Weight training is a significant part of successful high school football programs, and Chilton County High School hopes a new weight room will help the Tigers compete at the highest level.

Work began last week on a 5,000-square foot weight room adjacent to Tiger Stadium and Don Hand Alumni Fieldhouse.

“Nowadays, one of the most important things about football is the workout program,” CCHS coach Donnie Hand said. “It has become an all-year type of thing. The biggest thing for us is having a place big enough to have everybody working out at the same time.”

The current weight room can’t accommodate all the football players at once, so some end up standing around waiting on a turn, wasting time and creating a safety problem.

The CCHS Gridiron Club is footing the bill for the $76,000 facility that will measure 100 feet by 50 feet, club president Chris Speaks said. Some fundraising has been done, and more events will likely be held in the coming months.

“Everybody is excited about it,” Speaks said. “I think it’s going to be a really big thing for the program.”

The concrete slab was poured last week, and Hand and Speaks said the goal is to have the facility completed in time for summer workouts to begin.

The current weight room could be used as an expanded locker room, though that would take even more funds. Underclassmen currently have to dress in the basketball locker room.

Another important function of the new weight room would be that it will allow more space for the team to watch film together.

“It’s going to be a nice space and give us the room to move the program forward,” Speaks said and thanked all club members for their help with the project.