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We were able to start this class when
the Freshman class was moved to Columbia Junior High and according
to surveys from the students it has proven to be an asset for our
kids.
The basic philosophy is to teach students/athletes the basic
components of all types of athletic conditioning. This involves
a lot of drills and movement skills designed to help their execution
during their sport. The class is not sport specific, but movement
specific.
We start by learning how to put on socks and shoes properly,
why we wear our shorts at waist level instead of sagging, how to
walk by not just landing on our feet, but by using them as a force
against the ground/gravity, running in the same manner and many
other physical and mental skills that improve not just the motion
itself, but the ability to repetitively apply that motion.
The students also
go into the classroom to learn the othe rparts of what it takes
to be a good athlete. The subjects cover diet, the psychology of
being an athlete, how to buy fitness/athletic clothing andgoes further
into supplementation and drug use.
We test them physically
as well. Our tests are designed to measure speed, core strength
and agilility as well as power output. The tests include:
Push ups
Sit ups
Pull ups
Vertical Reach/jump
Standing long
jump
Shuttle run
20 yard dash
60 yards dash
All their tests will be
posted for them as well as their rate of improvement on each successive
test and their training is obviously related to the results.
When we go into
the weight room (which isn't that often) we focus mainly on what
their weakness truly is. Many times they go directly to the bench
and avoid the harder core lifts so we start a different way - make
the weakness a strength.
After we have developed
a basic knowledge of what a weakness may be we move to further develop
the core strenght of the body. The exercises used are not your typical
exercises. We use:
Olympic style
cleans
Jammer exercises
Kettle bell exercises
Squats
Platform jumps
Physio ball exercises
Pull ups
Push ups
dips
various shoulder
shrugs
We will use the
bench press as a base exercise, but not one that does the total
development.
In the classroom we
will cover topics from how to buy gear all the way to how an athlete
preps for practice and contests.
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