaching Beyond the X’s and O’s

Thanks for Listening!

If you found this episode valuable, please take a moment to subscribe, rate, and review the podcast. Share it with other coaches looking to improve their communication and leadership skills.

Contact

Preston Pedersen, M.S.Ed., CSCS

* Email: [email protected]

* Twitter: @CoachPedersenMV

* Website: www.PursuitPE.com

* Podcast: BigTimeStrength.substack.com

* Linktree: @CoachPedersen

In this episode, we break down the myths and realities of sport-specific training. Should football players train differently than basketball players? How much sport-specific work actually helps? What’s useful, and what’s just a gimmick? We cut through the noise and focus on what truly develops better athletes.

Main Takeaways

* Over-Emphasizing Sport-Specific Lifts – Training movement patterns and athletic qualities is more effective than mimicking sport skills under load.

* Training Athletes by Sport Instead of Individual Needs – A unified approach to Strength & Speed training builds better all-around athletes, with adjustments based on experience, not just sport.

* Neglecting Sprint & Speed Development Across All Sports – Speed is a universal skill, not just for track or football players. Sprinting should be trained year-round.

* Sacrificing Athleticism for Size – Prioritizing mass-building at the expense of speed and mobility creates slow, inefficient athletes.

* Skipping General Physical Preparedness (GPP) for Young Athletes – Developing movement efficiency, durability, and foundational strength must come before advanced training.

Link to Full Newsletter

Sport-Specific Training: What Actually Works vs. What’s a Waste of Time

Thanks for Listening!

If you found this episode valuable, please take a moment to subscribe, rate, and review the podcast. Share it with other coaches looking to refine their Strength & Speed programming.

Contact

Preston Pedersen, M.S.Ed., CSCS

* Email: [email protected]

* Twitter: @CoachPedersenMV

* Website: www.PursuitPE.com

* Podcast: BigTimeStrength.substack.com

* Linktree: @CoachPedersen

In this episode, we dive into one of the most misunderstood areas in high school Strength & Speed programs: Speed Training. Too many programs either neglect speed work entirely or train it ineffectively, leaving a huge gap in athletic development. This episode covers the most common mistakes coaches make with speed training—and how to fix them.

Main Takeaways

* Not Sprinting Year-Round – Speed is a skill that needs consistent training, just like strength. Sprinting should be part of every phase.

* Using the Wrong Sprint Drills – Too much focus on technique drills, ladders, and slow-motion work instead of actual sprinting.

* Overusing Heavy Resisted Sprinting – Too much resistance alters mechanics and slows down athletes instead of making them faster.

* Not Measuring Speed & Progress – If you’re not timing sprints, you’re guessing. Regular tracking keeps athletes engaged and helps refine training.

* Confusing Agility Drills with Speed Training – Ladder drills and cone drills don’t replace sprint work. Agility and speed should be trained separately.

Link to Full Newsletter

Fixing Speed Training: Why Most Schools Get It Wrong

Thanks for Listening!

If you found this episode valuable, please take a moment to subscribe, rate, and review the podcast. Share it with other coaches looking to improve their speed training approach.

Contact

Preston Pedersen, M.S.Ed., CSCS

* Email: [email protected]

* Twitter: @CoachPedersenMV

* Website: www.PursuitPE.com

* Podcast: BigTimeStrength.substack.com

* Linktree: @CoachPedersen

In this episode, we continue our series on Common Strength & Speed Coaching Mistakes by breaking down the most common programming pitfalls coaches make when structuring their training plans. Whether it's relying too much on strength without developing speed and power, mismanaging training loads, or overcomplicating workouts, this episode will help you refine your approach and build a better system.

Main Takeaways

* Over-Reliance on Strength Without Transfer to Speed & Power – Strength alone doesn’t make an athlete better. The key is applying force quickly through explosive work and sprinting.

* Poor Load Management – Overtraining leads to burnout, undertraining leads to stagnation. Both increase injury risk.

* Narrowed Focus – Strength, speed, and power must be trained year-round, with structured progressions.

* One Framework for All Athletes – Individualized adjustments are necessary, but all athletes benefit from a unified Strength & Speed foundation.

* Overcomplicating the Training Process – Complexity doesn’t equal effectiveness. The best programs master the basics and maximize training time.

