I’m Glad You Quit: That’s the Goal

Mighty Oak Athletic Podcast S2:E39 - I’m Glad You Quit - That’s the Goal!

Inevitably, student athletes quit their strength training program at Mighty Oak Athletic. It’s part of the natural rhythm of training. Some kids quit because it got hard and they didn’t want to push through the challenge. Others get bored and want to try something new. A few may even have a bad experience—though that’s rare. One of our core principles is to help kids discover the power of strength training as a way to build confidence, capability, and a lifelong commitment to health and fitness.

Sometimes, kids quit before they’ve built a solid foundation. That’s always tough. As coaches, we invest time, energy, and heart into every session. We genuinely enjoy the process—especially when it’s not easy. Growth rarely is.

But there’s one kind of “I quit” that makes me smile ear to ear.

It usually happens after 6 to 12 months of consistent training. The athlete has learned the fundamentals—squat, hinge, push, pull. They’ve grown stronger, more confident, more capable. And then, one day, they say, “I think I’m ready to train on my own.”

These are usually middle school or high school students. They’re eager to explore. Maybe they’ve found inspiration online. Maybe they want more control over their program, their music, or the gym they train in. Maybe they just want to mix it up with a smoothie bar.

And that’s great.

That’s the goal.

Much like a parent preparing their child to graduate high school and move on to college, work, or the military, our role as coaches is to guide our athletes toward independence. We want them to understand how their bodies move, how to train safely, how to think critically about what they’re doing in the gym—and in life.

If they take what they’ve learned at Mighty Oak Athletic and go apply it in their own way, on their own terms, that’s a win.

“I quit” can be a beautiful phrase.

It means the training worked. It means they’re ready.

While I may feel a little sad to see them go, I love to watch them take that next step—to step into a world where they are their own coach, their own motivator, their own guide.

Because that’s what strength training is really about. Not just lifting weights. But learning to lift your own life.