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Champions Are Made In the Off-Season… How Will You Spend Yours?

by Erin Stone Dimry

As the season winds up for the youngers, many coaches are contemplating what their team can improve on before next year. What would have extended their run through State Cup? How could some of those nagging injuries have been avoided? Often the answers are found in the off-season. Speed matters in soccer. Fitness matters. Injuries change the make up of a team. Coaches and parents should take some time to contemplate how their athletes will spend the off-season. A reputable speed, agility and injury prevention program can make significant changes in an athlete's soccer game. Here are a few tips that will help you make an educated decision when choosing a place to train:

• What is the background of the coaches? If you are going to trust and pay a coach, you have the right to ask about their qualifications. Look for facilities with degreed and certified coaches.

Tip: Velocity Sports Performance coaches will be presenting at Soccer Nation Expo 2009. Come learn more about the benefits of effective training programs.

• Where does the training protocol come from? Be wary of companies who do not have a consistent methodology or training protocol. Just like an academic tutor, an athletic training program should follow a proven curriculum.

• Is technique priority number one? Don’t worry about how much weight your athlete is lifting, worry about the technique they use. Good coaches always have athlete safety on their mind and an exercise done improperly is not worth the time spent doing it.

• Do they have a system for measuring results? Each company should have an objective way to show you gains made during their training program. Athletes use this data to gauge their own improvement and performance coaches use this data to measure the efficacy of their training curriculum.

Tip: Velocity Sports Performance will have a demonstration area at Soccer Nation Expo 2009 where we will be measuring speed and vertical jump ability. Come test your skills and find out how we can help you improve them.

• Are the coaches smiling? Good coaches are role models for young athletes. Positive reinforcement and feedback should be used at facilities that train youth athletes because a positive environment fosters learning.

Tip: Come meet our fun staff at Soccer Nation Expo 2009.

• Is the staff accountable? Training is an investment, and as with any investment, you have the right to ask as many questions as you want. Make sure that your questions are answered. Any expert should be able to demonstrate their own expertise.

Tip: We’ll be at Soccer Nation Expo 2009 to answer questions from parents and coaches.

Remember, the goal for young athletes is to develop sound movement fundamentals and the strength needed to prevent injuries. A young athlete will develop strength and fundamentals best in a fun, positive environment.

Erin Stone Dimry is the owner of Velocity Sports Performance in Carlsbad and San Diego and the mother of a few Cal South soccer players.

About Velocity Sports Performance:
Velocity Sports Performance is a national network of training centers where athletes of all sports, ages and skill levels go to improve their core athletic skills - speed, power and agility. Athletes train in small groups with degreed and certified performance coaches. Velocity Sports Performance is the Official Performance Training Partner of Cal South Soccer. Players who train with Velocity Sports Performance can expect to get to the ball quicker, cover more of the field faster, increase their shot power and reduce their chances of injury. Velocity Sports Performance has training centers throughout Southern California including Irvine, Redondo Beach, Anaheim, Carlsbad, San Diego, West LA and Santa Clarita. You can also visit the Velocity Sports Performance booth at Soccer Nation Expo at the L.A. Convention Center on Feb. 21-22, 2009.