Grit in the Heat: July is Where Champions Begin

Brock Sawyer
Jul 8
3 min read

“The will to win is important, but the will to prepare is vital.”

— Joe Paterno

July doesn’t look glamorous. It looks like blistered turf. Sweat-stained hats. Sunrise workouts before the dew dries. And exhausted high school coaches returning home with more than a clipboard—carrying the weight of a team’s culture on their shoulders.

But here’s the truth every coach knows:

What happens in July echoes through every victory in October.

Why July Matters More Than Most Realize

For most sports programs, July isn’t officially “in season.”

But any good coach, trainer, or athlete will tell you—it’s the season.

This is when teams are forged.

Dr. Kevin Hill, sports performance physician at WakeMed, puts it plainly:

“You don’t build muscle, chemistry, or trust on gameday. Those are built in the unseen hours—when it’s 97° outside and only 9 players showed up, but the ones who did? They’re getting better together.”

Coaches are battling more than the thermometer this time of year. They’re fighting for buy-in. For attendance. For unity. And most of all, for momentum. Because by the time August rolls around, it’s too late to build a foundation. That work is done—or not—right now.

Training in the Heat: It’s Not Just About Toughness

Yes, we love the grit. The sweat. The “no days off” mindset.

But let’s be real—July heat is dangerous if mishandled. Which is why smart coaches don’t just preach toughness—they plan hydration schedules, shade breaks, and monitor player recovery.

“You can’t win if you’re in the ER,” says Coach Darrell Simmons, head football coach at a Charlotte-area high school.

“We push hard, but we plan harder. We use July to teach athletes how to train smart, not just hard.”

Mental Reps Matter More Than Ever

July isn’t just physical. It’s a classroom of adversity.

This is when:

Freshmen learn what leadership looks like.
Veterans learn what selflessness feels like.
Coaches evaluate character as much as talent.

“We always say: July separates the interested from the invested,” shares Kayla Winters, a strength coach who trains volleyball and soccer athletes in the Triangle.

“You see who’s showing up on time, who’s helping clean up, who’s lifting others—not just weights.”

What Coaches Are Building Now

Let’s be clear: every coach showing up in July is doing holy work. You’re not just preparing rosters—you’re preparing hearts, minds, and futures.

You’re:

Teaching kids how to show up even when it’s uncomfortable.
Modeling how to plan, prioritize, and persist.
Creating memories that these players will carry long after the scoreboard fades.

We see you. And we’re here for you.

At Vision Sporting Goods, we believe purpose starts long before the game does.

It starts in the July heat, on fields with no fans, in gyms with no cameras.

This month may never make the highlight reel.

But it will absolutely shape the season ahead.