Soccer Game Changer: Thomas Pighin

At Champion’s QUEST, we are always excited to hear from our parents about how much their athlete has improved and the changes that they have seen in their athlete since beginning their journey at the Athlete Academy. Sometimes the improvements are physical, other times the changes are mental but it is always amazing to hear when it is both.

“I’ve seen Thomas become a more confident and competent soccer player. He only played one season when he was six and some loosely organized play at school. He wanted to try something other than baseball so we set him up with the CQ Soccer camp and a Coerver camp to help him at least have some soccer skills. I’m very happy with the conditioning Thomas is getting at CQ. His endurance has really increased and this is very important on the bigger soccer field. He has improved his speed, which had always been an issue for him. At school they are preparing for fitness testing and Thomas is well above most other kids. In fact he and Cameron (another CQ athlete) kinda leave the others behind.” -Chris Pighin

When Thomas comes to train at Champion’s QUEST, he attends the B.A.S.E, Soccer, and Baseball clinics to develop his athleticism along with the technical skills needed to excel in his games. Currently, Thomas plays forward, defender and goalkeeper for his AYSO-Cypress team. Thomas has short-term goals of improving his speed, strength and dribbling for soccer and a long-term goal of playing soccer professionally.

“He’s doing well so far with his team. Thomas has to play up because his birthday is three days before the cutoff so his friends are all U10 and he’s a U12. He’s hanging in there playing multiple positions, including goalie and forward and even scored the tying goal in a game. We will transition to baseball soon. One of the things I love about CQ is that he can get quality instruction in a variety of sports- along with conditioning. He’s excited to his re-testing this week and can’t stop talking about improving his scores!” -Chris Pighin

I’m also excited to see how much Thomas’ hard work has paid off and also to continue to follow his success on the soccer and baseball field. Keep it up Thomas!

Soccer Star on the Rise: Cameron Smalls

Cameron Smalls walked through the doors of Champion’s QUEST back in May of 2016 with goals of improving his speed, power, and agility. Cameron is a 10-year old multi-sport athlete, who plays soccer, baseball and basketball. His long-term aspirations are to play soccer or baseball in high school, college, and eventually professionally.

In just over 2 months of training, Cameron showed a 119% increase in his total athleticism. Cameron showed his biggest improvements in his agility, strength and speed. He lowered all three of his agility scores by 4 seconds. Cameron improved his linear agility from 15.39s to 10.69s and his lateral agility from 16.70 to 11.64, however his biggest improvement was shown in his single leg agility on his SST (shark skill test) by reducing his time from 12.59s to 7.88s! Single leg agility is crucial to soccer athletes as many technical aspects such as passing, trapping, dribbling, and shooting require one foot to be elevated off the ground while the other leg stabilizes the body.

Cameron also made huge strides in his strength as he improved his push up score from 45 to 51 repetitions in a minute and his pull up score from 4 to 7 repetitions! Cameron showed his biggest improvements in his core strength as he increase his plank hold time from 2:27 minutes to 4 minutes! Core strength is essential in soccer and other sports that require athletes to body up against opponents without losing their balance and center of mass.

All soccer athletes know how important speed is out on the field and it can be the difference between betting your opponent to the ball or gaining an extra step to be able to get off a shot on goal. Cameron improved his acceleration in his 10-yard sprint from 2.06s to 1.83s. He also showed improvements in his change of direction as he lowered his 5-10-5 test from 6.07s to 5.46s!

Cameron has recently joined the FC Premier club soccer team , where he plays for Coach Eddie Chavez’s 2005 flight 2 team. Cameron is a 2006 year birthday so he regularly plays against other soccer players who are a year older than he is to challenge him. At Champion’s QUEST, Cameron attends the B.A.S.E and Soccer clinics to develop his athleticism and skills out on the soccer field to compete against the older kids.

Keep up the hard work Cameron and I’m excited to watch your continued success!

Video: Improve your balance, reduce injuries

Balance, coordination, body control and flexibility are integral to the successful athlete. Often times too much emphasis is put on how much weight an athlete can lift, or how high they can jump. However, it is the little things such as balance that can make the greatest impact on their performance.

