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Jock Talk
Giving Teen Athletes the Edge
By Kimberley O'Quinn
Matt Sobotik, 16, of Houston, Texas, had to compete to reclaim his starting position on his high school varsity team. "The training program at my school only focuses on weight lifting and strength, but what I really needed to improve is my speed and agility," he says. "Because I put in the extra work, I was able to increase my vertical jump by 5 inches this summer. As a result, I beat out the other players trying to win my spot."
Even if the athlete makes the team, they still have to be good enough to guarantee playing time. Athletes who sit on the bench don't get noticed by college recruiters – a fact that hasn't escaped their parents. It's one of the reasons they are willing to invest thousands of dollars in helping their son or daughter improve his or her sports skills.
As the number of companies offering athletic performance training has exploded, so has the onslaught of marketing messages and claims of success. In their quest to help their children achieve their dream, it can be a challenge for parents to find the right program for their child. According to Enriquez, the students are not the only ones who need to do their homework.
"All programs are not created equal," says Enriquez. "Parents should investigate any training program thoroughly before enrolling their child." He suggests that parents look for the following before signing a contract:
- Make ure the program slowly progresses your child from his or her current athletic level to the level they want to achieve. Training too hard or too quickly can result in serious injuries, sidelining a career before it starts.