Abstract
I’ve played football here at SUU for about 4 years and I am entering into my senior year. It’s been a phenomenal and unforgettable experience for me. But it definitely hasn’t been an easy one. I have surpassed many obstacles and challenges along this great journey that have molded me into the person and player that I am today. One of those many trials happened on April 18, 2014. Going into my sophomore year, it was the last day of spring football practice, and just before the practiced ended, I tore my ACL. My whole career flashed before my eyes and I thought it was over. After a successful surgery I was able to go and does physical therapy work with G. Tyler Brinkerhoff, a PT here in cedar city while working with the Zac Wilson, an Athletic trainer here at SUU. Long story short, I am stronger than I was before I got injured. ACL recovery takes about 9 to 12 months to get up to full recovery and I was at 100% at full performance activity around 8 months. I am faster and more agile now, than I was before the injury. The best part is I have yet to be injured. Growing up and training for football, I always wanted to participate in a speed and agility camp to improve my performance in a way where I can excel in sports, but never could because the cost was unaffordable. I promised myself that when I am able to do so, I want to give kids who can’t afford these expensive camps an opportunity and some experience I didn’t get when I was young. My coaches always told me to “trust the process”.
Goal and Outcomes
I achieved this goal by holding mini speed and agility camps for the youth of our community. Speed and agility training drills are designed to work all your leg and core muscles, as well as the tendons in your body. Drills such as the 15 yard pro shuttle, lateral movement drills, hand eye coordination drills, T and L drills, etc. Speed training puts your muscles through a fuller range of motion, improving flexibility. It trains more muscles (and more muscle fibers within muscles), leading to better muscle balance. We were also able to incorporate therapeutic exercises that directly strengthen injury-prone muscles (like standing on one leg with a blind fold on). It is important to train at a level that is equal to your game intensity to help increase your performance and to minimize injury.
I mainly wanted the youth to know that there’s a process to everything you do in life. Some come faster than others, some come later and for some it doesn’t come at all. But trust the process that you take because no matter what, you will grow as an athlete and most importantly become a better person.