Becoming Faster, Stronger and a Better Player

Christmas is over and the Utes are back on the field and in the strength room. This time of year, the NCAA rules only allow 2 hours per week with the ball and 6 hours without the ball. So it is kind of a "down time" until we start training again in mid-February.

However, this is also an important time to do some of the hard work that can help improve one's game and athletic ability. We spend 3 days each week on conditioning...endurance, recovery as well as speed training.

We also work out 2 times each week the Coach Greg Argust, one of Utah's strength and conditioning gurus...Coach does a great job of getting the most out of each player with great energy and enthusiasm...unlike most colleges in the weight room, we try not to get too much into power....we don't want bulky and muscle-bound players. Our focus is on strength, flexibility, injury prevention and quickness...Check out a couple of clips from this morning's work out. Notice that we don't use big weights...just body-weight and bands for the most part....and the exercises are geared toward doing something over and over again quickly....just like in the game of soccer! Check it out!



Notice that our injured players also take part...in the second video, you will see Katie Martinez jumping over the bench...Katie is just coming back from a procedure to relieve pressure from compartment syndrome (lower legs)... You will also see Emalee Rogers hopping on one leg...Emalee suffered a broken leg and dislocated ankle over the holidays...Both are coming along fine..along with our other wounded (Jen Christoffers, Erin Dalley, Anne Shallenberger, Hannah Turpen)... It is important that injured players do as much as possible to help in their rehab as well as maintain some sort of fitness level until they are fully cleared.

Of course, this is not the most exciting thing...to do or to watch...However it is VERY important work and we are proud of our team's conditioning program and results...