Coach Todd Harmon is a passionate and experienced leader in youth basketball, serving as Director of Operations and head coach with Colorado Lightning, a competitive club basketball program based in the North Metro Denver area. Colorado Lightning isn’t just about winning games—it’s a faith-centered community where young athletes learn fundamental skills, character, and effort through the sport of basketball.
With over a decade of coaching experience and a lifelong personal connection to the game, Coach Todd’s approach blends technical skill development with practical athletic training. His numerous articles and training guides for Colorado Lightning reflect a commitment to preparing players not only for in-game success but also for the physical demands of high-level competition. Among these contributions, his discussion on weight lifting stands out as a pivotal message for high-school players looking to elevate their performance.
In his piece “The Game-Changing Power of Weight Lifting for High School Basketball Players: A Coach’s Perspective,” Coach Todd makes a compelling case for incorporating strength training into the development plan of young athletes. He frames weight lifting not as an optional extra but as a transformative element that can turn good players into great ones. While acknowledging that he is not a licensed athletic trainer, he draws on years of personal coaching experience and firsthand observations to emphasize how strength training boosts both athletic ability and overall on-court effectiveness.
According to Coach Todd, weight lifting builds crucial physical traits that directly translate to basketball performance: improved power for explosive moves, greater muscular endurance to sustain effort throughout games, and reduced injury risk through strengthened muscles and connective tissues. His perspective is rooted in the belief that athletes who invest time in proper strength work are better equipped to handle the rigors of a long season, including the jump stops, cuts, rebounds, and drives that define competitive play.
More than just physical benefits, Coach Todd sees weight training as a confidence builder. Athletes who feel stronger often play with more conviction—they attack the rim more aggressively, defend with greater tenacity, and carry themselves with the self-assurance that comes from knowing they’ve prepared thoroughly. This psychological boost is something Coach Todd links closely with overall growth, both in sport and in life.
What sets Coach Todd apart is his holistic approach. Strength and conditioning are just one piece of a larger philosophy that includes fundamental skill work, mental preparation, strategy, and character development. Whether discussing stretching routines, leg-day workouts, or the intricacies of basketball intelligence, his content consistently bridges the gap between physical training and thoughtful, purposeful development.
At the heart of Colorado Lightning and Coach Todd’s mission is helping young players thrive not only as athletes but as confident, resilient individuals. By integrating weight lifting into a broader training regimen, Coach Todd reinforces that success on the hardwood is built through discipline, consistency, and informed effort—values that serve players throughout their basketball journey and beyond.
