The difference between here and the other side of the state...

[Lance 228]

speed/specialty/performance school...last time Richlands and Cave Spring hooked up, i talked with the CS coaches about this and they send all their kids that are in speed positions to a place in Roanoke...said it made a world of difference across the board and anyone who saw CS play the last few years knows they are loaded with speed.

 

I'd like to see a legit one of these opened up in our area...not some crap that some bubba from Richlands opens up to make a buck that isn't worth a damn...but a legit place that has some top quality instructors who know what they are doing.

 

I think it would be a great thing for the kids around here who are serious about sports.

 

I think that this is a huge factor in why we have fallen behind in being competitive across the board with the other side of the state...not just the numbers game with enrollment figures.

 

I know you say Clintwood won state last year...and Galax...all that sort of thing...and it's true, we do have a team from this are that pops up every now and then who can beat the brakes off of other teams across the state, but i'm talking the overall level of competition. Yes we have fewer kids to pick from, but the ones we do have that play just don't get the training that other kids have access to in other areas of the state.

[Deleted Account 5,203]

I know you say Clintwood won state last year...and Galax...all that sort of thing...and it's true, we do have a team from this are that pops up every now and then who can beat the brakes off of other teams across the state, but i'm talking the overall level of competition. Yes we have fewer kids to pick from, but the ones we do have that play just don't get the training that other kids have access to in other areas of the state.

 

You have just stated, in one paragraph, the exact reason that Regions II and I are so freaking dominant.

[sixcat 2,933]

Former Grayson County and Virginia Tech star receiver Chris Shreve tried opening one in this area once he was cut by the Green Bay Packers and it failed. I can't remember where it was located, maybe somewhere in the Wytheville area, but he moved on to the Boone, NC area and is working with mainly college athletes now.

 

If I am not mistaken, the one in Roanoke is a part of, or co-owned by Kelly Dampier and his Rip City baseball training center. He played baseball for Northside, Radford University and spent 4 years in the Cleveland Indians organization. Couldn't get past AAA due to Omar Vizquel. He blew out his knee and retired.

[89Tornado 10]

I think the 'speed place' in Roanoke may be located in the Roanoke Athletic Club, located across from the Tanglewood Mall. I could be mistaken though.

[sixcat 2,933]

I think the 'speed place' in Roanoke may be located in the Roanoke Athletic Club, located across from the Tanglewood Mall. I could be mistaken though.

 

I lived in a subdivision around Cave Spring High School for close to 5 years, I know the area well but that has been more than 5 years ago and I haven't been back to Roanoke since moving away. The facility that houses the Roanoke Athletic Club used to be the home of Rip City when it first started, maybe 2002ish. It looks like Kelly moved Rip City to Salem.

[ThomasDenton 79]

One problem I hear about this subject a lot is money. Most schools in SWVA just can't afford to send their teams to the big camps. It's usually just a handful of individuals on the team that get together and go. Then again, sometimes the smaller camps can be better. My senior year a group of us from Battle went to a huge camp at Ohio State and it was crap unless you were a local. Thousands of kids there, so anyone not from the area didn't get much help at all and it became a huge waste of money. Got to be able to afford the camp (and IMO it's better to send the team...whether it's the whole team or a certain position like skill guys, linemen, etc.....rather than just some individuals) and then find a good balance in a camp (not something too huge like OSU, but not some rinky-dink backyard camp either).

[rebel1 35]

I think Emory puts on a great camp. Great atmosphere coaches seemed like they were really into it. I know our team took alot from that camp and carried it with us throughout the season.

[sixcat 2,933]

I think these are geared to be more than a "camp". They are speed and conditioning centers that pretty much operate year around. This is the one Chris Shreve worked at briefly before going on staff at ASU. It is ran by Ricky Proehl.

 

https://www.proehlificpark.com/PSP_Proehlific_Sports_Performance.php

[battleftbl 42]

From a coaches view....the big camps are not to help the average High School athlete. The big camps at UT, Ohio State, Alabama and others...are nothing but recruiting tools. The top athletes get all the attention while the average kid pays big bucks to do cone drills.

 

You're better off with places like this private speed/athletic performance center. You'll get much more for your money.

[ThomasDenton 79]

I think Emory puts on a great camp. Great atmosphere coaches seemed like they were really into it. I know our team took alot from that camp and carried it with us throughout the season.

 

I've heard good things about the E&H camp.

[Lance 228]

I think these are geared to be more than a "camp". They are speed and conditioning centers that pretty much operate year around. This is the one Chris Shreve worked at briefly before going on staff at ASU. It is ran by Ricky Proehl.

 

https://www.proehlificpark.com/PSP_Proehlific_Sports_Performance.php

 

you are correct...these are not camps...they are year round conditioning centers that use plyometrics and resistance training long term to help build speed and agility. The benefits of these places are unprecedented. The thing that worries me at this point, is that without these types of places in our area, and combined with declining enrollment numbers, the divide will continue to grow.

