Movement, Nutrition, and Mindset. These are the three key areas of focus for Chris Summa, the new head strength and conditioning coach at George School. 

This year, George School is partnering with Perseverance Strength and Conditioning (PSC) to work with students in meeting their strength and fitness goals and fulfill their physical education requirements. Led by Chris, PSC coaches use exercise to teach students to gain strength by learning to safely push through discomfort. Ultimately, their goal is to build character and self-discipline, life-long skills that will support their growth beyond the walls of the gym and impact their everyday lives for years to come.

The impact that strength training had on Chris personally is what eventually led him to make coaching his life’s work. A talented high school athlete, Chris fell away from strength training in college. But shortly after graduating, he joined an endurance training group and felt that he found his community. Competing in endurance events with teammates, he was inspired by the mindset of building himself up while also building up those around him.

“Seeing the change in those around me was inspiring,” said Chris. He began coaching and remembers one of his first clients. “She was unhealthy and overweight but was highly motivated to better herself for her family and to improve her quality of life. She made consistent progress but was always afraid of certain movements and challenges. One momentous day she conquered a box step up, a previously unfathomable feat. She got very emotional and cried; that moment changed me.”

Chris had long dreamt of coaching high school students; a friend connected him to PSC, and he was immediately inspired by the owner’s coaching philosophy and focus on bettering students with a three-pillar approach to fitness: movement, nutrition, and mindset. Drawing on his experience working with everyone from true beginners to Division I athletes; Chris looks forward to working with students at all levels at George.

All students have access to the PSC coaches through team strength and conditioning, a Fitness 101 PE class, and individualized coaching/programing. PSC’s Fit for Purpose Program (F2P2), available for an additional fee, is a fully individualized program that begins with an individual assessment including range of motion, quality of movement, and posture evaluations. Through individualized coaching and programming, F2P2 focuses on performance enhancement, injury prevention, nutrition, and mindset. Visit our Strength and Conditioning page for more information about George School’s strength and conditioning program and F2P2.