At Champion’s QUEST, our athletes work on their balance and coordination in their dynamic warm-ups, strength, speed, and power clinics. It is important that an athlete is well-rounded and doesn’t have any weaknesses because any imbalance that an athlete has can also put them at a higher risk for injury.

This video below goes over some simple balance and coordination exercises that your athlete can be doing on their own to reduce their injures.

For more information on injury prevention or to schedule an athletic evaluation, contact Coach Kyle Ertel via email at Kyle@ChampionsQUEST.com or by phone: 562-598-2600.

Confidence is Key: Isabel Pixa

Isabel Pixa walked through the doors of Champion’s QUEST back in May of 2016 with goals of improving her speed, strength, and ball skills so that she could do her best for her Los Al High School soccer tryouts. Her long-term goals are to be a starter on the Los Al High School team and also to attend Stanford University.

In just over 2 months of training at Champion’s QUEST, Isabel improved her total athleticism by 71%. Isabel showed her biggest improvements in her speed, agility, and strength. She lowered her 10-yard sprint time from 1.94s to 1.82s and also improved all of her agility scores by over a second! However, Isabel made her biggest strides in her strength by upping her push up score from 28 to 46 repetitions in a minute and improved her plank hold time by a minute!

“Isabel’s fitness level has increased since beginning training at Champion’s QUEST. Isabel was already fit but has now taken it to another level. But the biggest change has been seen in her confidence. Isabel has increased her confidence on the field and this has also carried over to her high school where she has just started as a freshman at Los Al High School. Isabel also enjoys training with her younger brother and they like to challenge themselves to core strength competitions.” -Cecilia Pixa

Isabel recently joined a CDA Slammers FC club team coached by Krissy Grana to keep improving her level of play. She currently plays right midfield and forward for her club team where they won their opening game of league play this past weekend by a score of 4-0. Also, Isabel was also recently named to the Frosh/Soph team at Los Al High School!

Keep up all the hard work Isabel and I’m excited to watch your continued success on and off the soccer field.

Soccer Success Story: Vivian Lopez

Vivian Lopez walked through the doors of Champion’s QUEST back in July of 2015 looking to increase her strength on the soccer field, as well as her technical ball skills. Vivian’s long-term goal is to play soccer professionally. 

Currently, Vivian plays center midfield for her club soccer team TFA-S.E.L.A ’05, coached by Frank Lopez. Vivian and her team recently competed in the Southwest Soccer Club Labor Day Classic tournament this past weekend. Her team went undefeated, totaling 14 goals scored and conceding none, on their way to winning the championship.

Other tournaments that Vivian’s TFA team have won this summer include the Southwest Soccer Club Summer Classic in Temecula, the Nike Pyramid Cup in South Bay, YVYSO Spartan Cup in Yucaipa, CSL Cal Cup and Celtic Cup in San Bernardino.

At Champion’s QUEST, Vivian attends Speed and Strength clinics to develop her athleticism on the soccer field to complement her technical skills. In just over a year of training, Vivian has shown progress across the board in her athleticism. She improved her power by increasing her standing vertical jump from 14 to 17 inches. Vivian also made significant strides in her speed by lowering her 10-yard sprint time from 2.28s to 1.87s and her 5-10-5 change of direction times by over a second.

However, Vivian showed her biggest improvements in her total body strength. She increased her push up score from 5 to 40 repetitions (1 minute limit) and her plank hold time by 3 minutes! In total, Vivian has improved her athleticism by over 380% since beginning training at Champion’s QUEST.

Keep up all the hard work Vivian! I’m excited to hear of your continued success on and off the soccer field this year. Enjoy your Play It Again Sports $20 “Fun Bucks” coupon at the Los Alamitos location on Katella. Click below to try out on of our athletic performance clinics!

