Athlete Fitness and Sports Performance Training
Use customized training programs to improve your speed, power, and strength, AND to help you reach any other sports goals you have.
We've all been there...yes, the doctor's office...the 50 questions...the basic evaluation...then the specific assessments and evaluations...and then the specific prescription.
Well, the fact is, this is a system that works.
Evaluate--then prescribe.
In athlete fitness and sports performance training, it looks like this: performance evaluations then customized training programs.
Again, this is a system that works very well.
So...Are you using this system? Have you had a comprehensive performance evaluation prior to beginning your athlete fitness program?
We're not talking about a few physical fitness tests--we mean a thorough kinetic chain assessment, movement screens, performance tests, etc., used to detect specific imbalances and weaknesses that need to be addressed, PLUS to get an idea of how fit you currently are.
Remember...Evaluate, then prescribe (or program).
At Finish First Sports Performance, we offer many convenient services specific to athlete fitness and sports performance training, all of which begin with evaluations, and then follow up with specific programming.
All of our programs are
customized for you--meaning that they are athlete (individual)--specific sports performance exercise programs designed to better prepare you (or your athletes) for competitive events.
We currently have services designed for recreational athletes, athletes who just want to play their best, and also for serious athletes wishing to accomplish goals as state champions, collegiate champions, or have successful professional careers.
Follow the steps below to learn about the process we use, which is the same process used by the best colleges and professional sports organizations throughout the world.
First: Start with a Performance Evaluation
All athletes at our training center begin with mandatory performance evaluations that include athletic movement screening, postural assessments, and additional performance tests. These performance evaluations provide important information about possible areas of weakness, imbalance, or other limitations that will need to be addressed immediately in the athlete fitness training program.
It is highly recommended by the top certifying agencies, the NASM and the NSCA (whom certify performance and strength coaches at all major colleges and professional and Olympic training centers), that all athletes begin with a very thorough series of evaluations and kinetic chain assessments.
The performance tests also provide an opportunity to assess the athlete's overall general fitness levels as well as power, speed, strength, and mental toughness.
Additionally, it is important that, prior to programming, athletes have a
goal setting session and complete a thorough
dietary analysis.
An athlete with goals is 90% more successful than one without.
A professional and complete dietary analysis is crucial to making sure the athlete obtains the proper sources/nutrients for fuel and optimal recovery for sport competition and performance training.
Information from the
performance evaluation is used, along with the athlete's goals, the demands of his/her sport, the athlete's schedule (practice schedule, game schedule, school schedule, etc.), and the athlete's training history to outline an athlete fitness performance training plan specific to that athlete.
There are many methods available for optimal programming, and one will be selected to get the athlete started. As the athlete progresses, the method may be changed to best suit the growth and development they will achieve.
It is very important to understand that...
We don't swear allegiance to any type or one particular piece of equipment...or to any one specific training method or any one specific training philosophy...
So...
We use many different methods and training apparatus--whatever it takes to give you the best results, based on your specific needs and your specific goals.
Research has shown, with athletes at any level...
Any training method will work for a while and produce results.
But there is not one method that works forever. Adjustments need to be made accordingly. The athlete fitness program will be designed to utilize any equipment the athlete has available, and training methods may need to be changed to allow further progress and adaptation.
It is the firm belief of many expert performance scientists that a variety of free weight and accessory apparatus (bands, balance boards, foam rollers, fat bars, sandbags, medicine balls, etc.) should be used for optimal neuromuscular benefits.
Once a customized athlete fitness performance training program has been designed for the athlete, it is time for program implementation and execution.
At Finish First Sports Performance, we also help athletes develop a sense of responsibility, work ethic, determination, and motivation towards achieving their goals.
Next: Select the Program/Service that best fits your needs
After an athlete has been evaluated and a specific individualized athlete fitness performance program has been designed for him/her, the athlete and athletic performance coach must now decide the best type of implementation for the athlete.
At our sports training center, the athletic performance coach and athlete must now decide which service is the best fit:
guidance training,
small group training, or
team training. These services are discussed in greater detail below.
**It is recommended that all athletes train 3-4 days each week during the off-season (plus any additional conditioning/running/skating workouts), and 2 days each week during the in-season.
**However, we understand that due to scheduling conflicts, some athletes may only be able to get to 1 workout each week during the in-season training phase. Workouts for these athletes will be designed accordingly to continue to maximize performance and reduce the risk of injury.
Finish First Sports Performance Training Services:
Due to our current world training headquarters location of Pittsburgh, PA, USA, our specific training services are only available to athletes in that immediate area, or athletes willing to travel to our training facility. Online athlete fitness programs and additional training products (DVD's, 12 week in-season programs, etc.) are also available for purchase. Please
contact us for more information.
Guidance Training
The guidance training program was developed to teach each athlete the principles of athlete fitness performance training under the supervision of a coach, similar to that in collegiate and professional sports team training facilities.
This model has been proven highly successful and helps the athlete take responsibility for his/her own workouts while being coached by a qualified performance specialist.
Some training facilities call this type of training 'semi-private training,' but the coaches at Finish First Sports Performance felt that this terminology didn't do justice to the attention that each athlete would recieve from the coaching staff.
So we have created 'guidance training' for the athletes looking for the unique, individualized, customized athletic training programming and the extra attention and motivation from the performance coaches (typically one coach for every 3 to 6 athletes).
Depending on the training age and maturity of the athlete, the first few training sessions are typically one-on-one to familiarize the athlete with our terminology, policies, expectations, and techniques.
Succeeding sessions will have less of a one-on-one experience as the athlete gets acclimated to the guidance training setting. The Finish First Sports Performance training center is intentionally not much larger than a studio (1600 square feet) to ensure that each athlete gets high quality attention and keeps the coach to athlete ratio typically no greater than about 1:5.
All workout sessions will be scheduled online prior to arrival and training programs are written each week to account for each athlete's specific progress and response to his/her unique program.
Guidance Training is offered in unlimited memberships (unlimited monthly workout sessions) or sessions packages.
Small Group Training
Small group Training was created for groups of 4 to 8 athletes participating in the same sport, usually from the same team.
Even though this training is done as a group, the programming is still sport specific AND athlete specific.
Each group will be coached by one certified performance coach.
Not enough athletes on your team interested to get the team training rates/program?
--Then small group training is what you need.
Prices vary, depending on the size of the group.
Team Training
This service is designed for any team, which is considered 9 or more athletes, and can be done at our sports performance training center, at your facility, or anywhere in between.
We can evaluate your entire team and develop a program specific to not only the needs of your sport, but also to address the needs of each individual athlete--which helps reduce the risk of injury during sports participation.
Athlete fitness services can be comprehensive, or our athletic performance coaches can be contracted to show your team how to properly warm-up before practices or games, or how to stretch to improve flexibility, how to train for more specific conditioning, or how to jump higher, run faster, or help your team reach its goals.
Due to the individualized nature of this service, prices vary, and you can get more information by
contacting us.
