Speed and Agility are very important to the success of any young athlete…

… But most Coaches and Trainers make mistakes when it comes to training for speed.

Here’s what I mean:

It is customary to see young athletes being taught and drilled on how to run as fast as possible in a straight line.

Coaches spend hours teaching the mechanics of ‘linear speed’.  Arm drive, hip drive, ankle push, forward lean – all the usual suspects.  Whether on a high speed treadmill, gymnasium floor or football field, anywhere you go, you’ll likely see Coaches teaching the techniques of running fast in a straight line moving forward.

Now, I don’t really have any fundamental issue with respect to this style of training.  I could (and will) argue that virtually every sport is played in a non-linear format and so spending time on the mechanics of an exercise that a young athlete won’t typically ever need in a sporting situation is paramount to a large waste of time.

But young athletes (as you will read later) need to be exposed to as much training stimulus as possible – in all formats.  In that, no training style should ever be considered ‘not worth the time’ when we’re talking about preadolescent or high school aged athletes.

But the fact that linear speed training is both taught and drilled INSTEAD of more functional and useable styles of speed and agility work is where I draw the concern.

Football, baseball, soccer, basketball, volleyball – you name the sport.  Very seldom does a young athlete need to sprint forward with proper form; and they almost never hit ‘top-end-speed’ for any length of time.  If you look at any of the sports from a positional standpoint, that reality is even less likely.

Sports are multi-directional and varying in speed.  Young athletes must be taught how to move efficiently and quickly at angles (not just forward) and be ingrained with the knowledge and ability of how to decelerate (stop) and shift (change directions) as fast as possible.

Sport speed isn’t about straight lines.  It’s about angular quickness and the ability to re-accelerate.

Come on in and enjoy a complementary ‘1 Week Free’ of training at Athletic Revolution and see just how much faster your young athletes are going to become.

If you’ve got young kids, you may find it challenging to set an exercise routine and stick to it. You can’t leave the house without them and if you don’t have a sitter to watch your kids or you try exercising at home, then they run underfoot, begging for your attention.

If this sounds like you, you need some ideas on how to incorporate your kids into your daily exercises – rain or shine. After all, what better way is there to spend time with your children than teaching them the importance of good health?

Try these ways to incorporate your kids into your daily exercises.

So check out these tips and use them . . . . .  Read entire article >>

Did you know that a 3% drop in body hydration levels can decrease reaction time by up to 20%, power output by almost 30% and total strength somewhere between 20 – 30%!  This can have a negative outcome on speed, defensive ability, and nearly every aspect of your game.  All due to a 3% drop in total body hydration! 

To stay on top of your game, you’ve got to stay proactive with your hydration!  Don’t wait until you feel thirsty…. ever!  Remeber … if you let yourself get thirsty it’s your TOO LATE!   

Make sure you drink constantly.  Drink before, during and after any physical activity!  You’ll be losing enormous amounts of water (and electrolytes) through your sweat … so keep that steady replacement going so you never have to experience that 3% dip.   

Do keep in mind that when we sweat, in addition to water loss we also lose sodium and potassium.  So it is very important for athletes to replace those electrolytes as well.  Sports drinks fit the bill in replacing electrolytes.   

While there are a ton of sports drinks out there we highly recommend Rehydrate by Advocare.  Rehydrate not only helps the body stay hydrated during physical activity, it also:

• Provides a full spectrum of crucial electrolytes for improved electrolyte balance 
• Provides amino acids to help feed your muscles 
• Fuels your body  with carbohydrates for energy production and sustained muscle endurance
• Contains antioxidants to fight free radicals commonly produced during exercise
• Helps prevent cramping

Rehydrate is not available in stores.  It can only be purchased online or at Athletic Revolution.

As I mentioned earlier, there is no one thing that will make you an elite athlete.  However, there is a combination of things that can drastically improve your game.  Adding more water and Rehydrate to your training regimen can definitely give you a competitive edge.

So, to all of our athletes and champions, stay hydrated, get plenty of rest and eat healthy.  If you need want more tips for a great season, be sure to stop by and talk with one of our coaches.

Good luck and have a great season.

1. Know the Basics

You know your child needs a solid foundation of healthy foods. It means plenty of fruits and vegetables, whole grains, and lean protein products.

2. Believe in Your Child

One mistake when feeding your child is expecting him to have the same food preferences as you.  While your son might have your dimples and sense of humor, he didn’t come with your taste buds.

3. Prepare the Options

Dinnertime should not be a battle zone. If your child simply won’t swallow her cherry tomatoes, don’t give up. Instead, be ready with another option.

4. Train with Tricker

Sometimes, your son isn’t going to want to eat anything except cookies, butter popcorn, popsicles, and ice cream. You may want to throw your hands up in the air and give up on any hopes you had of having a healthy child. Don’t. Just be smarter than your child.

Helping your children turn into healthy adults starts today, so don’t waste any time giving your children the healthy start they deserve!

To read this article in its entirety as well as other great articles on health and fitness click here.

We welcomed several new champions to AR.

Everyone had a Blast.

Click here to check out the video.

Be sure to check next week’s blog for more video footage of the camps.

For the kids, the next two months is all about sleeping late, attending summer camp and splashing around in the pool.

For us parent’s, the next two months is all about one thing ”when does school start”.

To all of our champions who will be away for the summer, we wish you a safe and fun filled summer.  We look forward to seeing you in the Fall.

To those who will be staying in town as well as to our new Champions, we have awsome summer classes and sports camps lined up.  Be sure to check out the new summer schedule.

We’ve also added two new coaches.  Assistant Coach Morgan and Assistant Coach Taylor.  Please welcome them to the family and give them a high five when you see them.

Everyone have a great summer.

So what is Gluten Sensitivity? Dr. Osborne defines Gluten Sensitivity as an immune reaction to the protein glutten found in wheat, barley and rye.

He lists some of the symptoms associated with gluten sensitivity in toddlers & young children as:

Asthma

Chronic coughing

Excessive weight gain

Facial rosacea

Folliculitis on the back of the arms and legs

Abdominal pain and bloating

Headaches

The presentation was very informative and we are greatful to Dr. Osborne for taking time out of his busy schedule to come and speak to our parents.  To learn more on Gluten Sensitivity be sure to visit www.glutenfreesociety.org

Also, her competitive soccer coach at National Fusion, who had no idea Haley was receiving training at AR,  recently pulled her aside and told her he noticed a significant improvement in her agility and speed to the ball.  She will be trying out for the Division 1 team in early May.

Congratulations Haley and Good Luck, on making Division 1 Team!

The kids are excited about getting their wristbands.

Everyone is doing great.

Way to go Champions!

The excitement is building in Sugar Land as we get closer to opening our doors.

Construction continues to move forward.

The sign on the outside of the building has gone up.

The interior signs are up as well.

We’ve begun ordering equipment and the flooring.

We are projecting January 23rd for the open house.