Champion's QUEST Athlete Academies BLOG

CQ Success Story – Karly Dantuma

championsquest — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 21:50:16 +0000

Karly Dantuma is a 15 year old volleyball player that joined the Champion’s QUEST Athlete Academy 3 short months ago. She started playing volleyball this year as a freshman on the Valley Christian Volleyball team. She’s a left-handed hitter who plays on the right side as well as the middle position. For the first time, this year, she made a club team. She was invited to play on the 15-1s team at New Wave Volleyball Club. Making a 1′s team on her first club tryout is an achievement to celebrate!

Good luck on your upcoming club volleyball season Karly!

Karly has been working with Athlete Performance Coach Jessica Adams, and this is what she has to say about Karly since entering the Champion’s Quest Academy. “Karly has shown so much improvement in her athletic ability and strength since I began working with her. She’s a joy to work with and I smile every time I see her walk through the door. I love pushing her to make her stronger and better and I can’t wait to see what she does next!”

CLICK HERE to learn more about how the Champion’s QUEST Athlete Academy can improve your athlete’s overall athletic ability!Congrats Karly on your huge improvements can’t wait to see how much you improve in the next quarter!”

CQ Success Story – Nicolas Gonzalez

championsquest — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 20:00:58 +0000

Nicolas Gonzalez is a 10 year old ice hockey player for the LA Hockey Club. He has been an athlete in the Champion’s QUEST Athlete Academy since August of 2011. In those few short months Nicolas has shown great improvement on and off the ice. He plays on a Squirt B level team, and his team is ranked #2 in their division after 10 games and still 6 games left in the season. Nicolas has been a tremendous help to the team’s success this season with a total of 11 goals and 11 assists. In a tournament over the holidays Nicolas scored the game winning goals with one minute left in two of the games. In another game he scored 4 goals in a row. He is currently ranked #4 in the league as a top scorer, and 3 game into their season the coach made Nicolas captain of the team. Nicolas’s confidence on the ice is showing up in other areas of his life as well. He received his first trimester grade report at school and had straight A’s, which has never happened before. Keep up the great work Nicolas and lead your team to the State Finals!

Here is a video of Nicolas playing, he is number 12

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Nicolas has been working with Athlete Performance Coach Derrick Campbell, and this is what he has to say about Nicolas since entering the Champion’s Quest Academy. “When Nicolas first came to QUEST you can tell that was not an extremely confident athlete. His workout ethic was not there and he was willing to take on difficult exercises that were given to him. Within the five months he has been training with us his strength and confidence during his workouts have grown tremendously . He shows leadership on the ice by being aggressive in critical moments and is a strong force for his team. Nicolas is one athlete that has had a big change in work ethic and I do believe if continues to grow he will accomplish anything his sets his mind to.”

Congrats Nicolas on your huge improvements can’t wait to see how much you improve in the next quarter!

CLICK HERE to learn more about how the Champion’s QUEST Athlete Academy can improve your athlete’s overall athletic ability!

Soccer Parents’ Corner on Competitive Soccer Club Tryouts

championsquest — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 19:41:22 +0000

A new feature for SoccerNationNews, David Gómez, Jr.’s column on being a soccer parent and his experiences navigating the joyful and occasionally turbulent waves of youth soccer. Here is Gomez’s column on preparing your player for Competitive Club Soccer tryouts.

Any time your child is about to embark upon something, we as parents get both excited and nervous. This new endeavor is a journey which, like any trip, brings its challenges and amazing memories. The experience is why we take the journey. So, sit back and enjoy it, but don’t go into it without knowledge as I did several years ago.

There are many aspects to tryouts. There is the physical aspect – is your player up to speed with technique, speed, agility, and strength? There is the mental aspect – is your player confident, quick, and aggressive? There is also the chemistry aspect – does your player fit with both the other players and the coach? This fit is very important. There are also things to consider as a parent and questions to ask. We will attempt to cover these as much as possible.

Physical Preparation

The physical preparation aspect of tryouts is very important. The classic saying goes, “How do you get to play at Carnegie Hall? Practice. Practice. Practice.” Well, how do you become a better footballer? Touches. Touches. Touches. Take your player out to your backyard, local park or patch of grass, and pass, shoot and dribble with them. The more they touch the ball the more familiar they get with feel for it. You don’t have to be a Hamm or Beckham in order to play with your child. Get out there and have fun. If you’re a bit more structured there are good books and DVDs which can give you some guidance on what and how to do things. However, the most important thing is to get them ready by playing with them.

