Don’t Feed the Cats

I’ve got a lot of respect for Tony Holler and his “Feed the Cats” system. It’s about keeping athletes fresh, explosive, and motivated. And that’s a philosophy I can get behind. He has certainly made me a better coach. But here’s the thing: in College Athletics, our job isn’t just to keep athletes fresh. It’s to get them ready. Ready for camp. Ready for hard Tuesdays. Ready for fourth quarters in November when your legs are toast and no one cares. In a “Feed the Cats” environment, it’s all about quality over quantity, and that’s great. But 18 to 23 year old Young Men need challenge. They need to be pushed. They need to face difficulty head-on, because when it’s Week 8 and their body is aching, their job is still on the line. In college sports, we give our athletes structure. We set up their classes. We provide their meals. Everything’s laid out. And if we make the road too smooth, we risk leaving them unprepared for the bumps ahead. So, is it ideal to push them through tough, challenging workouts from time to time? Maybe not. But is it necessary? Absolutely.

So here’s your question this week: Are you building athletes who feel good in June? Or ones who can still go in November? Keep the Fire Burning, Leech