Speed & agility camp set for May 29-June 2

Any coach will tell you, it takes speed to succeed.

And an upcoming camp for young athletes is designed to not only improve their speed, but help provide them with the agility and conditioning to out-perform their opponents, no matter what sport they?re in.

David Harris of FitnessWave will be holding a speed and agility camp at Warren County Middle School May 29 through June 2, providing youngsters with drills and progressions to enhance their performance on the field and court.

Harris, who holds a degree in kinesiology from the University of Tennessee, used his techniques with the high school football team during its off-season, and has developed a five-day camp program, as well as a six-week conditioning plan which will be given to each camper at the conclusion of the week so they may continue their preparations for their chosen sports.

?We got some good work and experience out of (working with the football team), and I?ve developed it into an actual camp for speed, agility and conditioning, as well as a program they can take home and work with themselves after the camp,? Harris said. ?Basically during the camp I?m going to be teaching them the drills, exercises and progressions, then I give them the program at the end of the week they can use during the summer as they get ready for the season.?

Harris, a former Pioneer football standout who is certified as a personal trainer by the American Council on Exercise, said his program is designed to improve athletes? performance in any sport.

?The program itself is geared a little more toward the field sports ? such as football, soccer and baseball ? but the moves they learn will also help the court sports,? he said. ?Any of those athletes can benefit from this training.

?We want to teach how to stop properly, turn properly, and how to use their bodies in the correct way,? he added. ?Our drills cover the mechanics of running, along with the mechanics of stopping and changing direction. A lot of athletes have good ?speed,? but if you aren?t able to stop and change direction properly, you lose a lot of your power and quickness, which can prevent you from separating yourself from your opponent.?

The former Pioneer quarterback also noted that proper physical techniques can aid in preventing injuries.

?Their joints become more stable and stronger, and they?re able to stand up to more stress,? he explained. ?Their muscles will also be stronger, and the body will be able to do what it has to do on the field.?

Harris? camp will be held in two sessions, with middle school students (ages 12-14) working from 7-9 a.m. and high-schoolers (ages 15-18) having camp from 9-11 a.m.

In order to be as ?hands-on? with as many campers as possible, each group is limited to the first 20 campers to sign up. The camp costs $99, and athletes can register by contacting Harris at (931) 815-9283 or e-mailing [email protected].