Depending on your player’s age, this dynamic will also have an impact on their preparation physically. At around the age of 12, a child starts to develop in muscle to the point where stretching out is very important. Ensure that each workout begins and ends with some stretches. You can go to Lance Armstrong’s LiveStrong.com for some guidance on stretching.

Now you’re at the tryouts. Have your player warm up with some stretches, light jogging and touches. Work out with them and get them ready before the tryouts. Most tryouts have some warm-up as part of them. However, don’t take the risk of there not being any. Now your player should be physically ready to tryout.

Mental Preparation

Mental preparedness is also very important for your player, since most likely they were at the top of the team/league in recreational soccer. You’ve now entered into an area where the entire group your player is with is now at or even above that level. Talk to your player and explain this. However, be sure to explain this by telling them in a positive manner. You want them to be aware of this, not to be scared of this – if you get my drift here.

Ensure your player is ready by trying to help them visualize. Ask them for example, “What are you going to do on the pitch?” Remind them of what they have done in games, and pump them up by asking for that now. Help to build their confidence and courage. I’ve seen some tryouts where there are 20 even 30 girls for 14 spots.

With the words of encouragement, try and give them some anchor words to remember your advice. I use strength and fire. One of my daughter’s strengths is her strength. Her trainer, Brittany Gonzales, at Champion’s Quest helped my daughter realize this. (In another article I’ll get into the pros and cons of private training and athletic academies.) The other term, “fire,” is meant to remind her that she needs to play with intensity every minute of the practice and game. Find a couple that work for you and your player.

Parent Conduct

It is very important that you make the transition from coaching – especially if you were your player’s coach – to observing. The best place to make this transition is during tryouts. No verbs. Try and not say anything. Just try and relax and simply observe how your player is doing out there. Be objective when comparing your player to the others during the tryouts.

Keep in mind that tryouts often times last a series of sessions. It is rare for your player to be told after a single session that they made the team. Be patient. I know it’s not easy.

Watch the coach. I prefer to see a coach show things and discuss how to do drills. Not just discuss. Why is that? Well, if a coach is capable of showing, then they have some skill and have played the game at some level. This is important in doing the refinement of, say, a shot. Something as simple as a tight abdomen while shooting greatly increases power. Now, a coach who’s never played may not know that. It’s worth keeping an eye out for this.

Team Chemistry

Team chemistry is very important. There are two aspects to this. One is during the scrimmages or small sided games – does your player work well with the others on the pitch? If they seem out of place out there, then maybe your player simply is not jelling with the others. Give it a few sessions to be sure of this. If there’s not a fit, there are plenty of other teams in your area.

The other aspect of chemistry is one between your player and the coach. Watch how he or she interacts with your player and others. How does the coach instruct? Is it a positive, constructive manner, or is it simply pointing out the faults. Don’t get me wrong, a coach’s job is to correct. However, there is the, “You’re doing it all wrong. Let me show you how.” And then there is the, “I like what you were thinking there, however, how about trying it this way next time.” It was for the same correction, with different approaches and often different immediate and long-term results. I’ll cover more of this in a subsequent article on what to look for in a coach.

If you get a chance, see how your player does in a game against another team in either a friendly (for those who are new to soccer, a friendly is the name for a soccer match between two teams with no bearing on their standing or not in a tournament) or a tournament. This is the best judge of the team chemistry aspects just mentioned.

Networking

Now, while your player is undergoing the tryout, take the time to meet the other parents. You’d be surprised at how much time you’ll spend with them over the next season or more. The league season and tournament seasons are long. Get to see how you fit with them.

This is also a good time to ask questions of others. Many are in your same situation – new to clubs – or sometimes they are veterans of the club scene. Ask questions and see what they know of the coach. I’ve heard some parents talk about the importance of the club. To be frank, the club is not the one instructing your player. The club is not the one on the pitch with your player. The coach and the other players are far more important than a big-name club. The big-name club is for your sake and not your player’s sake.

Now, take any negative comments about clubs and coaches with a grain of salt. It could be that that parent had a bad experience. However, if you hear several of the same things a trend is there, and you should pay heed. Remember, a fit for a player with a team and a coach is like buying a car. You have to try out several until you find that perfect match. I know. My daughter has now had three coaches in four years. We spent two of each of the four years with the same two clubs. However, the fit with the first coach was the best, but we were lured away by a “top” team in the same club and then by a great technical trainer at another club. It is really about the fit for you and your player with the coach that teaches and relates best for your player. No one in later life will ask your player, “Did you play Silver Elite at age U10?”