[Lance 228]

also...i haven't been to one in a while now, but the Nike camps were great for kids to attend. You got a good measure of your skill numbers and it gave you some exposure...but, the chance to interact with some of the top kids not just from VA but from all over the east coast. Each camp has at least 5 to 10 top prospects from various positions and it's cool to see them go through the drills...and, sometimes you end up working out with them in groups...it's just a really good environment for a one or two day camp....and it's free.

[hokie07 11]

you are correct...these are not camps...they are year round conditioning centers that use plyometrics and resistance training long term to help build speed and agility. The benefits of these places are unprecedented. The thing that worries me at this point, is that without these types of places in our area, and combined with declining enrollment numbers, the divide will continue to grow.

 

I know that Bluefield has implemented both plyometrics and resistance training into the in-season and off-season conditioning programs in the past. I'd say that one might be able to make an argument that it has paid off. It would be smart for other coaches in the area to take initiative to learn it all themselves like Coach Simon has or bring in a certified specialist who knows what they're doing to teach the kids.

 

On-field success and championships are won in the offseason. Bluefield has one of the top strength and conditioning programs in the region/state and its not secret why they win a lot of football games.

Edited October 16, 2012 by hokie07

[rebel1 35]

Hurley has, or at least while I was there, used plyometrics in the offseason.

[redtiger 1,742]

From a coaches view....the big camps are not to help the average High School athlete. The big camps at UT, Ohio State, Alabama and others...are nothing but recruiting tools. The top athletes get all the attention while the average kid pays big bucks to do cone drills.

 

When I was in school we went to a strength/conditioning camp at UT. Not bad, didnt really learn anything new in terms of how to work out but did learn about how hard you had to work to get strong. We basically took our linemen(we never really had that many backs lift), we were on par or better than most of the guys there in terms of strength but in terms of athleticism and speed most of the other guys there were waaaaay ahead

[Lance 228]

the thing is, these performance schools/centers take all of these ideas and combine them in to one program...with the proper equipment and trained personnel to maximize the results...they have everything from diet to technique down to a science. School programs might employ some of these, but there is just no way a high school can be expected to employ all of it full time at a level that these performance schools do.

 

Don't get me wrong, some is better than none, and i'm sure the results are there for the schools that do some of these things...but, it's just time people realize exactly what we are trying to compete against and the depth of the effort that is involved.

[sixcat 2,933]

the thing is, these performance schools/centers take all of these ideas and combine them in to one program...with the proper equipment and trained personnel to maximize the results...they have everything from diet to technique down to a science. School programs might employ some of these, but there is just no way a high school can be expected to employ all of it full time at a level that these performance schools do.

 

Don't get me wrong, some is better than none, and i'm sure the results are there for the schools that do some of these things...but, it's just time people realize exactly what we are trying to compete against and the depth of the effort that is involved.

 

This is spot on. A 5th grade young lady from Galax got invited to join a Nike Elite AAU basketball team based in Knoxville TN. Participation in their program is mandatory for membership on the team. Her mother takes her to Knoxville for 5 days every week. She is a monster basketball player and averaged 14 points and 19 rebounds per game for the summer season.

 

These programs are essentially what professional athletes get. The results are incredible.

[Sleepin nuts 27]

The Parisi Speed School in Roanoke.

$15k per year. I know because I had to help flip the bill for it when my kids were at Cave Spring.

Coach Fulton from Cave Spring swears by it. He enjoys sitting at the pool sipping on Iced Tea while someone else gets paid to train the players.

Good coaches work hard to get 110% out of their players. I think they have to be there working with the kids themselves to get it.

[Lance 228]

The Parisi Speed School in Roanoke.

$15k per year. I know because I had to help flip the bill for it when my kids were at Cave Spring.

Coach Fulton from Cave Spring swears by it. He enjoys sitting at the pool sipping on Iced Tea while someone else gets paid to train the players.

Good coaches work hard to get 110% out of their players. I think they have to be there working with the kids themselves to get it.

 

it's hard to argue with the results though...they have tons of speed and spanked us by like 50 points last time we played them and it could have been much worse if they wanted to run it up more, then handed it to Richlands 2 years in a row, even though Richlands managed to get the win the first time around, in all honesty they should have lost that game by 10 points or so.

[Sleepin nuts 27]

No doubt that the kids that use it will see results, but I think a good football staff can get the results by working with the kids themselves.

There are camps and seminars out there for coaches to go to that they can learn and apply all the techniques that these specialty schools use.

In the Roanoke area Cave Spring is not exactly thought of as one of the fastest or strongest teams. That honor belongs to Christiansburg, Salem and Northside. All three of these schools have their own internal speed and weight programs.

Personally If your team doesn't have a staff that can do it I would recommend paying to have a coach get the training then use the rest of the money to pay him to apply it.