3 Foods Youth Athletes Should Avoid At All Costs

Elite athletes know that their nutrition is key to their performance and gaining an edge over their competition. An athlete’s diet is more than just calories, it has a direct impact on their success- it is fuel for the body. Some foods can increase an athlete’s energy, promote muscle growth and help in muscle repair. Other foods can set an athlete back. There are certain foods that an athlete should avoid at all costs.

1. Anything with high-fructose corn syrup. Sweets and candies may provide a quick energy burst, however these foods are filled with sugar and empty calories. Eating sugary foods offer no nutritional value and can also lead to an athlete “crashing” during a workout. High-fructose corn syrup or artificial sweeteners can also promote fat buildup around important organs. Cereals are a very popular breakfast choice but they contain mostly sugar and calories. Sodas and energy drinks also contain artificial sweeteners and should have no place in an athlete’s diet.

Instead, athletes should focus on consuming fruits, vegetables and other foods from nature. These foods contain simple carbohydrates which are easier for the body to break down and provide a rapid burst of energy before competition. Instead of sodas, an athlete can try fruit infused water (lemon, lime, strawberry) to add taste without any stimulants.

2. Foods cooked with oil or containing trans fats. There are two types of trans fats found in foods: naturally-occurring and artificial trans fats. Naturally-occurring trans fats are found in the gut of some animals and foods made from these animals (ex: milk and meat products). Artificial trans fats are commonly found in processed foods. Both of these types of foods take a long time to digest and are known to increase the level of bad cholesterol in the body and increase the risk of heart diseases. Dairy and fried foods should be avoided prior to competition because they can make an athlete feel drowsy and lead to a loss of concentration.

Instead, athletes should choose healthy fats such as nuts, seeds, avocados, seafood, and olive oil. These foods contain monounsaturated fats and are digested easier and are recommended before any rigorous activity. Doughnuts, potato chips, Cheetos, cookies, crackers, muffins, pies and cakes are examples of foods that may contain trans fat. Athletes should limit how frequently they eat them.

3. Avoid protein and energy bars. Protein and energy bars are quick and convenient source of calories, however most are highly processed and contain little nutritional benefits. Most energy bar products on the market are high in sugars and saturated fats, which can contribute to diabetes and heart disease. Many athletes don’t know how to properly modify their overall nutrition plan to incorporate these products in a healthy way. They eat too many of these products and it leads to unnecessary weight gain. It is also important to note that these bars contain some allergens that can affect an athlete.

Instead, an athlete can get the same energy boost from whole food sources such as a piece of fruit or a handful of nuts and seeds. Nutritional bars that are low on sugars and saturated fats include Luna, Cliff, Kashi, Kind, and Quest bars. At Champion’s QUEST, athletes can purchase Quest bars to supplement their training sessions.

September is nutrition month at Champion’s QUEST and all academy athletes will be going through a nutrition session with their counseling coach. For more information on foods youth athletes should avoid, email Coach Kyle by clicking the picture below.

 

 

 

Soccer Parent Testimonial: Moreno Family

 

Isabelle Moreno is approaching her year mark here at Champion’s QUEST where she joined in November of 2015. Since Isabelle’s arrival she has made a 119% improvement in her athleticism. Isabelle has obtained a bigger goal to become the most feared player and is reaching that goal every day she trains.
Isabelle currently plays for soccer for NHB where they recently played in the West Coast Classic Tournament this past weekend.

Izzy has been regularly attending soccer clinics and power clinics to improve her athleticism to make her an even better soccer player. Her work ethic is continuing to show in her performance on the field. She is becoming the most feared player with her speed, agility, and strength. Her improvement in her athleticism is being noticed and is becoming a stand out athlete!

“Izzy played great in all 5 games at the West Coast Classic Tournament this past weekend. They played 2 games on Saturday and 1 Sunday to get into the Semi Finals. The Semi Finals and Finals were Sunday night and were hard fought games. Izzy had 5 assists and her speed, quickness, and agility were very noticeable and stood out all tournament even with a sore hamstring. She was able to dispossess the opponents almost at will and her strength definitely made a difference. Thanks for everything you guys do!” -Joe Moreno

Keep up the hard work Izzy! You are doing fantastic and I look forward to hearing more about all of your future success.

