JCC Offers Sports-Specific Training for Teens

Is your son or daughter thinking about trying out for a school team this fall, and you're looking for a way to give them a strong foundation? Or is your teen looking for a way to improve their sports performance? Then the JCC's sports-specific personal training may just be the ticket.

"Athletes require a different kind of training that best prepares them for the rigors of particular sports," said Brian Saunders, JCC Fitness Director. "Today, athletes are stronger and faster than ever before. A lot of that credit can be chalked up to the fitness professionals who can fine tune exercise programs to develop specific power.

"For instance, incorporating medicine ball training into specific exercises can help an athlete develop explosive dynamics that just not possible with simple barbell lifts," he said. "The concept of traditional lifting for athletes is simply a thing of the past. In fact, athletes that get caught up in body building or training for the "beach look" are often set up for injury. Rotator cuff injuries from over-benching are more common than ever."

Saunders said a well-structured training program for athletes should include a healthy balance of weight, explosive, and metric training, dynamic and static stretching, and agility and speed work.

"Conditional specifics must also apply," he said. "For example, a baseball player must maintain arm strength and health throughout the season. Incorporating specific rotator cuff exercises prevents injury and ultimately builds upon balance and arm speed. Plyometric training, along with building leg strength, can combine to give a basketball player more vertical explosion or help a soccer player develop more useful leg strength.

"Training is built for specific lifestyles. Athletes who want the confidence to succeed must prepare themselves for the challenges of their sport. Training sport specifically is a sure way to improve and get an edge on the competition," said Saunders.

For more information, contact Saunders at (614) 559- 6217.