Each in individual we coach is unique. Each athlete will respond slightly different to the same training stimulus. Some athletes are fast adapters and others are slow adapters. This is a fact; it is a fact that coaches seem reluctant to acknowledge as a fact. Coaches will talk about it but when push comes to shove it is much easier to have the same the program for all the athletes, essentially one size fits all. What happens then is that you get a leveling effect. Some athlete’s get better in spite of the training other stay the same and some regress. I have heard all the excuses about why you can’t acknowledge the individual and meet individual needs. The most common is: How can I do that with a team? I have too many athletes. If you working with a large number in a team sport then group the athletes, group them based on individual needs determined during the Physical Competency Assessment and in performance testing. The groups need to be dynamic, for example one athlete may need more acceleration so that athlete is in that need group and then may shift to another group in the weight room where he has different needs. It can be done. Sometimes it is as simple as changing the rest between runs or reps. It is not hard to do once you recognize the need to train for individual needs.
The athlete must be an active participant in the process, coaching is not something you do to the athlete; it is something you do with them. They need to understand their individual goals and needs and be taught how to manage their workouts so they are not coach dependent. This is true at any level. When you have ninth graders starting in a program this should be part of their orientation to the routine of training. It all starts with a good thorough Physical Competency Assessment (PCA) – that will help them to understand why they are doing certain exercises. For example why they are doing overhead squats and their teammate is doing regular squats. Once the athlete is totally involved in the process then it will make it much easier for the coach to individualize.
Renew your commitment to training the individual and you will see more consistent measurable results. When you commit to the individual then at least everyone has a chance to improve, which is all you can ask for.