Link to Full Newsletter

Programming Pitfalls: What’s Missing from Your Training Plan?

Thanks for Listening!

If you found this episode valuable, please take a moment to subscribe, rate, and review the podcast. Share it with other coaches looking to refine their Strength & Speed programming.

Contact

Preston Pedersen, M.S.Ed., CSCS

* Email: [email protected]

* Twitter: @CoachPedersenMV

* Website: www.PursuitPE.com

* Podcast: BigTimeStrength.substack.com

* Linktree: @CoachPedersen

In this episode, we kick off a new series on Common Strength & Speed Coaching Mistakes—why they happen, how they hold athletes back, and most importantly, how to fix them. Whether it’s overemphasizing strength, neglecting movement quality, or avoiding in-season training, this episode will help you identify gaps in your program and make the necessary adjustments.

Main Takeaways

* Prioritizing Strength Over Speed - Strength is important, but speed training often gets overlooked.

* Poor Exercise Selection & Progressions - Lifting heavy doesn’t always translate to better movement on the field.

* Neglecting Mobility & Movement Quality - Lifting without addressing mobility leads to inefficient movement and potential injuries.

* Training Like a Bodybuilder Instead of an Athlete - High-volume training designed for aesthetics doesn’t always serve athletic development.

* Ignoring In-Season & Game Day Training - Stopping strength work during the season leads to losses in performance and increased injury risk.

Link to Full Newsletter

* What Strength Coaches Get Wrong: Fixing the Most Common Program Mistakes

Thanks for Listening!

If you found this episode valuable, please take a moment to subscribe, rate, and review the podcast. Share it with other coaches who want to build stronger, more effective Strength & Speed programs.

Contact

Preston Pedersen, M.S.Ed., CSCS

Email: [email protected]

Twitter: @CoachPedersenMV

Website: www.PursuitPE.com

Podcast: BigTimeStrength.substack.com/

Linktree: @CoachPedersen

Are you tracking the right data—or just collecting numbers? In this episode, we break down the four Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) that provide real, actionable insights into athlete development. Instead of drowning in stats, learn how to focus on what actually drives progress.

Main Takeaways

* Why KPIs Matter – How tracking the right metrics leads to better coaching decisions and steady athletic progress.

* The 4 Must-Track KPIs – Attendance & engagement, relative strength, speed, and power—and why each one is critical.

* How to Track Without Overcomplicating It – Simple systems using Google Sheets, spaced-out testing, and visibility tactics to keep athletes engaged.

* Bonus Considerations – Two additional KPIs that could level up your program (work capacity & readiness tracking).

Link to Full Newsletter

* Tracking What Matters: Key Performance Indicators in Strength & Speed

Thanks for Listening#8

Thanks for tuning in—let’s keep building stronger students, programs, and futures!

– PrestonPursuit PE ⚡️

In this episode, we break down how pen & paper training systems can work seamlessly with light digital tracking to enhance Strength & Speed programs—without requiring iPads at every rack or costly subscriptions. Whether you're tracking attendance, test metrics, or athlete progress, this episode will help you find a balanced system that fits your program.

Main Takeaways

* The Case for a Digital “Home Base”

* Paper = great for daily use, but you need a long-term data solution for tracking progress.

* Action Step: Use a simple Google Sheet to log key stats weekly or monthly.

* Attendance Tracking Made Easy

* A Google Form helps you see trends & spot inconsistencies with zero extra admin time.

* Performance Dashboards & KPI Monitoring

* Logging test metrics (e.g., speed, jump, lifts) connects training to real-world performance.

* Handling Multi-Sport Athletes

* One unified data system captures progress across all sports & seasons.

* Long-Term Bonus: This helps reduce injury risks & guide training adjustments.

* How to Start Without Overcomplicating It

* Pilot with one class—see what’s manageable before expanding.

* Keep Costs Minimal—Google Sheets is free, or invest in a one-time-cost system with support.

* Refine Over Time—If tracking is slowing you down, simplify the inputs.

Link to Full Newsletter

* Bridging Pen & Paper with Digital: A Practical Blend for Easy Data Insights

Thanks for Listening

What tracking method works best for you—all paper, all digital, or a hybrid? Reply & let me know! Let’s keep pursuing excellence together!

– PrestonPursuit PE ⚡️