When it comes to athletics, training is paramount. It doesn’t matter whether you’re a professional tennis player, the first baseman on a high school varsity baseball team or a 10-year-old wrestling beginner; the only way to be a conditioned, well-rounded athlete is through sport-specific training.
Sure, you could wake up early every morning for a daily regimen of sit-ups, push-ups and an energizing jog, or log countless hours on the treadmill and lifting free weights at the gym, but how can you be sure that all your hard work will pay off when it comes time to pick up that tennis racquet, tag a man out, or put your opponent in a double shoulder lock on the mats?
That’s where the Parisi Speed School at the YMCA in Sinking Spring comes in. It doesn’t matter which sport you play or whether you’re a pro or a novice, Parisi offers unique, individualized, sport-specific training that aides athletes in the quest to reach goals.
More Than Your Average Gym
The biggest difference between the Parisi Speed School and your local gym is that Parisi trains an athlete in his or her own environment. That’s not to say that football players are trained on a football field and baseball players are trained on the diamond, but rather that the coaches at Parisi have an unmatched understanding of which activities and exercises will be most beneficial to players of different sports. After an initial evaluation, athletes work with Parisi’s team of coaches to develop a specialized program that is not only sport-specific but also athlete-specific.
“We pride ourselves on building character in our athletes,” says Joshua Rowe, Parisi’s Assistant Director. “If you’re struggling when you walk through the door, we will never discourage you,” he continues. “We’re the best at what we do because the programs we develop are based upon the needs of individual athletes, the sport that they play and the goals each wishes to achieve.”
And don’t go confusing Parisi’s coaches for personal trainers, either. “Personal trainers focus on fitness,” Rowe states. “Fitness is a necessity of athletics, of course, but you really need someone who understands sports and not just basic physical fitness.”
Becoming a Parisi Athlete
The first step in becoming one of Parisi’s athletes is to schedule a free trial class and initial evaluation with a coach. After that, you can choose between two membership types. The first is a Long-Term Single membership, which offers one athlete nine months of training as well as access to all of the facilities at the Sinking Spring YMCA. After that, you get an additional three months for free (since most athletes spend three months in-season with their sport, and sport-specific training is best in the off-season). The second type of membership is a Long-Term Multiple, which essentially offers the same benefits as the Single membership, only the offer is extended to an entire family. The memberships are available for $89 and $139 per month, respectively. For more info call the Sinking Spring YMCA at 610.780.0484 or visit www.ymca-berkscounty.org.
