Friars Work Hard, Play Hard – Even In The Summer
Monday, July 25, 2011
Long gone are the days where summer “vacation” actually means taking the summer time off. If you’re a Division I college athlete, and you’re snoozing – you’re losing.
These days, many student-athletes tend to stay close to their respective campuses, and sacrifice friends, family and even jobs at home. They do it, because to succeed in their chosen endeavor or sport, it takes maximum effort to even have a chance for success. Work in a little summer school as well, and the grind doesn’t become so demanding during the regular school year. It’s a formula for success at many colleges and universities across the country.
The formula for success at Providence College this summer, however, has been tinkered with. By mad scientists – or in this case – some forward-thinking strength coaches and trainers who see mad potential in their athletes.
It’s called the weekly summer Friday “turf workout” at PC, and it’s not just the men’s basketball team huffing and puffing. Men’s and women’s teams representing basketball, hockey and soccer are all represented, and put through a series of traditional and “not so traditional” workouts – together and often competing against each other – supervised by PC head strength and conditioning coach Ken White and Associate Athletic Director for Sports Medicine John Rock.
“Last year, I was here for both summer sessions, and this year, we’re doing much more work,” said Friar Basketball sophomore-to-be Gerard Coleman. “We’re in the gym more, we’re lifting more, we converse more with our coaches. We interact a lot with players from other teams and support each other, and try to be good citizens on campus.
“The soccer players are fast,” Coleman added, “but I can keep up with them. They push me, though. We’ve been going twice as hard this summer as last, and I really believe the hard work is going to pay off. We’re going to be hungrier.”
“I’m very surprised, it’s a very intense workout,” said Friar Basketball freshman LaDontae Henton. “It’s a crazy workout. There are things going on that you wouldn’t think would be in a workout. It’s a very good workout, but it’s also gruesome. It’s hard.”
This, I can personally vouch for…since I gave it a try.
Ever tried to push, pull or even turn over a 500-pound tire? You’ve perhaps seen blocking sleds on football practice fields, but have you ever tried pushing one – with a coach or fellow player standing on it? And beer kegs – long a familiar item on college campuses – get put to a different use here by getting “tossed” into the air.
Unorthodox? Perhaps. Smart? Wicked smart, apparently.
“This is a ‘for real’ workout,” Henton added. “It’s very intense. But I like these types of things. It makes me better, as a person and on the court.”
“As you know, we’re up against it every day around here,” said John Rock, PC’s head trainer, after the workout had finished. “To be competitive, we’ve got to be innovative and we’ve got to outwork everybody. If we can get an edge through our methods, and we believe we can, we’ll do it.”
To that end, in addition to the physical Friday team-building workouts, Rock and the Friar athletic program are particularly excited about adding a new mental edge to the workout regimen. Called the NeuroTracker, the PC training room contains an area where athletes can improve their cognitive training by using 3D technology. Used by English Premier Champions Manchester United and the NHL’s Vancouver Canucks and Pittsburgh Penguins, the system is also effective in treating and managing concussions.
NeuroTracker, a product of CogniSens Athletics, is a little like playing a video game and very challenging – which appeals to the athletes, of course. Individually or against each other, players improve their situational awareness, play anticipation and decision making abilities under varying amounts of pressure and stress.
“We’re the only college with this system in place right now,” Rock added, “which we think can give us an edge. Like I said before, if it gives us an edge, we’ll do it.”
Tire throwing. Sled pushing. Hurdle jumping. Keg tossing. Sledge hammers. Carrying around free weights. All very low tech, even old-fashioned. Add to this a space-age technology that helps athletes with their decision-making, in 3D, no less…well, that’s very high tech. Time will tell if this unusual mix of methods pays dividends in game action. But it certainly has added spice to what used to be rather ordinary workouts.
It should also punch up those “what did you do on your summer vacation” essays, once school gets started again this fall.
Follow us on Pinterest Google + Facebook Twitter See It Read It