Summer break offers a much-needed pause from the rigors of the academic year, but it also poses new challenges for strength coaches. Without the structure of a normal school day, keeping athletes active becomes a delicate task. While hosting summer workouts is a great solution, not every student is able to attend regularly due to vacations, jobs, or transportation barriers. That’s why it’s important to develop creative ways to foster activity, accountability, and motivation during the summer months.
Simple, Flexible Workout Plans
Take-home or digital workout templates help athletes stay fit on their own time. Simple structures like bodyweight circuits, hill sprints, resistance band work, or core routines are effective for training athletes with minimal or no equipment. If workouts are adaptable to different environments, athletes can focus on consistency over intensity.
School-Wide Summer Activity Challenges
School-wide or team-specific fitness challenges encourage consistent activity. A virtual leaderboard for distance walked, ran, or biked promotes competition between students. Gamifying movement and making it open to all students also encourages participation.
Low-barrier competitions:
- Number of days students are active for 30+ minutes
- Miles walked or biked
- Push-up or plank streaks
Remote Support
Even the most committed athletes will miss workouts due to vacation or work. Apps like TeamBuildr or a shared Google Sheet keeps coaches connected with athletes remotely. Many platforms allow for progress tracking, video demonstrations, and feedback, which help bridge the gap when athletes are off-campus. Even something as simple as a logging each day of activity fosters accountability.
Promote Play and Unstructured Activity
Not all fitness has to come from structured workouts. Encourage athletes to play pickup basketball, swim, hike, bike, or even play tag with siblings. Moving daily builds athleticism and overall health. A culture that supports activity overall is better at developing healthy habits in the long term.
Encourage athletes to:
- Play pickup games
- Go hiking or biking
- Organize a student-led walk/run group
- Try new sports or rec activities
Recovery, Nutrition, and Lifestyle
Summer is the perfect time for athletes to realize the value of everything they do when they’re not training. Reminders on topics like hydration, post-workout nutrition, the importance of quality sleep, and how to listen to their bodies promotes year-round wellness. Share weekly tips via email, social media, or posters at summer school.
Some example topics:
- The importance of sleep for performance and recovery
- How to eat well on a budget
- Hydration during hot summer days
- Managing soreness and stress
Explain the Why
Before summer starts, remind students how summer fitness connects to fall performance. Reinforce injury prevention, speed retention, and the importance of maintaining a training baseline. Athletes are more likely to stay active when they understand why it matters.
Fostering Activity
Summer is the season for activity, both physically and socially. With a little creativity and communication, strength coaches can keep their athletes engaged and accountable, even when they’re outside of the weight room. The goal goes beyond maintaining performance, it’s about fostering independence, resilience, and a lifelong love for movement.
