Chapter Overview:

0:00 – Intro
0:12 – Rex’s Athletic Background
0:38 – Training Before LPS Athletic
0:55 – Why Rex Joined LPS
1:10 – Improvements & Results from LPS Training
1:28 – Coaching Experience at LPS
1:40 – Overcoming Challenges
1:59 – Sacrifices for Success
2:21 – Biggest Accomplishment in Football
2:38 – What DOMINATE Means to Rex
2:55 – Future Goals & Advice for Aspiring Athletes

Football Strength Training Workouts with Rex Puccetti

My name is Rex Puccetti. I play football and I just play outside of school, Toronto Argos, Junior Argos. I started when I was younger, like six or seven. I played basketball until last year, and then I walked in here and Coach Ian told me how I was built for basketball. So I just switched to football, and I took it to heart, I guess.

Before I trained at LPS, I was just doing bodybuilding workouts mostly. Or I’d just do push-ups, sit-ups, that kind of stuff. I felt like I was just getting bulky, not fast. But once I came here, they taught me the proper stuff. Now I’m faster, but also stronger too. So, it’s like athlete training, not just bodybuilding. I heard about LPS through my friend, Adam Gonti. I used to come here with him two or three years ago. It wasn’t working out for me, so I stopped coming for about two years. Then I figured it out again, and I started coming back.

It’s really helped me. The intensity is great, the culture is great. When you’re struggling on a lift, everyone’s screaming to help you up. Or when you fail, it’s okay, you got the next one, so it’s great. It’s better than doing it by yourself. Some results I’ve noticed are my speed and strength. My lifts have gone up like crazy, more than I could imagine. My experience with the coaching staff has been funny and great.

I overcame the switch to football from basketball, which was pretty tough. I thought it would be easy since I had some size, but it’s more than just that. It’s more technical, like shedding blocks, that kind of stuff. Just working hard and coming in here every day has helped me a lot. For example, cleaning works on explosiveness, like your start. Weighted chin-ups, when you get that full range of motion, it’s like when you shed a block. If you don’t go all the way down, you could break your wrist or tear your biceps. It’s important to do everything perfectly.

Some sacrifices include time management, like coming home earlier to get some sleep or avoiding partying or drinking. You’ve got to make some sacrifices. I haven’t had a time I really wanted to quit. I just keep thinking of the end goal and try to focus on that as much as possible.

My biggest accomplishment in football was the first big hit I got. It really stuck with me. It’s a feeling I want every time I step on the field. I think of that every time I lift or step on the field. Dominate is a big word to me. It’s not just about doing your best; it’s about putting in the work so you have to do your best. You have no choice—you’ve got to do it.

Long term, I just want to play college ball. I think the best way to do it is to stay consistent by coming here every day or every other day, even if I don’t want to. I feel like that’s going to help me a lot. Most people would just skip a workout if they don’t want to, but I’m trying to stick to it so I can at least play college ball and get a good education. Short term, I’m focusing on staying consistent, getting my lifts up every day as much as I can, and just being in the moment.

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