[hokie07 11]

No doubt that the kids that use it will see results, but I think a good football staff can get the results by working with the kids themselves.

There are camps and seminars out there for coaches to go to that they can learn and apply all the techniques that these specialty schools use.

In the Roanoke area Cave Spring is not exactly thought of as one of the fastest or strongest teams. That honor belongs to Christiansburg, Salem and Northside. All three of these schools have their own internal speed and weight programs.

Personally If your team doesn't have a staff that can do it I would recommend paying to have a coach get the training then use the rest of the money to pay him to apply it.

 

This.

 

All it takes is a little time and effort for a coach or someone on the staff to get certified in much of this this training. Like I said, Bluefield's in-house strength and conditioning program is one of the best around due to its staff and their effort to personally learn and then teach these same techniques adequately. Apparently those same ideas hold true at Salem and Christiansburg among others and its hard to prove their success on the field wrong too.

 

A truly effective strength and conditioning program shouldn't really have to extend outside of the team weight room, much like a college program. That's where winning begins.

[Lance 228]

No doubt that the kids that use it will see results, but I think a good football staff can get the results by working with the kids themselves.

There are camps and seminars out there for coaches to go to that they can learn and apply all the techniques that these specialty schools use.

In the Roanoke area Cave Spring is not exactly thought of as one of the fastest or strongest teams. That honor belongs to Christiansburg, Salem and Northside. All three of these schools have their own internal speed and weight programs.

Personally If your team doesn't have a staff that can do it I would recommend paying to have a coach get the training then use the rest of the money to pay him to apply it.

 

thats why i said you will have teams like clintwood last year...but overall across the region we live in, without such resources we are behind the curve.

[BeaverHokie 35]

speed/specialty/performance school...last time Richlands and Cave Spring hooked up, i talked with the CS coaches about this and they send all their kids that are in speed positions to a place in Roanoke...said it made a world of difference across the board and anyone who saw CS play the last few years knows they are loaded with speed.

 

I'd like to see a legit one of these opened up in our area...not some crap that some bubba from Richlands opens up to make a buck that isn't worth a damn...but a legit place that has some top quality instructors who know what they are doing.

 

I think it would be a great thing for the kids around here who are serious about sports.

 

I think that this is a huge factor in why we have fallen behind in being competitive across the board with the other side of the state...not just the numbers game with enrollment figures.

 

I know you say Clintwood won state last year...and Galax...all that sort of thing...and it's true, we do have a team from this are that pops up every now and then who can beat the brakes off of other teams across the state, but i'm talking the overall level of competition. Yes we have fewer kids to pick from, but the ones we do have that play just don't get the training that other kids have access to in other areas of the state.

 

I'm going to offer a contrarian view. For those kids that are good enough to eventually be making a living off of football, or are at least good enough to get a college scholarship for it. I think it's fine. But outside of that, we're pushing kids who are playing for the enjoyment of it to work this 12 months a year, many more hours a week. It would head toward gymnast-style burnout. Are kids better if they devote another 10-20 hours a week toward a singular part of the game? Likely so.

 

Now, that is a macro-based comment. Looking at the state of Virginia, I don't doubt it to be true. Huge schools east of here, parents and schools that will spend big money on specialists to train these kids. Would having something like that in SWVA level the playing field? Most likely so.

[Lance 228]

I'm going to offer a contrarian view. For those kids that are good enough to eventually be making a living off of football, or are at least good enough to get a college scholarship for it. I think it's fine. But outside of that, we're pushing kids who are playing for the enjoyment of it to work this 12 months a year, many more hours a week. It would head toward gymnast-style burnout. Are kids better if they devote another 10-20 hours a week toward a singular part of the game? Likely so.

 

Now, that is a macro-based comment. Looking at the state of Virginia, I don't doubt it to be true. Huge schools east of here, parents and schools that will spend big money on specialists to train these kids. Would having something like that in SWVA level the playing field? Most likely so.

 

the main point that I'd like to make is the opportunity for our kids to have access to the same type of training environment that other kids outside of our area have access to. Do all kids need it? no. Will all kids take advantage of it if it were available? no.

 

There may only be a few kids on each team that even have the drive or desire to train at such a level...but, for those kids I would just like to see them have a place to do so. I think after a few years you would see it really catch on though as other kids will see the results.

[sixcat 2,933]

the main point that I'd like to make is the opportunity for our kids to have access to the same type of training environment that other kids outside of our area have access to. Do all kids need it? no. Will all kids take advantage of it if it were available? no.

 

There may only be a few kids on each team that even have the drive or desire to train at such a level...but, for those kids I would just like to see them have a place to do so. I think after a few years you would see it really catch on though as other kids will see the results.

 

It also gives the kids that participate double the training. They have normal football (or whatever sport) practice. Then have specialized speed and agility training along with specialized diets scientifically proven to maximize results.