Throughout my 21 seasons coaching college football and three more at the high school level, I have witnessed the impact of consistent weight management for student-athlete's performance and overall well-being. As a coach, I understand the challenges programs face at various levels and the need for practical solutions to guide our athletes toward success.

Benefits of Regular Weight Management

Monitoring and managing daily body weight has numerous benefits for student-athletes, including:

• Improved Performance: Maintaining an optimal body weight enables athletes to perform at their best in both practice and competition. Proper nutrition, hydration, sleep, and recovery habits are essential for achieving and maintaining a healthy weight.
• Early Detection of Issues: Changes in body weight can be signs of underlying issues, such as illness, stress, and mental health challenges. Regular weight monitoring helps identify these concerns early, providing timely intervention and support.
• Better Sleep and Recovery: Sleep and recovery are one of the most important and yet missed on opportunities to impact athletes. Monitoring body weight creates awareness and can improve communication by regularly adding context to the athlete’s situation.  
• Long-term Health: Developing healthy weight management habits during their student-athlete years can set individuals up for success in maintaining their health and well-being throughout their lives.

Recommendations for Coaches

Here are some practical recommendations for coaches to implement daily weight management strategies in their programs:

1. Educate: Begin by educating athletes on the importance of daily weight management and its connection to their performance, health, and overall well-being.
2. Foster Open Communication: Encourage open communication about current nutrition, hydration, sleep, and recovery habits among athletes.
3. Implement an Action Plan: Introduce weight management strategies step-by-step to support athletes - Starting Today.

Today:

• Begin by educating athletes on the importance of daily weight management and its connection to their performance, health, and overall well-being.
• Start a dialogue with athletes about their current nutrition, hydration, sleep, and recovery habits, and encourage open communication.

Next Week:

• Get a starting body weight on all your athletes. 
• Establish the daily routine and create team accountability to the expectation.
• Determine a long-range goal for each athlete. Keep the goal attainable. If the goal is to gain or lose weight, use 1-pound per week as a general guide.  

• -You can use a range, such as Billy weighs 187 today.  You think he should gain weight.  
• -There are 12 weeks before practices begin at the end of the summer.  
• -His “Practice Start Goal Weight should be 199. Or you can add a range, 195-200.  
• -The most aggressive would be 200-205.

Next Month:

• Regularly review collected data to identify patterns, progress, and potential issues related to weight management.
• Adjust individualized strategies as needed, based on the data as well as the athletes' health, habits, and feedback.
• Continue to foster a supportive environment and maintain open communication with athletes about their weight management progress.

4. Personal Experience: Share personal experiences and stories of how consistent weight management contributed to the success of championship programs and how it has made a difference in athletes' lives.
5. Implement XA Score: Simplify your processes, save time, and provide consistent feedback that motivates athletes. XA Score can be a practical solution for coaches and athletes to manage weight effectively, fostering an environment of accountability and commitment to personal growth.

As a career college coach, primarily in college football, I've seen firsthand the impact of daily weight management on student-athlete's performance and overall well-being. By implementing these recommendations, coaches can guide their athletes toward success and help them achieve their full potential. Remember, championship programs are player-led, and consistent weight management is crucial in fostering a culture of accountability and commitment to personal growth.

‍