PREPNET / SPEAK OUT

Are off-season high school conditioning programs beneficial? Why or why not?

ROBBIE DUBOIS

Mission Viejo, Football

It’s very important because you have to get in shape if you want to run the ball. This guy [Russell Oschman] from Huntington Beach ran the ball 50 times last week, so you have to be in shape to do that.

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KIRSTEN von TUNGELN

University, Basketball

I strongly believe that off-season programs in high school are beneficial. .Training is important to every sport because it keeps the athletes in shape and helps them gain strength and endurance, which can carry them through the whole season.

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DENNIS CREIGHTON

Edison, Volleyball Coach

Off-season conditioning is beneficial. The off-season physical conditioning, like lifting weights, helps prevent injuries, and anything you can do to help in that aspect is a positive and I’m for it. You don’t need steroid bulked-up athletes, but strengthening and conditioning is good.

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LEN FIELDS

Retired Businessman

Conditioning, properly administered, can be nothing but a positive. When athletes are conditioned all year round, they have a much better chance of avoiding injury during the regular season.

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KEVIN REYNOLDS

Villa Park, Boys’ Basketball Coach

If overdone, off-season conditioning doesn’t work. You’ve got to decide how much time to give conditioning. If done right, it’s beneficial not only physically, but also conditioning builds mental toughness. Your players gain confidence, and it’s also a great time to build camaraderie.

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BOB HILLMAN

Retired Basketball Coach

After coaching high school basketball for the past 36 years in Indiana, Illinois and California, my experience is that young athletes need, if not require, the discipline that is gained from such “off-season” activities. It is more of a personal discipline situation and mental focus experience. To be good at anything takes total and highly-dedicated full-time mental focus.

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ERIC JOHNSON

Fountain Valley, Football Coach

They’re definitely beneficial. It makes the athletes better prepared to play. Stronger. Faster. If they’re not doing another sport, they should be in off-season conditioning. But if they’re in another sport, that’s fine.

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KEVIN KIERNAN

Troy, Basketball Coach

Due to the level of competition that we have now, without the off-season training, you’re risking injury. The sophistication of the training and the technology has gotten so advanced and so specialized, it’s foolish not to take advantage of everything out there to help your program and your athletes.

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