Questions to Ask

Ensure you speak to the coach. It is very important to do this either before or preferably after the tryouts. In most areas during the younger ages (U9 and U10), leagues allow only 8 players on the pitch – goalie plus 7 field players. (Now, don’t get me started on why this is. There is no reason why there shouldn’t be a full complement of 11. My daughter has played in non-club leagues in the inner city where all ages play with 11 per side. It works out fine and actually helped with development.) I only mention this since you need to know two things. First, how big is the roster allowed to go to, for example 14 for U9/10 and 18 for U11 and up. The other thing you need to know is how many the coach plans on putting on the roster.

There is a very simple reason for asking this, and it really deals with playing time. If, for example, you have a U9 team who rosters maximum of 14 there is usually one goalie that will play full time. That means there are 13 players for the other 7 spots during a game. That’s a tough but not impossible task to manage. Ask the coach, “What is your philosophy on playing time?” If they say it’s according to skill or something like that, be warned this coach is about winning.

I’m not saying that focusing on winning is not what a game is about. However, you’re talking about a child who only develops by touches in game situations. You don’t get many touches on the bench or with just 5 minutes a half or even a game.

Another question to ask is what the coach’s goal is for near and long term. If they say something about being a top team, know that results are what matter most. If that’s what matters to your player – not you – then this may be a fit. However, I advise that results are important but not all important.

It’s a fair question to ask a coach to list their top strengths and weaknesses. This isn’t meant to put someone on the spot. It is meant to see if the coach is self-aware. Know yourself and seek self improvement is something I learned long ago in the United States Marines, which has served me well in all aspects of life.

Ask if the team is playing Spring League or not. This is an excellent time to get acquainted with the team without having to make a long term commitment. It’s also a great way to explore other opportunities for your player, even while they are with a team, or simply to stay match fit in the off-season. (There really is no off-season in Southern California fútbol, by the way.)

How Many Tryouts?

Now, when we embarked upon trying out with our player it was late in the tryout season. I had no idea that roughly the beginning of State/National Cup or just before – January/February – teams start the tryout process. Some teams post on their website and stick to a schedule. Some post announcements on their website and also on others such as SoCal Soccer Forum. So take a look and see what and where things are. You can get a good listing of teams by going to places such as Presidio Soccer League, Coast Soccer League, and the Southern California Developmental Soccer League. Each of these leagues has excellent competitive club soccer teams associated with them. They are all listed in Southern California by the way. There are many in your area if you’re not in Southern California. Try a Google search for club soccer “YourCounty” to see what you come across.

Now, why do I suggest you look around? Well, simply put there are many teams and therefore many coaches. Go to a few and see what’s out there. If your player gets an offer from a team, don’t feel pressure to sign with them right away. Take the time to see what’s out there and ensure you have a good fit.

Now, in the beginning all teams at U9 start at the lower level, sometimes called Bronze. That is a fair way to start. The team must prove it should be promoted to playing tougher competition. If your player is older than 8 or 9 years old, be color blind. If your player gets an offer from a Gold team, be grateful of that. However, if your player also gets an offer from a Silver team, just because it’s Silver doesn’t mean it’s a lesser team for your player than Gold. Remember, it’s about the fit for your player with both the other players and the coach.

Guest Player (Guesting) Opportunities

Now, I’ve mentioned guesting with teams earlier. I wanted to clarify this a bit and expand. Just because your player is guesting with another team doesn’t mean they are going to switch teams. Sometimes coaches think that. It’s simply an opportunity for your player to get more touches and see other styles of coaching and play. Nothing wrong with any of that, from what I have experienced.

At the club level, your player will be issued a player card and a medical release form. These belong to the player not the team or club or coach. The team manager or coach usually keeps these together for league and tournament play. It is much simpler for a team manager to have them for checking in the team at these events. I know because I was a one-and-done team manager once.

I mention who owns these because in a friendly they are not usually needed. However, when guesting in a tournament these are needed. Sometimes parents are afraid to ask for them. The card and form belong to your player. Ask for them and be honest with the team manager and coach about what you’re up to. The club soccer world in your community is small. Secrets are tough to keep, and from my perspective honesty is always the best policy.

Never be afraid for your player to guest and get more touches in game situations. This will only enable them to develop more quickly.

Enjoy the beautiful game and your child’s love for the game.

