This is something that he has been, “wanting to do for years,” he says.  On Wednesday and Saturday mornings, Coach How and the boys get together  for their warrior workouts.  They call themselves “The Elite Warriors,” a play on my business name, Elite Basketball Training, and the name of their middle school team, “The Warriors.”  Coach How says:

“I’ve made five 15lb. sandbags from car innertubes, a wt. sled from a wheelbarrow (no wheels or handles) pushed from 2 ropes attached to a thick dowel rod. The sled is also pulled by the ropes attached to a weight lifting belt worn by the boys for our “ultimate suicides”.  We use 10lb. dumbbells and 12 lb. medicine balls.  I plan on getting an agility ladder and a tractor tire as you referenced in recent posts. We end our sessions with your body weight workout as seen on your videos.” 

These boys are incredible!  Honestly, how many eighth graders are getting up early on a Saturday mornings (8 AM), nevermind at 7 AM on Wednesday mornings to do anything let alone a basketball strength and conditioning workout.  From this, it is clear that these guys are highly motivated to take their games to the next level, and they have! 

Since Coach How’s original email to me on November fifth we have corresponding frequently and he has been updating me on The Warriors progress with their strength and conditioning as well as their basketball games.  The Warriors played in their conference tournament on the weekend of December 12.  They were seeded second and had previously lost to the number one seeded team in overtime who is from a town that is five times their size.  That weekend I received my most recent update from Coach How, and I could not have been happier.  The email read:

Great news!  We finished our conference tournament today and the boys won the championship game!  Couple of hard fought games today. The last time their middle school won was 1993.

Coach How and his boys had a goal and instead of sitting around and just waiting and hoping for that goal to be achieved, they went out and made their own destiny.  They had a plan and set it into motion and were ultimately rewarded for their hard work and determination.  They their own success and I could not be more impressed with this group of boys and their upstart coach.  They are the perfect example of the old adage that says while you are sitting around doing nothing, there is always someone out there that is practicing and getting better.  This is a valuable lesson that they have learned and one that will stick with them throughout their entire lives. 

Below is a video montage of one “The Elite Warriors” warrior workouts.  Coach How describes the workout in the following way: After warming up, we train on the machines – just 2 sets and light weight 12-15 reps. Besides the exercises shown in the weight room, we also do dumbbell chest presses 10 – 15lb. 12 reps.  All together, the weight room takes about 20 min.  Then we head into the gym.  Medicine ball routine – shuffle pass x 5, drop step x 10 from each side, rebound off backboard x 10 from each side, and wood choppers. Our point guard then works on some dribbling skills.  They all work on hand strength with a 5lb. medicine ball while standing on a balance pad.  We then move onto sandbags; lunges, lateral, and jumps, the some spins and lifts.  Then the sled! 80lbs. x 3 down and backs – pushes.  then 3 pulls using the weight belt. about 30 min in gym altogether.