SPEED Program Dates Set

Agnesian Bone & Joint Health is preparing for its annual Sports Performance Enhancement & Explosive Development (SPEED) program this summer for area youth athletes.  Sports medicine team professionals will host the program from June 6 to July 28.

It is open to boys and girls in grades six through 12. Middle school sessions are separate from high school, and focus on running form and body weight exercises.

SPEED offers team-oriented sessions that incorporate team building and sport-specific skills. Sessions also include dynamic stretching, multi-directional strength training exercises, core strengthening and balance training. Teams will meet two days per week for 1.5 hours. At the end of the program, there will be testing performed that measure the following: 10-yard dash, 40-yard dash, broad jump, vertical jump and pro-agility.

The Agnesian Bone & Joint Health Sports Medicine team utilizes a digital timing system, similar to the National Football League (NFL), called Sparq, to obtain the most accurate times for the 10- and 40-yard dashes and the pro-agility. The Sparq equipment is a set of cones that emits a laser beam. The timing is triggered when the first beam is crossed and ceases when the second beam is crossed by the athlete. Digital timing eliminates the human error that often occurs with hand timing.

“Our electronic timing has helped many athletes show high school and college coaches exactly how fast they really are, without any questions of who was doing the timing and just how accurate it really is,” says Chris Schattschneider, a licensed athletic trainer with Agnesian Bone & Joint Health. “This timing system is similar to what they use for high school and college combines.”

The SPEED program is available to all local high school and middle school athletes. Coaches interested in team sessions should call immediately to reserve a session time and days.  There are a minimum number of athletes needed to hold a session at each school.

The SPEED program brochure and online registration are available at agnesian.com/sportsperformance. The summer program cost for middle school athletes is $80. High school athletes will enjoy an early bird registration discount at $80 if received by May 25, and then $100 after that. A SPEED T-shirt is included in the registration fee. 

For more information or questions regarding the SPEED program, call Tyler Schwarz or Corey Wencl at (920) 923-7940.