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Yukon coach reports small but statistically significant gains from summer strength program
Summary
District strength coach Landon Parker told the Yukon school board that roughly 300 athletes across 10 sports took part in summer conditioning and showed statistically significant improvements in jump and sprint tests; the board posed routine questions about participation and plans to continue in-season training.
Landon Parker, the district's strength coach, told the Yukon School Board that this summer's strength program drew roughly 300 athletes from about 10 sports and produced statistically significant improvements in multiple performance measures.
"I would classify it as a very successful summer for all these sports that participated," Parker said as he reviewed test results and methods. He described the program format as three full-body workouts per week, spread over four days so each group could access the weight room, plus weekly speed and jump testing.
Parker said the main-gym group—about 85 athletes—averaged a 0.37-inch increase in vertical jump, 4.39 inches in the broad jump and 7 inches in the triple broad jump. He reported decreases in acceleration times and max-velocity times of roughly three-hundredths of a second on average, and he said paired-samples t tests showed the pre/post differences were statistically significant across the tracked metrics.
Parker explained testing protocols, including a "flying 10" (a short sprint measuring top speed after a buildup) and separate broad- and vertical-jump tests to measure horizontal and vertical force development. He said results varied by sport: volleyball showed a notable average improvement in approach vertical jump; baseball showed larger broad-jump gains tied to lower-body power; football groups improved but saw smaller gains relative to their baseline training age.
During questions, a board member asked whether sports that had low summer participation (for example, golf and wrestling) would still have opportunities. Parker replied that every sport could sign up and that some sports with busy summer schedules (wrestling, certain club travel) were less likely to field full summer groups.
The presentation concluded with Parker noting the program's value for consistent, year-round strength development: "Whereas in schools that don't have a strength program throughout the school year, this is the only time you'll see these athletes consistently in the weight room. But for us, because we have them all school year, we're gonna see them starting day 1 all the way through the last day of the school year."
