Many coaches will tell you that the key to a successful team often starts with conditioning.
In its sixth summer, the Bishop’s School Knights Strength & Agility Camp is designed to help high school, middle schoo and collegiate student-athletes and adults improve their overall athleticism.
A series of functional exercises, speed training and conditioning drills are matched together to emphasize strength, speed, agility, flexibility and endurance, benefiting all athletes regardless of their sport.
The program also emphasizes balance, stability, coordination, reaction time and explosive power. This six-week camp allows an athlete adequate time to increase his/her performance while providing the extra training crucial to a successful fall sports season.
All participating athletes receive a camp T-shirt and individual fitness evaluations. Once the camp is done, Bishop’s School Strength and Conditioning Coach Charles Johnson will stay in touch with those athletes who want to continue their training.
After initially targeting kids from The Bishop’s School, the camp has branched out to include other schools as well.
“Last summer was the first summer that we experimented with adults,” Johnson said. “Since the camp is performance-based, we try to get everyone as fast, strong, agile and flexible as possible. I figured, what adult who takes their health seriously wouldn’t want these same results?”
Johnson said that everyone does the same exercises, but at different speeds and with varied resistance.
“This is why we have three levels,” he said. “The levels are not geared so much toward ability but rather how long you’ve been in the program.”
According to Johnson, the level 1’s are the newest to the program.
“The first two weeks are more of an orientation ” introduce them to the program and progress them slowly,” Johnson said. “Then we can pick up this pace a bit so it will end up looking like the level 2’s toward the end of the camp. The level 2’s have been in the program before, so the pace can be a bit faster and the exercises slightly more advanced.
“The level 3’s are the athletes that have been in the program the longest and have mastered the basics. Most of these athletes are seniors or college-bound athletes. This group does advanced level exercises at a very high pace. We want everyone to improve and challenge themselves regardless of your athletic ability. So long as it is safe and everyone gets better at the same time then we’ve done our job.”
Johnson noted that the camp has grown, with the first one five years ago having just 25 kids.
Johnson also wants to get the word out to local lacrosse players and coaches who are looking to strengthen agility.
The camp meets for two hours per day (10 a.m. to noon, 12:30 to 2:30 p.m., 3 to 5 p.m.), four days per week (Mondays through Thursdays).
“I look forward for the opportunity to help you accomplish your goals in lacrosse,” Johnson added.
For further information on attending the camp, contact Johnson at [email protected] or call (858) 459-4027, ext. 279.