Relaxation – Why and How

championsquest — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 22:29:02 +0000

Relaxation is a skill that must be learned both physically and mentally. Coaches and athletes must make relaxation practice and important aspect of their yearly training plan. This will help aid recovery and prevent overtraining that can occur from long term training. As muscular tension and fatigue build as a result of constant overload from training, relaxation practices become increasingly important. If this muscular tension and fatigue are not monitored properly they could have an adverse effect on performance and could possibly result in injury or burnout.

The first relaxation exercise is extremely simple and one that everyone can practice no matter where they are. It consists of breathing in a slow, controlled manner. The athlete will close his/her eyes and take several very slow deep breaths. It is recommended that during the inhale the athlete pictures taking in refreshing, relaxing and rejuvenating fresh air. During the exhale the athlete should picture the release of stress, tension, fears and doubts. This practice should be a part of the daily training program. It has been proven to enhance recovery times, decrease muscular tension and help control arousal levels. Another positive of this relaxation method is that is can be performed during competitions. For example, this would be excellent for lowering arousal levels prior to game winning free throw attempt during a basketball game. However, athletes performing high intense sports such as jumping or throwing events in track and field should time the use of deep breathing carefully. A drop in arousal levels immediately prior to a jump or throw will have detrimental effects on their performance.

Another type of relaxation training is called progressive relaxation. This is an excellent way to create unity between the body and mind and create mental calmness. This mental calmness is essential for achieving the vivid mental images needed for successful visualization. Progressive relaxation involves the systemic relaxation of every muscle in the body. The athlete will start in a calm and quite state with his/her eyes closed. Then, starting from the head and finishing at the feet the athlete will relax each muscle group individually. Focus areas include the neck muscles, between the shoulder blades, lower back and legs. Once the athlete has reached a relaxed state he/she will find visualization much easier to achieve. This type if practice is excellent for the night before a competition or game. It can give an athlete the final preparation he/she may need without expending any energy. It is not recommended for athletes to use progressive relaxation directly after a hard training session. Here the athlete is fatigued and generally not in a state where long concentration could be maintained. It is best that the athlete rest and recover for a few hours after training before practicing this method. Prior to them going to sleep is a perfect time for this.

Visualization is another common relaxation method. The physical body does not realize the difference between mental images and real stimuli. Muscles contract the same way during visualization as they do during the real life situation which is being visualized. It is therefore realistic to think that by visualizing calmness, one could become calm. This tool can be very successfully used during sports requiring fine motor skills and therefore low arousal levels. For example, during a golf playoff final hole a player may find his arousal level to be very high prior to his final putt. Here the player can close his eyes and visualize calmness or the shot he is about to attempt. If the athlete has practiced this many times before he will find that arousal levels will respond accordingly giving him a better chance of a successful shot.

The final relaxation method we will discuss is meditation. Here the athlete will attempt to position himself in a quiet and still position for at least 15 minutes per day. During this time it is common to have him focus on a single point of reference. This could something as simple as a physical object or a cue word which has large relevance to his training or sport. This method will induce relaxation and also help the athlete work on his focusing abilities. Meditation is best performed at the beginning or end of the day. It is not recommended that this practice is performed directly before a training session or competition which requires high intensity work.

The methods discussed above are all closely linked with one another. They are however also quite different. Some take a while to perform correctly and others can be done on the go for a few seconds at a time. They also can be used simultaneously. For example, it is common for athletes to begin in visualization session with deep breathing combined with progressive relaxation techniques. They can all be valuable tools for athletes of all levels to develop familiarity with. For optimum results athletes should practice one or more of these techniques daily.

Written by Nick Newman, MS, NSCA-CSCS

Athlete Performance Coach, Champion’s QUEST Athlete Academy

NickN@ChampionsQUEST.com

CLICK HERE to Learn More About The Author

How to Build Self Confidence

championsquest — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 22:24:19 +0000

So how does an athlete build confidence? In short, there are a variety of ways this can happen. It remains a myth that a person is simply born with or without confidence. The attribution of confidence is an ongoing process which may be developed by including specific practices into a daily or weekly routine. The first confidence builder we will discuss is the foundation of all the others. It is preparation. A solid preparation can have an abundance of positive effects on performance and thus on confidence. When an athlete successfully prepares for the upcoming season his/her physical and psychological well being is at a high level. This eliminates negative feelings of self doubt and uncertainness which are related to low confidence. Subsequently this leads to elevated performance levels which in turn raises self efficacy.

