At Pike Central High School in Indiana, the PE elective class focused on strength and conditioning brings together a diverse mix of students—from 9th to 12th graders, athletes to non-athletes— all working out in one class period. Despite students’ varying fitness levels and goals, PE teacher and Strength Coach Chris Kramer has designed a progressive program that meets each student where they are.
Chris’ approach ensures that everyone makes measurable progress regardless of their starting point, fostering a culture of inclusivity and growth. In this class, strength isn’t just about lifting weights—it’s about building confidence, discipline, and lifelong habits.
The Progressional Approach At Pike Central
At Pike Central, strength and conditioning revolve around foundational movements that anchor any effective training program. Regardless of experience or fitness level, every student practices variations of the squat, lunge, hinge, press, and pull.
Students perform different variations of these movements in class, as Chris adjusts the difficulty to suit individual abilities. For example, students progress through the squat by mastering the bodyweight version before advancing to the goblet squat, front squat, and finally, the back squat.
Chris grounds his approach in Zach Dechant’s “Movement Over Maxes“ philosophy, which Pike Central emphasizes for its long-term benefits,
“Students want to lift heavy weights, but we focus on ensuring safety and proper technique first,“ Coach Kramer explains. “The goal is full range of motion and quality movement throughout our progressions so students are better off in the long run.”
For some students, this means staying on the field and performing consistently across multiple sports seasons. For others, it’s about feeling stronger and healthier in daily life. Regardless of individual goals, students understand that weight and difficulty only increase when form and movement quality remain intact.
Managing Mixed Bag Classes & Various Progressions
Providing a personalized experience for a class with mixed grade levels, abilities, and interests is crucial in principle, but implementing it requires thoughtful planning and resources. At Pike Central, Chris Kramer has found success using PLT4M, a digital platform that allows him to assign different workout variations tailored to individual student needs. With the PLT4M app, students can access personalized workouts and progressions, ensuring they stay on track and see progress, regardless of their starting point.
Pike Central has used PLT4M for several years, initially leveraging students’ personal phones to access the platform. However, when Indiana implemented a state-wide cell phone ban, the school pivoted to its 1:1 device program, utilizing school-issued Chromebooks instead. Reflecting on this shift, Chris notes,
“The transition away from cell phones has been good because students can still tap into technology and personalized workouts. And while we make it part of the class expectation to come prepared, if someone shows up without their Chromebook or it is dead, they can share using rackview, which makes it work in any situation.”
This adaptability ensures that every student can access the tools they need, creating a seamless classroom experience. And Chris says it has proved beneficial for the small rural school even when not in class,
“PLT4M has been a valuable tool for our athletes before and after school and for students looking to do things independently over breaks or on weekends. It has connected all the pieces for our small school environment.“
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Measuring Success in Multiple Ways
As Coach Chris Kramer emphasizes throughout the program, success isn’t simply defined by the weight on the bar. While new personal bests are exciting, the true focus at Pike Central revolves around quality movement and developing well-rounded individuals in the weight room.
Beyond physical achievements, success also stems from the connections students make with the program and each other,
“It is really cool to see groups of students working together and giving feedback on form and technique,” Coach Kramer shares. “I might be working with a group on something in one corner of the weight room, and I’ll look over to see students helping and supporting one another throughout the workout.”
These moments of collaboration and camaraderie highlight the deeper impact of Pike Central’s strength and conditioning program. Whether it’s perfecting a lift or encouraging a peer, Pike Central proves that success in the weight room goes far beyond the numbers—it’s about building and growing through quality strength training progressions.
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