Soccer Video: Teaching the Cross-Over Step

Change of direction is essential to any soccer athlete, especially ones who need to make sharp cuts and perform in multiple planes. The cross-over step is one way that an athlete can change direction efficiently, without losing any speed or power.

The first step to developing an athlete’s cross-over step is to work on the mechanics of the movement to ensure proper form and body alignment. Next, the athlete can train the movement by performing it game speed but still focusing on the correct form. Lastly, the athlete must apply the movement in a soccer-specific pattern that they would use out on the field.

This video covers all three phases of the cross-over step to help develop more efficient turns and directional changes on the soccer field.

For more information on soccer-specific speed training or to schedule an athletic evaluation at Champion’s QUEST contact Coach Kyle.

 

Soccer Success Story: Anika Piburn

 For the past year, Anika Piburn has been preparing for the Los Alamitos high school soccer try-outs and to be the BEST soccer player she can be… well, Anika has done just that. 

Growing up in So Cal competitive soccer, high school soccer has become quite competitive and more often, middle school soccer players are starting to prepare for those try-outs before they reach high school. With the increase in youth soccer players playing club soccer, high school soccer programs have had to create an extensive try-out period for incoming freshman athletes. Anika, like all 8th grade female soccer players wanted to give the try-outs her best effort. In order to do that, Anika knew she knew to put in the extra work outside of her soccer practices and games. Over the last year, Anika has been training in increasing her speed, strength, power, agility, and mental toughness.

Not only did Anika make the Junior Varsity soccer team as a Freshman for Los Alamitos high school, she also helped her club team, CDA Slammers 2001,  win the title of Davis Cup Champions!

when Anika came to Champion’s QUEST in 2015, her long-term Goals were the following (August 2015):

1. “Be able to do pull-ups”
2. “Increased upper body strength”
3. “Quicker change of direction”
4. “More power in taking off in sprints”
5. “Stronger on the ball”

As you look at the image with Anika’s statistics from the past year, you will see that Anika did in fact, accomplish her long-term goals. Anika’s commitment to attaining her goals has made her a leader at Champion’s QUEST with her peers. It is going to be an exciting year watching Anika use her athletic growth in this upcoming Fall club season for her CDA Slammers team followed by her first high school season at Los Alamitos high school.

Congrats Anika on a year of accomplishment, let’s continue the success! – Coach Brittany

 

Fast Feet, Don’t Get Beat!

Agility is an athlete’s ability to explosively start, decelerate, change direction, and accelerate again while maintaining body control. Agility is the body’s way to coordinate various movements needed to excel in the sport of the athlete. Agility training enhances soccer players in three ways: Neuromuscular adaptation, increased body control, and increased reaction time.

1) Neuromuscular Adaptations: There is an increase in force production when performing agility. This means that the muscles in the body are contracting at a faster rate. When training at a fast rate, the body will adapt to the speed. Therefore, train fast to be fast.

2) Increased Body Control: Incorporating an agility program allows for a soccer player to control the small movements in the body for better posture and better efficiency. This includes the movements in the neck, shoulders, back, hips, knees and ankle joints. It gives the soccer player a better sense of control to perform the task  faster.

3) Increased Reaction Time: An agility program will allow a soccer player to place their body in a better position to take advantage of performance situations. This includes reacting to 50/50 balls and to react quicker during 1v1’s.

As soccer players, the majority of time we spend on the ball performing toe taps, bells, or focusing on enhancing the ball skill. However, the game of soccer requires quick releases of the ball with explosive movements, such as sprinting, changing direction, and jumping. Therefore, more time needs to be spent off the ball training to allow our feet to move quicker off the ball.

This includes training with various agility patterns with quick releases of the ball. Here at Champion’s QUEST, we focus on allowing our soccer players to move quick off the ball. During our soccer clinics, we focus on enhancing their quickness to allow them to become better soccer players.  Click below to try out on of our soccer specific clinics!