Closely related to the success of the preparation is another important tool which is effective goal setting. Success builds confidence and achieving set goals can instill the feeling of success in athletes. Setting goals is a process which must be done carefully. If the goals are easy to achieve, the sense of fulfillment will be lost. However if the goals are so difficult that the athlete struggles to achieve them, it could have an adverse effect on confidence. Goals should be both attainable and challenging if the desired effect on confidence is too be achieved.

Building confidence can also be achieved through affirming one’s ability through positive self talk. The athlete should be encouraged to use statements of affirmation throughout the season. These statements re-affirm things he/she does well or specific goals he/she will achieve. Anything from, “my speed has improved greatly” to, “I will block more shots” can be used. It is extremely important that the athlete believes the statements he/she is saying. Any self doubt can neutralize the positive self talk and have a negative effect on confidence.

The final confidence building tool we will discuss is imagery/ visualization. As previously discussed, visualization is an extremely beneficial practice for athletes. By visualizing successful performance on a daily bases the athlete will become more accustom to the feeling and experience. As it psychologically becomes a habit for the athlete to succeed, his/her confidence will elevate as a result.

The underlying theme related to each component of confidence is consistency and belief. The athlete needs to surround himself with positive people, thoughts and feelings on a daily bases. He/she needs to constantly focus on strengths and successes that he/she is having or will have in the future. This consistent outlook will have a positive effect on many aspects of his/her life and therefore instill the high sense of well being and confidence needed to succeed

Written by Nick Newman, MS, NSCA-CSCS

Athlete Performance Coach, Champion’s QUEST Athlete Academy

NickN@ChampionsQUEST.com

CLICK HERE to Learn More About The Author.

The Importance of Confidence

championsquest — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 22:15:03 +0000

If all things were equal, the more confident athlete will always outshine the least confident one. An athlete with complete confidence will undoubtedly achieve his potential far sooner than an athlete that second guesses himself. Confidence can be defined in various ways. One definition states that it is the belief that you can successfully perform a desired behavior. Another reads, the belief that one’s ability is greater than or equal to the demands of the task. A common theme throughout the majority of definitions is that the person believes that he/she is able to do something.

Confidence is an essential component to high level performance. This can be attributed to a variety of factors, all of which confidence positively effects. The first positive outcome of high confidence relates to the overall emotional state of the athlete. A confident athlete is often happy and highly motivated. A motivated athlete works hard and diligently and often reaches his potential quicker than others. There is little doubt that a greater sense of well being induces greater productivity, this can also be said of athletes. High confidence can also create a sense of calmness and relaxation. The confident athlete does not worry about his conditioning or his opponents come game time. With nothing to worry about, he is free to focus on positive thoughts and outcomes. This leads us to another important component of confidence. That is the theory of the self-fulfilling prophesy. This theory basically suggests that when you think/ expect something to happen, it ultimately has a greater chance of happening. It is common to see a confident athlete who believes he can achieve something great, do just that. It is also not an accident that 99% of the greatest winners of all time have great self confidence

Written by Nick Newman, MS, NSCA-CSCS

Athlete Performance Coach, Champion’s QUEST Athlete Academy

NickN@ChampionsQUEST.com

CLICK HERE to Learn More About The Author.

CQ Success Story – Patrick Cantlay

championsquest — Mon, 02 Jan 2012 23:59:13 +0000

Patrick Cantlay began his training here at the Champion’s QUEST Athlete Academy back in 2004. He continued his training from middle school all the way until he started college. His goal as he started training was to become a professional golfer, as his golfing career continues that goal is becoming more of a reality ever day. Patrick went to Servite High School in Cypress, California and he won the 2010 California State High School Championship, was Runner-up at the 2010 Southern California Amateur. Named High School Golfer of the Year by the Orange County Registerin 2009 and ’10. Named Athlete of the Year in the Trinity League, and Won the 2009 and ’10 Southern California CIF Regional. His achievements only continued as Patrick went on to play for UCLA in the fall of 2010. As a freshman he won 3 tournaments and tied for first in another to set a UCLA freshman record. He was voted Pac-10 Freshman and Golfer of the year and earned consensus first team All-American honors. He also won the Nicklaus Award (Division 1 POY), the Mickeleson Award (Freshman POY) and the Fred Hoskins Award as the nations top collegiate golfer.

Patrick is now a sophomore at UCLA and has become the first UCLA player since 1982 to receive an invitation to be on the U.S Walker Cup Team. He has played 4 PGA tour events and was under 14-under par and placed in the top 25 in each. He is currently ranked number 1 in the World Golf Amateur Rankings and received the McCormack Medal, which earned him an exemption into the 2012 British Open in July.

