The youth football landscape is more competitive than ever. Players are bigger, faster, stronger, and more skilled than ever before. As more athletes are taking their preparation seriously and more next-level players are becoming coaches upon retirement, skills and schemes are improving and games are becoming tougher. The pressure to perform and stay healthy is real, especially for those pursuing recruitment and scholarships. Unfortunately, even the most talented athletes are often missing crucial pieces in their development that are putting them behind once they reach that next level. As a strength and conditioning coach working with football players of all positions and skill levels over the last seven years who also played at the University level, I’ve seen the same struggles come up again and again. Here are the 7 biggest challenges most high school football players face—and how smart, individualized training can help solve them.
1. No Real Strength or Speed Program
Most high school players either follow random workouts they find online or stick to outdated routines that don’t match their goals or position. Oftentimes when we first discuss training with an interested young baller, they will express to us that they’re already good with what they’re doing because they go to [INSERT COMMERCIAL GYM NAME HERE] with their buddies and rip max bench presses and biceps curls 6 days per week. While we love the enthusiasm and we’re pumped to learn that they’re already doing SOME form of training, we know there’s a much better way and it’s our job to educate them. Without a structured plan, they miss out on critical gains in strength, power, speed, size, mobility, and conditioning: all of the tools needed to dominate between the white lines. The fix is simple; a proper strength and conditioning program designed by an educated and experienced professional will focus on building the necessary athleticism to govern the gridiron—progressive overload of strength and power work, sprint mechanics, multiplanar explosive movement, and position-specific skill development and conditioning are crucial in this pursuit. We always emphasize that at IPC we are both a training AND teaching facility; we don’t want our athletes to simply be robots who do what we tell them, but rather empowered individuals who understand the why and how behind the what. Not only does this build buy-in, but it sets our athletes up for a long, healthy, and successful athletic career and beyond.
2. Confusion and Misinformation
Our world is unfortunately inundated with TikTok workouts, YouTube “gurus,” friends at school, or “my buddy’s dad who benched 405 in high school,” sharing bad advice. It’s unfortunate because there actually is plenty of solid training information available on the internet, but for every good piece of advice there are ten bad, and the untrained high school football player’s eye is unable to sift through the chaos. The truth is, most high school athletes are training based on myths, not science. From outdated ideologies like “don’t lift in-season” (which will have you performing at your worst when it matters most: playoff time) to “train like the pros,” (who often perform as well as they do IN SPITE OF their training, not BECAUSE OF it), they’re following advice that just doesn’t apply. A knowledgeable coach cuts through the noise with evidence-based, proven training and recovery methods, helping athletes train smart and get real, lasting results.
3. Avoidable Injuries
While injury prevention and bulletproof are nebulous terms that get thrown around too much today, a well-constructed and coached training program can certainly decrease the likelihood of injuries and build a resilient athlete. While some injuries are part of the game, many are avoidable or more easily managed through proper training. And there’s no denying that when training is poorly designed, or skipped altogether, the risk goes way up. A great S&C program strengthens joints, improves mobility, and teaches proper movement mechanics that reduce injury risk. Prehab becomes part of the process, not an afterthought.
4. Time Constraints and Burnout
Between school, practice, games, homework, and social life, today’s players are stretched more thinly than ever. Especially in Canada, our youth play a ton of football! While we all love high school football, there’s no denying that the best opportunity to play elite football here in Ontario is by playing Summer football in a league like the OSFL where you get to compete against the best talent across the province. This means that between high school and Summer football, kids may end up playing between 14 and 20 games depending on playoffs; this is as many, if not more, than professionals! All too often, that leads to skipped lifts, overtraining, or poor recovery, when in reality these things need to be emphasized even more heavily. Once again, the fix here is simple; well-designed programs are time-efficient and manageable. Oftentimes, the issue is that the dose makes the poison. Great coaching doesn’t just add more; it teaches athletes how to balance the load and recover effectively so they don’t burn out.
5. Low Confidence in the Weight Room and on the Field
In the world of athletics, confidence is everything. Coach Joe Kenn said it best; while we hope our programs make athletes jump higher, run faster, and be stronger, confidence is the one thing we CAN guarantee we’ll be able to develop in the weight room. Unfortunately, living in this Instagram and TikTok world, many high school athletes feel unsure of themselves due to constant comparison and evaluation—whether it’s how to lift, how they look, or how they perform under pressure. The weight room is the ultimate confidence builder. Progress—no matter how small—creates belief. With the right coaching, athletes learn to own their development and carry that mindset onto the field. At IPC, we tell our guys the truth: you don’t rise to the occasion on Friday nights, but rather you fall to the level of your systems. When the lights come on and the stands are packed, you’re not suddenly better; you’re exactly who you’ve trained to be. That’s why we build systems that hold up in the fourth quarter, when you’re gassed, the game’s tight, and everything’s on the line. Through proper preparation, you don’t panic — you execute.
6. No Roadmap to Recruitment
Many high school players want to play at the next level, but they have no idea know how to prepare or even approach the process. They’re unsure how to train for combines, showcases, or what recruiters are even looking for. How should I email Coaches? Which camps and combines should I attend? How do I make a highlight tape? We’ve had the pleasure of guiding numerous athletes through the recruiting process over the years, and thankfully are able to confidently and correctly answer all of these questions.
Additionally, through our years of experience preparing a variety of athletes for various football combines, we’ve devised the perfect recipe to develop the exact traits recruiters want: things like 40-yard dash speed, vertical and broad jump power, change-of-direction efficiency, and strength. We’ve discussed at length in the past how the combine is like a choreographed dance with specific footwork and setup required to excel in each drill. On combine day, it becomes immediately apparent who’s studied for the test and who hasn’t. Athletes who’ve trained with intention stand out, while those who haven’t get left behind.
7. One-Size-Fits-All Team Workouts
Every athlete is different, which is why we at IPC are committed to evaluating and assessing everyone who walks through our doors to ensure we can design the safest and most effective training plan that will help them meet and exceed their goals. A lineman shouldn’t train like a cornerback, and freshman shouldn’t be on the same program as a senior. Personalized programming and consistent monitoring of metrics is key. Individualizing based on position, experience, goals, needs, and weaknesses leads to better performance, faster results, and fewer setbacks.
In Closing
High school football players face more demands than ever before. While there’s no denying talent plays a role, proper development is the true difference-maker. The right strength and conditioning plan doesn’t just help players lift more, it helps them play more, move better, and level up their game. If you’re an athlete (or a parent of one) looking to get ahead, stay healthy, and unlock your full potential, we’re here to help. Hit the link below and send us a message so we can help you get on the path to gridiron dominance today!