Building "Toughness" in players

toughness as I define it is one's ability to take and deal with a problem head on. That goes to the offseason program, coaches attention to detail, kids willingness to come to team events, ect...ect...ect...
And to me that is not always spoken, but some times just done by what you wont do, when you should do.

Just my two cents

During summer camp we set up what we call "Raider Games." We split the kids into teams and throughout the week we compete in different games (obstacle course, tire flip, tug o war, etc). I think competitition fuels toughness. Kids respond to adversity better when someone else is counting on them. This also builds team spirit and creates bonds between kids that normally don't hang out.

I would say if you want to build toughness, build your program around competition. Make everything have a purpose and a reason. Instead of just weightlifting to see personal gains, make teams and reward the team with the highest overall gains. Now you have kids pushing one another to achieve a goal.

All of you are spot on IMO. Competition leads to toughness. When kids never compete, they never become great competitors, which to me is a big part of being tough.

This may be the best thing our program has used to build toughness in the off-season:



After pushing a prowler all summer, the mental toughness required to play hard for 4 straight quarters has been a breeze.

That, of course, accompanied by an excellent Strength & Conditioning coach. If the kids aren't working hard, then it just doesn't matter anyway.

Here's a short list of some of the things we do:

100 yards to glory - Flip the tractor tire for 100 yards in 3 minutes. build to multiple sets. Have relays. Great fun.

Circle of champions - Everyone jogs in a big circle for 10 minutes. On the whistle everyone does 10 updowns. Blow the whistle once every minute for a total of 100 updowns.

Stairway to Heaven - Sprinting, plyometrics, and agilities up the stairs. Caution: the law of gravity will be obeyed.

The trail of tears - We've got a steep hill about 60 yards long and there is a deep groove cut into it where we run it. We start in the spring with two hills two to three times a week and add one every week. (we used it for punishment running for a kid that got caught drinking and the boys renamed it "the trail of beers.")

Sleigh Ride - I like to let those horses push me around on that seven man sled, even the backs and the recievers. 20 yard sprints. I also like one I got off this site called 5 in 2. They have to drive it five yards in 2 seconds. The goal is to knock me off the darn thing.

Snakes - Incorporating every stadium step into one lap around the track adds excitement to running laps. Start with 1 lap in the spring and build.

Championship Huds - Tired of hitting each other? let gravity and the electromagnetic force of the earth build toughness for you. It's a 50 yard sprint in full gear and you're doing and updown on every whistle with the whistle being blown every three seconds. The faster you go, the less updowns you do. One of my favorites to kick off two-a-days.

The joy of being alive - Nothing lets you know you're alive more than pain, and a good way to achieve this is through 12 gruelling minutes of running in the summer heat. The 12 minute run.

Eat Steel - The weight room

*Kids get tough by doing tough things. Build to it and sell it properly and the kids will take pride in doing things that others can't or won't do. Pump them up and make them feel great about it. Also, the more time and work they invest, the harder it will be to give up. "If it was easy, everyone would be a football star!"

thats our million dollar question.

and i suggested feeding them nails, dirt, and grits instead of tacos for team dinner. dont think the admin would be too pleased.

in all seriousness though, i believe toughness mostly comes from personal pride and not accepting defeat as a possibility. and pride comes from effort put in, especially during the offseason. if you are bustin your chops workin for somthin you are much less likely to accept defeat.