GAINING THE EDGE: Program teaches middle schoolers proper conditioning methods

A program at East Ascension High School gave young athletes a head start on the road to become bigger, faster and stronger.

The Athletic Edge program, which concluded its four-week run Thursday, helped young athletes with the basic fundamentals of strength and conditioning.

The title of the program says it all, said East Ascension head football coach/athletic director Paul Bourgeois, who spear-headed the program.

“It’s all about getting the edge on being an athlete,” he said. “Today’s athletics are all about speed and flexibility, so we’re trying to jump-start them on the importance of those things.”

He began program during his days at Sulphur High School, and carried it over when he came to EAHS.

“The concentration of the program is to get kids before they really get started, usually before middle school, into being around weights and get them before they get too involved in the training,” Bourgeois said. “We want to teach them the proper techniques, such as breathing during a lift, and we do all of that in hopes of preventing injuries down the road that would stem from them not understanding what they’re doing.”

Participants in the program ranged from sixth graders to

incoming freshmen, who spent time in the weight room on various lifts, as well as running exercises on the track.

In the four weeks, the drills produced noticeable improvements in the athletes, according to EAHS offensive coordinator Keragan McCreavy, who also serves as the team’s strength and conditioning coach.

As the athletes jogged from the track back to the field house on a hot mid-morning, McCreavy was very upbeat about the young athletes.

“This was actually an easy day for them,” he said. “We took it to them, but we’ve seen some great results over the last four weeks.

“I’m very pleased,” McCreavy said. “They worked very hard.”

The program also helped gear athletes toward the agility coaches expect from athletes, both large and small.

“Years ago, you had some guys with no flexibility at all,” Bourgeois said. “Today, they all do the same speed drills – the big guys do the same as the skilled kids.”

The changes in conditioning methods have also chopped away at the stereotypical burly athlete who lumbered across a field.

“That’s why now you have big guys who the 50 in 4.8 and 4.9,”

Bourgeois said. “Fifteen years ago, that would’ve been unheard of.”

The program does not focus only on future football players.

In fact, it may tell them whether or not they want to pursue once they reach high school, he said.

“We know in this day and age that not all kids will be athletes, come to East Ascension and play football,” Bourgeois said. “That’s why with athletes at this age, it’s about improving athletic ability not just for one sport, but for all sports.

“It’s not just about being a Spartan football player – it’s all about whatever you do to become a better athlete,” he said. “Even if you play baseball or track, this program is still the jump-start to improve athletic ability.

View videos and additional on our website, www.weeklycitizen.com.John Dupont

@dupont_john

A program at East Ascension High School gave young athletes a head start on the road to become bigger, faster and stronger.

The Athletic Edge program, which concluded its four-week run Thursday, helped young athletes with the basic fundamentals of strength and conditioning.

The title of the program says it all, said East Ascension head football coach/athletic director Paul Bourgeois, who spear-headed the program.

“It’s all about getting the edge on being an athlete,” he said. “Today’s athletics are all about speed and flexibility, so we’re trying to jump-start them on the importance of those things.”

He began program during his days at Sulphur High School, and carried it over when he came to EAHS.

“The concentration of the program is to get kids before they really get started, usually before middle school, into being around weights and get them before they get too involved in the training,” Bourgeois said. “We want to teach them the proper techniques, such as breathing during a lift, and we do all of that in hopes of preventing injuries down the road that would stem from them not understanding what they’re doing.”

Participants in the program ranged from sixth graders to

incoming freshmen, who spent time in the weight room on various lifts, as well as running exercises on the track.

In the four weeks, the drills produced noticeable improvements in the athletes, according to EAHS offensive coordinator Keragan McCreavy, who also serves as the team’s strength and conditioning coach.

As the athletes jogged from the track back to the field house on a hot mid-morning, McCreavy was very upbeat about the young athletes.

“This was actually an easy day for them,” he said. “We took it to them, but we’ve seen some great results over the last four weeks.

“I’m very pleased,” McCreavy said. “They worked very hard.”

The program also helped gear athletes toward the agility coaches expect from athletes, both large and small.

“Years ago, you had some guys with no flexibility at all,” Bourgeois said. “Today, they all do the same speed drills – the big guys do the same as the skilled kids.”

The changes in conditioning methods have also chopped away at the stereotypical burly athlete who lumbered across a field.

“That’s why now you have big guys who the 50 in 4.8 and 4.9,”

Bourgeois said. “Fifteen years ago, that would’ve been unheard of.”

The prograJohn Dupont

@dupont_john

A program at East Ascension High School gave young athletes a head start on the road to become bigger, faster and stronger.

The Athletic Edge program, which concluded its four-week run Thursday, helped young athletes with the basic fundamentals of strength and conditioning.

The title of the program says it all, said East Ascension head football coach/athletic director Paul Bourgeois, who spear-headed the program.

“It’s all about getting the edge on being an athlete,” he said. “Today’s athletics are all about speed and flexibility, so we’re trying to jump-start them on the importance of those things.”

He began program during his days at Sulphur High School, and carried it over when he came to EAHS.

“The concentration of the program is to get kids before they really get started, usually before middle school, into being around weights and get them before they get too involved in the training,” Bourgeois said. “We want to teach them the proper techniques, such as breathing during a lift, and we do all of that in hopes of preventing injuries down the road that would stem from them not understanding what they’re doing.”

Participants in the program ranged from sixth graders to

incoming freshmen, who spent time in the weight room on various lifts, as well as running exercises on the track.

In the four weeks, the drills produced noticeable improvements in the athletes, according to EAHS offensive coordinator Keragan McCreavy, who also serves as the team’s strength and conditioning coach.

As the athletes jogged from the track back to the field house on a hot mid-morning, McCreavy was very upbeat about the young athletes.

“This was actually an easy day for them,” he said. “We took it to them, but we’ve seen some great results over the last four weeks.

“I’m very pleased,” McCreavy said. “They worked very hard.”

The program also helped gear athletes toward the agility coaches expect from athletes, both large and small.

“Years ago, you had some guys with no flexibility at all,” Bourgeois said. “Today, they all do the same speed drills – the big guys do the same as the skilled kids.”

The changes in conditioning methods have also chopped away at the stereotypical burly athlete who lumbered across a field.

“That’s why now you have big guys who the 50 in 4.8 and 4.9,”

Bourgeois said. “Fifteen years ago, that would’ve been unheard of.”

The program does not focus only on future football players.

In fact, it may tell them whether or not they want to pursue once they reach high school, he said.

“We know in this day and age that not all kids will be athletes, come to East Ascension and play football,” Bourgeois said. “That’s why with athletes at this age, it’s about improving athletic ability not just for one sport, but for all sports.

“It’s not just about being a Spartan football player – it’s all about whatever you do to become a better athlete,” he said. “Even if you play baseball or track, this program is still the jump-start to improve athletic ability.

View videos and additional on our website, www.weeklycitizen.com.m does not focus only on future football players.

In fact, it may tell them whether or not they want to pursue once they reach high school, he said.

“We know in this day and age that not all kids will be athletes, come to East Ascension and play football,” Bourgeois said. “That’s why with athletes at this age, it’s about improving athletic ability not just for one sport, but for all sports.

“It’s not just about being a Spartan football player – it’s all about whatever you do to become a better athlete,” he said. “Even if you play baseball or track, this program is still the jump-start to improve athletic ability.

View videos and additional on our website, www.weeklycitizen.com.