The Human Body
We are gifted with a body that can move - we can jump, sprint, swim, throw, paddle, row, catch, swing, kick, spike, and run.  At the same time we can shake hands, climb ladders, pull weeds, wave hello and hug the people we care about.  We have incredibly dynamic bodies; so dynamic that they can react to any situation and become more efficient and effective as they adapt to those situations.  Whether you play football, futbol, or garden, you are all athletes and your body needs to overcome the forces that gravity places upon it in all three dimensions to move effectively.

It Begins with Education
At RU Sports Performance Center (SPC), we have an opportunity to make a difference in the lives of our athletes (young, old, and in between).  We aim to educate everyone who walks through our doors about functional performance training, injury reduction and rehabilitation, and nutrition (among others).  Most importantly, we create an environment where each athlete can learn the importance of respect, discipline, encouragement and motivation.  In the end, we hope to uplift and encourage every athlete we meet – as well as empower them to do the same for others.

Building the Athlete from the Ground Up
Your body is a three-dimensional, reactive machine. In sport, successful athletes possess the natural ability and physical attributes to react quickly and execute correctly. Some athletes may have a great set of skills, but lack the ability to react first and thus fall one step behind the competition. Building athleticism requires blending reactive skills with increased mobility, flexibility, strength, balance, stability, power and fitness. Training at SPC addresses each level of athleticism and builds the athlete from the ground up – this is truly a facility Where Athletes Become Champions™.

Sport-Specific, Functional Exercise - Train the Way you Play™
Whether you have a goal to increase speed, agility, strength, power or fitness, we believe the exercise must simulate your sport. SPC programs prepare your body to react to, control, and overcome the forces of gravity and momentum in all three planes of motion (sagittal, frontal, transverse – see figure below), specific to your sport and position.  We ensure success by utilizing the following principles:

• Train in Three Planes of Motion (3D Functional Training): Every movement in life (during sport or not) involves muscles speeding up (accelerating) or slowing down (decelerating) in all three planes. Thus, to create effective and efficient athletes, SPC training programs will challenge your muscles three-dimensionally at various speeds and in various environments.
• Train Movement Patterns (Sport-Specific Exercise): The body performs sport-related movements synergistically, i.e. multiple joints function together to produce the movements used in competition. Powerful and effective movements require a training program that develops muscles collectively, rather than in isolation. Many traditional strength and conditioning programs break exercise routines into specific muscles and assign a certain number of sets and repetitions; that type of program may overlook the actual complexity of movements the body encounters during sport and life.
• Train Speed of Movement (Decelerate and Accelerate): To throw harder, run faster, jump farther or hit harder, you must train explosively. And to truly prevent injury, you must also prepare your joints, ligaments and muscles to tolerate the speeds required to perform explosive movements and the strength necessary to decelerate (slow down) those movements.
• Train for the Unpredictability of Sport (Controlling Chaos): Rigorous preparation reduces injury risk – SPC coaches will prepare you for anything your sport may throw at you (literally and figuratively).  We design SPC programs to enhance your ability to function in the chaotic nature of sport . . . with and without distractions . . . in controlled and uncontrolled environments. With proper preparation, execution, and progression, your body will develop a “been there, done that” mentality and have the ability to effectively react to unpredictable situations, thereby reducing the risk of injury and increasing potential for optimal performance.

What is Functional Training?

We define functional training as preparation for purposeful movement.  Functional training techniques are developed from their design, rather than the exercises or equipment themselves. At RU Sports Performance Center we train the body the way it was intended to move – we create strategies to improve movement patterns, not just individual muscles.  Our nationally-certified coaches and personal trainers are athletes themselves, so we understand the physical, mental and emotional requirements of a top-notch strength and conditioning program.

Articles, Education, & More!

Click here for training tips and educational articles written by SPC coaches and personal trainers.