Recently, we had a chance to sit down with Sean Lanigan, owner of Peak Performance Training in Chantilly, VA to discuss his experienced background and approach to providing sport-specific training to athletes of all skill levels.
Can you tell us a little bit about your background?
I was a multisport athlete in high school and went on to play soccer and row in college at George Mason University. I tried to make it to the Olympics for rowing in Barcelona in 1992 but unfortunately was unsuccessful. After I played professional soccer for several different teams, I shifted my focus from playing competitively to coaching. I started out coaching high school crew, track, and swimming but came back to coaching the sport I love the most, soccer. During my career, I have helped produce numerous Professional and top-level Division I athletes as well as an Olympic gold medalist. I retired from coaching soccer in 2016 to branch out into other sports and to start my own company, Peak Performance Training.
What is Peak Performance Training?
Peak Performance Training works to improve an athlete’s overall fitness level. We focus on change of direction, quickness, linear and lateral speed, power, and explosiveness geared specifically for the athlete’s sport.
Resistance training is a huge component of our training structure which separates us from other companies. I passionately believe that resistance training can greatly increase an athlete’s fitness level and I have seen it firsthand with many of the athletes that I train.
What sports do you specialize in training?
While I have trained athletes in a wide array of different sports, the main sports I train for currently are soccer, lacrosse and basketball.
I train elite high school, college, and professional athletes who are looking for an edge in their respective sport. I do offer training sessions for youth athletes; although, Peak Performance is primarily for athletes that have a strong drive for improvement.
What does a normal weekly schedule look like for one of your elite athletes?
Typically, athletes will train with me 3-5 times per week during the off-season so we can focus on their athleticism and strength to minimize injuries. During the season, athletes will continue to train with me once a week as they train more often with their team.
What’s your view on athletes focusing on one sport versus playing several different sports?
The best athletes in the world play different sports, which forces the body to react and move in different positions. Multiple-sport athletes have better coordination which is why at Peak Performance Training we do a lot of cross-training. Athletes come to me because I do not just focus on one aspect like speed or strength training. Instead, I am going to put you through 3 to 4 different drills and movements that you’re not used to doing to improve your strength and change of direction. I believe that change of direction training is incredibly important if you want to compete in college or as a professional. While linear speed is partly connected to your genetics, change of direction can be trained and improved upon by using resistance bands in conjunction with other training techniques. By providing this overall fitness package, Peak Performance Training helps athletes get a leg up on their competition.
What’s the most rewarding part of what you do?
I love to watch these athletes excel beyond their natural limits, especially when they did not believe they could reach these levels before they began working with my team and I, here at Peak Performance.
Can you talk about how you use NZ Manufacturing products in your training?
At Peak Performance Training, we use a wide variety of NZ manufacturing products. We use the TurfCordz® resistance bands, the multidirectional jump belt (which I really like), and the thicker padded belt with the bands.
We use the NZ Manufacturing products primarily for linear speed, power, and change of direction training. These products help with injury prevention by strengthening the smaller muscles around the knees, ankles, and other joints to provide additional stability and balance.
Why do you continue to use NZ Manufacturing products?
I continue to use these products because of their reliability. They keep their shape after being used for 6-7 hours a day, every day. The durability of these cords and belts is phenomenal and I have not seen anything on the market that can compare. We always know what we are going to get when we use NZ products.
Interested in learning more about Sean Lanigan?
We’re thankful Sean Lanigan was able to take the time to chat with us and if you’re interested in learning more about his company or his journey, do not hesitate to reach out to him on one of the following platforms:
Website: https://www.peakperformancetraining-sean.com/
Instagram: @PeakPerformanceTrainingSean
Twitter: @PeakPerformSean
Facebook: @PeakPerformanceTrainingSean
