Strength and Conditioning Steps-Up During Phase I

Mateo Vazquez ’21

Sports Editor

As the Bantams athletes return to campus, they are finding numerous ways to adapt to the new challenges that they must face in light of the impact the COVID-19 pandemic has had on athletics. An area of their training that looks quite different during the Phase-1 stage of athletics reopening is the Strength and Conditioning program. One major change for the program includes the reduced number of athletes that are allowed to train per session and utilize the equipment at one time. 

The varsity gym welcomes the highest flow of traffic for athletes who are training both during the on-season and off-season. However, changes that were implemented this semester ensure that athletes are ready to take on their upcoming seasons by reducing traffic and high volumes of students utilizing the spaces at one time. Another major change athletes must adapt to includes outdoor Strength and Conditioning, which they will partake in under tents when the weather is not feasible for training. This allows for an easier environment for athletes to safely train and reduces the need to wear a mask, given that each individual has more than 12 feet of space between them and others. 

The varsity gym will provide athletes with a diverse schedule including strength, circuit, and wildcard workouts, as well as a variety of bonus workouts if athletes would like to participate in multiple sessions. The new changes also allow the athletes to work with a variety of coaches that they may not have had the chance to in past years and will be a good way to further familiarize themselves with the staff. 

 Athletes will notice that there are a lot of advantages for them during this fall season to specifically develop their skills on a personal level. Trainers throughout this week will be conducting a baseline test that allows athletes to have a detailed personal plan that highlights their strengths and weaknesses to further develop themselves throughout the semester. 

Then, prior to the end of the semester in the fall, there will be another cycle  of baseline testing which will highlight any changes of improvement and of course allow them to further focus on different areas of their training over the winter break. A weekly nutrition newsletter that provides tips, workout outlines, and goals to keep in mind throughout the training process has also been added to the resources athletes have been given this semester. The Strength and Conditioning staff are doing all that they can with their given resources to meet the needs of athletes and provide them with opportunities to grow and remain competitive throughout the semester.