“True Athlete Performance has created a reputation in the athletic training industry for working efficiently with large groups and full teams for any court or field sport. In fact, this summer we’ll be working with 18 high school football teams throughout the northern Virginia and southern Maryland area.
We primarily run preseason and offseason training clinics where we teach athletes to move efficiently by focusing on drills that improve running technique, first-step explosiveness, change of direction and power.
Since 2009, we’ve been using NZ Manufacturing’s TurfCordz® products, including the padded waist belts and 8-foot safety cords, for athletic training. The cords are perfect for large group settings because they can be transferred easily from one athlete to the next. We don’t want to waste a lot of time standing around because we want to keep the athletes moving throughout the session. Because of their transferability, we can run a great training session for a full team with as few as six cords.
The cords offer a different approach from other training equipment such as sleds that require pushing and pulling but don’t focus on technique. TurfCordz not only provide the specific type of resistance needed to improve technique, but they also keep a consistent level of resistance throughout their length. They don’t tighten up in certain spots like other cords sometimes do.
From the athletes’ perspective, it’s an effective training tool. When we’re working with a team, we motivate athletes by telling them that they’ll be using cords in the next session. The athletes know the workout with the cords will crush them and they’ll be exhausted at the end, but they also like to feel themselves getting stronger and more powerful. Other equipment we use involves jumping over objects or developing coordination in other ways, but the only way to build power is to work against resistance. That’s exactly what TurfCordz offer.
A few of our drills using TurfCordz include resisted running, where one athlete, wearing the belt connected to the cord, attempts to run as a partner walks behind and provides resistance. Another type of drill is when both athletes wear belts and are connected by a cord. One holds his ground, while the other runs or shuffles out five yards and controls his movements back to the starting place.
After we complete the athletic training of a team, we often recommend the TurfCordz products we used during the sessions to the coaches. We can’t speak highly enough about the quality of the equipment, and we know that the athletes will benefit as they continue to work with the TurfCordz to improve their explosiveness and develop power.”
Editor’s Note: Matt Diener is the Vice President of Operations for True Athlete Performance and is a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist. He has a background in basketball, baseball and football, including playing as a defensive back on two NCAA Division III National Championship Football teams at Mount Union. See videos of True Athlete Performance training groups using TurfCordz here.
