Nine years ago, West Noble High School in Indiana didn’t have much of a weight room program or culture to boast about. However, when Wyatt Tuggle was hired as a physical education teacher and coach, he was asked what he would want to change or introduce to the school and students. His answer was simple – a strength program,
“It was a part of my high school experience, and I wanted West Noble students to experience the benefits of a dedicated strength and conditioning program.”
Now, fellow PE teacher Dale Marano, who teaches some of the weightlifting electives, says the program has taken off and is very much something to be proud of,
“Our weightlifting electives and advanced classes for 10th through 12th graders allow all our students to be in the weight room consistently. And it is a healthy balance between athletes and non-athletes all wanting to make the weight room a part of their routine as students.”
As a result, West Noble students are seeing the impact of a strength and conditioning program through measurable growth and improvement. Wyatt says that by charting and showcasing growth, students have seen exactly what the program is doing for their overall strength and success,
“With PLT4M, we track and monitor all of our workouts so that students can see and visualize their progress throughout a semester or entire school career. By connecting them to the data and growth, they have bought in, and the culture of our program is awesome.”
Here is what a day in the life looks like in the West Noble weight room.
Personalized Programs That Promote Progress and Growth
Students who walk into the weight room for class don’t come empty-handed. Each student brings their 1-to-1 Chromebook to access a personalized workout program in PLT4M.
Wyatt, who has taken BFS and added his own twist, builds workouts in PLT4M using percentages tailored to students’ baseline data. From here, students have opportunities throughout the semester to update and change weights using ‘worksets’ that update core lifts automatically within the system. Wyatt explains how he sets the stage at the beginning of the semester for what he is looking for from students,
“I start each semester with examples from previous groups. With PLT4M, I can show the charts and graphs demonstrating students’ progress and growth throughout the program and what other students can expect to see if they work hard.”
And while everyone has an opportunity to pursue improvement, Wyatt describes the excitement for newer students within the classes,
“Our newer students in the weight room start with very light weights and quickly start to see their numbers increase over the semester. By giving constant feedback and opportunities to improve, students work hard and push to hit the next rep or set.”
More Than Just Data Tracking
While West Noble turned to PLT4M as a strength and conditioning software, they have found the instructional content and materials to be a huge added boost for the students. Dale says that each exercise within the weight room having a demo video creates a common language and consistency within the program,
“The videos have been a huge resource for teaching and reinforcing good form and technique throughout our classes.”
And beyond just the weight room, West Noble also incorporates PLT4M into days that students aren’t weightlifting. For example, on non-weight room days, Wyatt says that students complete different recovery assignments like yoga, stretching, and other follow-along lessons within PLT4M,
“For us, it is about more than just strength gains but putting together the complete picture of development and growth within PE classes.”
Bonus Content: PLT4M Instructional Video On The Barbell Back Squat.
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Key Takeaways On West Noble’s Growth In The Weight Room
While turnout and student involvement were the initial signs of growth, student progress and improvement now tell the story of West Noble’s weight room success. From individual progress charts to school leaderboards, the data from PLT4M showcases the tremendous amount of hard work and effort students put into the weightlifting program.
Overall, West Noble has seen the wide range of benefits of a school-based strength and conditioning program. The results translate to everything from everyday life to improved athletic performance.
Looking forward, the school not only plans to continue the electives but also is enhancing the overall experience with a new weight room. Wyatt explains that as a community, the weight room has become a great place of pride,
“The culture has shifted and everyone is seeing the benefits of a strength and conditioning program for students at West Noble.”
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