You don't have to be an Athlete at Paris High School to enjoy the benefits of BFS
s the bodyfat levels of Americans continue to se and create havoc with our health and “The weight training class has become so popular that last year about one-third of the entire school quality of life, most high schools are concerned about tried to enroll,” says Mick Roberts, a physical educé their students getting enough exercise. One school tion teacher and head football coach at Paris. “W having trouble with enrollment in its weight had to limit the class to just juniors and seniors classes is Paris High School in Paris, Illinois. But the because we only have one class.
problem here is not about getting enough students to wants to lift has to do so before school, at 7 a.m., enroll and participate in their classes -it’s figuring when I open up the weightroom, or after school. I the kids who want to train. future. Such enthusiasm wasn't always the class at Paris High School is so popular case.
School four years ago, technically they didn't even have a weightschool tried to enroll! a separate facility that was about a quarter of a mile from the high school and inside the Stronger is the best high school training program I've ever come across because immediate feedback," says Mick Roberts, the PE teacher who started the class. football locker room.” For Roberts, such an arrangewas approved during his second year, and it's been ment just wasn't good enough. going strong ever since. “We call it Advanced PE, but “We just made minor changes to make it fit the requirements of our curriculum.”
When Roberts signed on at Paris four years ago, his first order of business was to bring the weighttraining program I've ever come across because the room back to the high school campus. “Not only did kids constantly see improvement and because it gives we want to utilize the weightroom in a classroom setimmediate feedback. We don't see plateaus with our ting for non-athletes, we also wanted our athletes to be able to use the weightroom before and after kids, and I think that’s one of the biggest pitfalls of many high school weight training programs. In other school.
This was not possible with our off-campus programs there are cycles of ups and downs and weightroom, especially with our younger athletes without driver's licenses.” The first facility Roberts was able program kids are continually motivated because they constantly see improvement.” shape, Roberts set about trying to raise from the school booster club, and student fundraising activities that ranged gram, and I insisted on getting power racks for safety day. Multi-sport athletes don't have to worry about reasons.” staying late or coming before school, and they can With his on-campus weightroom in place, Roberts proposed a weight he had taught at his previous school.
His proposal get their workouts 12 months a year. Robert's initial weight training classes begin with watching BFS videos and introducing the Six Absolutes of perfect technique, followed by handson teaching of the lifts and proper spotting techniques with the empty bar. “They have to show us they can perform the lifts and spot properly without any weights before they get into the program.” Such attention to safety, Roberts says, is one reason he hasn't seen a single injury in the weightroom since he's been at Paris. Although the students learn how to design their own BFS workouts, Roberts uses the BFS Beat the Computer program when the students first begin their regular workouts.
“One of the reasons we went to the Beat the Computer program was that it was so simple — just had to enter the students’ maxes into the computer. It also prints out reports so the students can see their progress during the class.” is is Roberts’ 20th year as a coach, and he has seen firsthand the growing problem of childhood obesity. Much of the problem, he says, is due to simple inactivity among our young people. “I hate to use the word lazy, but that seems to be the trend; and often the only exercise some of these kids get is what we have them do in our classes.
There is a lot of debate about why kids are so inactive, but I will say that video games seem to be a major factor contributing to this problem.” Another issue is poor nutrition.
Robert's approach to nutrition is to begin by encouraging the kids to eat well. “Some kids are always trying to take the shortcuts with supplements such as creatine, and we try to discourage that - getting stronger is something you just can't take shortcuts on. We also tell our kids to stay away from caffeine and cut down on sugar. Teenagers all across the country drink too much soda and eat way too much junk food. It's a major concern for me, both as a physical education instructor and as a coach.”
Moving On Up Construction of a cafeteria two years ago forced Roberts to move his weight training gym to two classrooms, each approximately 20' by 40', which he modified by knocking out part of the wall between the rooms to give more open area. “It's a better setup for us because it is more secure and has air conditioning,” says Roberts. “We also put in a rubber floor, painted some school logos and record boards on the wall, so it's actually pretty nice.” motivate students and athletes alike. At bottom, many former ath- Roberts is especially proud of his record boards, which he developed for the girls the boys.
“The first record board I did was boys, and after I put it up the girls got interested.
The weights on the record board were too high for use the BFS program at their base. the girls - there aren't a lot of girls out there squatting 450, for example — so we decided that the girls should have a board of their own.” In addition to recording the core lifts such as the squat and power clean, the boards drill.
High School is A.J. record boards. It certainly made our athletes work harder extensively with A.J. at it.”
The success of the dot drill also inspired Roberts to purchase a BFS plyo ramp. box jumps with someone holding his hand,” says exercise for the boys and girls.” The results? “In foot- Roberts. “The only thing he doesn't do is the dot ball this year I noticed our big kids had much better drill. He's also adding quite a bit of muscle and can lateral movement, and it appears to be really benefisquat 235, deadlift 370 and has worked up to 210 in cial to our basketball and baseball players. Another benefit is that it’s a great ankle strengthener — our athletes haven't had any trouble with ankle injuries.”
because here's a kid with a definite physical disability Although few athletes from a single high school who is really working his tail off and making gains.” make it to the college gridiron, Roberts has found ed, he couldn't even do nspires other kids.
In addition to current students such as A.J., there that those from Paris High School often have an are many Paris graduates who are inspiring Roberts' advantage over other athletes. “I've had a couple of students. “There's a National Guard unit deployed in my players play 1AA football — actually there are Baghdad right now that has nine soldiers who once several of them playing right now — and I know their played football for me. Our football players proudly their commitment to our freedom.” were compared to many of the kids coming out of some of those soldiers with their workouts. other high schools.”
“Several of the men contacted me back in April because they had started and they wanted a workout from our Beat the Computer program. I printed mailed them to Iraq; they just love that BFS program!”
Roberts is no exception. Take, for example, A.J.
Scheiner. “A.J. has been blind since birth, and when he first came to the by the weightlifting bug, and his efforts have made a difference. “T've seen tremendous results from the class, and not just school the administration didn't want to put him in in those who participate in sports. Weight training is regular physical education classes because they didn't an activity that these kids can do all their lives, and it think he could do much. They enrolled him in my has a positive effect on their physical fitness weight training class, and my assistant Marline esteem. It's the perfect fit for our physical education Terrell worked with him.
program at Paris High School and a great way for the “Thad my doubts about A.J. learning how to power clean, but now he power cleans — he even does students to maintain their fitness beyond their class: room years.” BS”
From BFS Magazine — January/February 2005. Part of the BFS Magazine Archive (1980–2014).
