Strength and Conditioning

 

FITNESS CENTER STAFF

		Douglas Scott, C.S.C.S has been a member of the Pingry faculty since 1999 and has served as a Physical Education teacher and Strength and Conditioning coach since that time. Coach Scott designs workouts for both male and female student athletes competing on a variety of Varsity and Junior Varsity athletic teams. Outside of school, Mr. Scott is a personal trainer and has written a number of fitness-related articles and chapters. Coach Scott is also a member of the National Strength and Conditioning Association, (N.S.C.A) and hold the title of Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (C.S.C.S).
		Joe Forte is a member of our Magistri faculty, serving Pingry for over 25 years. Throughout that time, Mr. Forte has held the position of Physical Education and Health teacher before becoming the Department Head for Physical Education, a position he still holds. In addition to teaching, Coach Forte has served as head coach for Varsity Wrestling and Golf, as well as serving as assistant Varsity coach for football. He has also coached a variety of middle school athletic teams including Wrestling, Football, Baseball, and Soccer. Mr. Forte also holds a Certification from the American Council on Exercise (A.C.E) as a Personal Trainer.

 

Overview

We pride our self on being a "full service" department with programs tailored to meet the needs of each Athlete. Staffed by qualified strength and conditioning coaches, the 2,500-square-foot state-of-the-art training facility is equipped to accommodate needs of each athlete. The training center is divided into three areas allowing athletes to improve in all facets of physical fitness.

Cardiovascular Training includes five high speed treadmills, two elliptical trainers, two stairclimbers and four upright exercise bikes. Each machine has different protocols assigned to them to insure each athlete is challenged to the appropriate level. 

Strength Training includes thirty-three different pieces of strength equipment from industry leaders such as Nautilus, Cybex, Paramount, Pendulum, and Hammer Strength. In addition, there is a free-weight area which includes power racks, dumbbells, an assortment of barbells and functional training equipment which allows for endless exercise choices. 

Flexibility training area is set for warm-up and cool-down exercises. This area also includes medicine balls, stability balls, and balance discs to work on abdominal and lower-back strength.

The coaching staff is well versed in the trends of the fitness industry and continuously updates the program to meet the growing needs of the student athletes, either by developing new exercise programs, or by adding new pieces of exercise equipment.

 

Mission Statement

The mission of the Pingry Strength and Conditioning department is to provide each student athlete with an opportunity to achieve their physical potential in the safest most efficient manner possible.

 

Training Philosophy                                       

Our training philosophy is centered on safe, efficient, and effective exercise programs tailored to meet each athlete's individual needs.  Each athlete is supervised by an instructor and workouts are monitored and recorded to track exercise progress.

Regardless of the sport being played or the athlete's goals, the same core values of hard work, consistency, and self improvement are reinforced.

Hard Work

Each student is expected to work up to his or her ability.  We stress the importance of doing one's personal best and making sure that each exercise is completed with the appropriate technique.

Consistency

We remind each student that achieving and maintaining a high level of fitness is an on-going process.  There are no short cuts, quick fixes, or special exercises that will guarantee a high level of fitness.  It is important to stay consistent and make the training program part of a weekly routine. 

Strength training during the athletic season is a key factor to staying injury free and performing at the highest level.

Self Improvement

Along the same lines as working hard and staying consistent is the notion that, during each workout, one should strive to improve on every exercise from the previous workout.  We encourage every athlete to chart their exercises on a workout card and use this as a motivational tool to measure progress.

These core values are the fundamental aspects that allow for the body to adapt and become stronger and more physically fit.  We place a great deal of responsibility on the students to take ownership of their program and to "do the work."  We do this so that each student understands that his or her level of fitness is directly related to their efforts put forth in the training center.

 

Injury Prevention and Rehabilitation

The exercises chosen for our strength training programs are geared around stabilizing the joints most often injured in athletics (knees, back, and shoulders).  Unfortunately, injuries do happen.  If injured, it is important to receive medical treatment from our athletic trainer or a personal physician.  Once cleared for activity by the doctor, the Coaching staff can design a program to help strengthen the injured area so as to avoid further injury.

 

Summer Program

A six week strength and conditioning program is offered during the summer recess.  The main intent of this program is to give fall athletes participating in sports an opportunity to ready themselves for their sport.  The program focuses on total body strength development along with conditioning and speed enhancement drills and activities.  The exact times and dates of this program will be posted as the summer nears.  Although this program is intended for fall season athletes, any student can take advantage of the training center hours and complete a workout.

 

Personal Training

During any one of the scheduled class periods, students have the option of scheduling a one-on-one training session with one of our strength coaches.  These appointments are usually made a day in advance and are a great way for students to receive extra attention. 

 

Healthy Living

The Coaching staff also speaks with students regularly about topics outside of the Fitness Center that can impact performance. Two of the most common subjects are nutrition and stress management.