Congratulations Patrick on all of your achievements we can’t wait to see what 2012 has in store for you!

CLICK HERE to learn more about how the Champion’s QUEST Athlete Academy can improve your athlete’s overall athletic ability!

CQ Success Story – Isabella Shean

championsquest — Sun, 13 Nov 2011 23:10:24 +0000

Isabella Shean is a 13 year old volleyball player that has improved her overall athleticism by 150%. Isabella (Izzy) has been training at the Champion’s QUEST Athlete Academy since August of this year. Her training focus has primarily been sprinting and change of direction, with a secondary focus in her jumping ability. She is an extremely hard worker, and after her second evaluation her hard work paid off. She placed in the top 5 in the entire gym in the 10, 20, and 40 yard sprints. Keep working hard Izzy and we can’t wait to see how much you improve in the next quarter!

Some of Isabella’s achievements are shown below:

Isabella has been working with Athlete Performance Coach Nick Newman, and this is what he has to say about Isabella since entering the Champion’s Quest Academy. “An amazing 12 week improvement really. Still only 13 years old Izzy is one of the most talented young athletes I’ve ever worked with. I knew she would become an outstanding athlete one day but even i was surprised by some of her evaluation numbers. She has an amazing talent to run fast and I believe Izzy could be a future star particularly in Track and Field if she wants to be. I am extremely proud of her development so far!”

Congrats Isabella on your huge improvements can’t wait to see how much you improve in the next quarter!”

CLICK HERE to learn more about how the Champion’s QUEST Athlete Academy can improve your athlete’s overall athletic ability!

CQ Success Story – Haylie Butler

championsquest — Sat, 05 Nov 2011 22:25:36 +0000

Haylie Butler has been an athlete in the Champion’s QUEST Athlete Academy since 2008. She is now a junior at Connelly High School and has been a strong asset to the varsity volleyball team since her freshman year. Haylie’s team won CIF her freshman year as well as the Alpha and San Joaquin League. This year they are still in the running for CIF and League Champions. At the Chadwick Tournament this past October Haylie won the best setter award. Haylie is not only a champion volleyball player, but also a successful figure skater as well, practicing for an hour and a half every morning before school. Her studies do not suffer because of her success in athletics. In fact just the opposite she has a 4.75 weighted GPA, and volunteers for 5-6 hours at the Torrance Memorial Hospital. She hopes to play volleyball at a collegiate level after next year. Her top three choices are Notre Dame, Princeton and Dartmouth. With all of these achievements on her college resume any school would be lucky to have her!

Some of Haylie’s athletic achievements are shown below:

Haylie has been working with Athlete Performance Coach Derrick Campbell, and this is what he has to say about Haylie since entering the Champion’s Quest Academy. “With all of the athletes I have trained, Haylie is the most self-motivated athlete I have seen. She has had a few lower body injuries that have not stopped her from continuing. With all that she does outside of volleyball, it is somewhat unbelievable that she has the energy to train and stay focused on volleyball. I truly hope the best in her future and her health.”

Congrats Haylie on your huge improvements can’t wait to see how much you improve next season!

CLICK HERE to learn more about how the Champion’s QUEST Athlete Academy can improve your athlete’s overall athletic ability!

CQ Success Story – Giovanni Micallef

championsquest — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 00:30:11 +0000

Another Champion’s Quest athlete is making that extra effort to achieve greatness. Giovanni Micallef is a 10 year old football player that has been in the Champions QUEST Athlete Academy since February of this year. He has shown tremendous improvements on and off the field. He is the quarterback and defensive back for his team the Twin City Wolverines. This year he was named team captain. At his Homecoming game Gio had 5 touchdowns. 3 of them were passing and 2 were rushing. This wasn’t the only highlight of that night for Gio, on top of an outstanding performance Gio was named Homecoming King! Congratulations Gio and keep up the hard work for the rest of your season!

Some of Giovanni’s achievements are shown below:

Giovanni has been working with Athlete Performance Coach Brian Holley, and this is what he has to say about Gio since entering the Champion’s Quest Academy. “Gio has been an absolute pleasure to coach. Because of his commitment and effort here at Champions Quest, Gio has seen great improvement with his speed, arm strength and power on the field. He has an amazing arm and plays the game with immense leadership, confidence, and passion that is not usually seen in someone his age. By the time Gio gets into his later years of high school, he will undoubtedly become one of the best athletes to ever walk through these doors.”

Congrats Giovanni on your huge improvements can’t wait to see how much you improve next season!