Clemmons: Colston makes his mark

Here's a superstar who realizes that the game is not about publicity and fame and being out in clubs. Even though he is already a great player, his desire to constantly improve keeps him focused on what's important...training, working on his game, rehab, and paying attention to nutrition. And when he has down-time? He spends time at home, with his family.

All the signs of a man who will have a long and successful career.

Clemmons: Colston makes his mark

Posted using ShareThis

Alouettes Win Grey Cup...or Did Saskatchewan Lose It?

If you didn't see the Grey Cup game yesterday, you missed out on one of the most unforgettable finishes to a football game since the Stanford band made their early entrance onto the field back in 1982. Montreal kicker Damon Duval missed a field goal on the last play of the game, only to be given a mulligan when the Roughriders were called for having too many men on the field. Having been handed a second chance at glory, Duval made good on the 33-yarder with no time on the clock. Now the question must be asked...did Montreal win the game, or were they handed victory by Saskatchewan?

Certainly Montreal gets full credit for continuing to battle and fight, even when at times it looked as though once again they were going to fall short in the Championship game. They were able to overcome both their own ineptitude and Saskatchewan's 1st half dominance. Clutch plays were made down the stretch in all 3 phases....offense, defense and special teams. But was it Montreal's dogged determination, or a choke-job by their opponent?

Look, I've been on both sides of games like this. It seems like the outcome is inevitable, then slowly but surely the tables start to turn, and soon they can't be stopped. Saskatchewan has to wondering today how they let their 16-point lead get away from them....was it the 2 interceptions tossed by Darian Durant in the 2nd half? The inability to stop Avon Cobourne from picking up crucial 1st downs in the 4th quarter? The questionable play-calling that led to a 2-and-out with just over a minute to play, when a single first down would have gone a long way to securing victory? Or did it simply come down to arguably the biggest mental blunder in Grey Cup history?

Saskatchewan played lights out in the first half, but weren't able to close the deal. Their off-season will be spent running all of the "what-if" scenarios through their minds. This game will be stuck in their minds at least until they get back in the field in 2010, if not longer. In the meantime, Montreal will be partying with Lord Grey's cup for weeks and months to come.

Elite Football Strength Training Begins

Elite Performance Academy's Off-season Football Training programs begin this week. Our first group of athletes got started last night, and other groups will be starting in the weeks to come.

The Program consists of multiple Phases. In Phase 1 we will begin with 2 training sessions per week, from now until the end of the December. We will do an assessment at the beginning to determine if the athlete has any weaknesses or muscle imbalances that need to be corrected. We will set a great base of strength and stability in these sessions, and learn how to perform the type of complex, multi-joint, explosive movements that will allow you to transfer your strength to the playing field.

In the new year, we will start Phase 2. We will continue with our strength training, but we will now be able to progress to even more dynamic movements because you will have built up that base of strength and learned proper technique. . We will carry this Phase until the end of February, with programs adapting and progressing every few weeks in order to continuously challenge the athletes.

In order to keep costs down for each athlete, it will work best if you can get a group of 4-5 athletes who will all train together. We will pick days that work for everyone and all train together same days and times each week. Cost will depend on how many athletes in the group.

This will be a tremendous off-season program, something that very few other players in Ottawa will be doing. As athletes head into their high school years, the time is now to put forth the effort to determine just how good a player you can be. This program will prepare the boys not only to perform their best on the field, but at camps/combines in the spring and summer for University Scouts. Scholarships are there for the taking!

For more info, contact Pat Woodcock (pat@patwoodcock.ca or 613-447-5383)

Elite Speed and Agility Training Program

Elite Performance Academy is pleased to announce a winter Speed and Agility Program unlike any other in Ottawa.

We are running this program in collaboration with the Kanata Knights, who will be helping with administration and organization. However, this Program is open to everyone...athletes of all ages, and from any football clubs in the city, are welcome and encouraged to attend.

The benefits of the training are numerous, but the most important benefit is that we are training football-specific speed and agility skills. Running fast straight ahead is obviously important, but perhaps even more important is the ability to stop quickly, change direction, and start again. And to do all of that with power and explosiveness.

To achieve these goals, the training will include:

1. Linear speed work
2. Stopping, starting, deceleration
3. Acceleration
4. Movement skills in variety of planes
5. For advanced athletes, resisted and assisted movement patterns
6. Agility and footwork drills

The program will run over 27 sessions, and take place at the Kanata ThunderDome. The cost of the dome time is $10.00 per player and the cost of the training is approximately $20.00 per player depending on numbers. We are asking that if you wish to attend all 27 sessions, then the cost to you is $400.00 in total. I guarantee that you and your athlete will not get a better deal than that anywhere else in the city. See below for other payment options. Sessions will run on Thursday evenings and Saturday Afternoons.

Session Information:
Thursdays 5:00 pm - 6:00 pm Kanata Soccer Dome on Richardson Side Road

November 26;
December 3, 10, 17;
January 7, 14, 21, 28;
February 4, 11, 18, 25;
March 4, 11, 25;
April 1, 8.

Saturdays: 12:30 pm - 1:30 pm (2 days from 11:30 am - 12:30 pm) Kanata Soccer Dome on Richardson Side Road

January 9, 16, 23, 30;
February 6, 13, 20, 27 (11:30 am - 12:30 pm);
March 6 (11:30 am - 12:30 pm), 13, 20.

Payment Options:
All Sessions $400.00 1/2 due at first session
Thursdays Only $250.00 1/2 due at first session
Saturdays only $200.00 1/2 due at first session
Drop-in fee $30.00 per session
All cheques made payable to The Kanata Knights Football Club

There may be other options available that can be discussed with Rob Hamm. If you are interested in this program want to enroll or discuss further please reply to Rob Hamm (rob.hamm@ocdsb.ca or 613-838-9328), or Pat Woodcock (pat@patwoodcock.ca or 613-447-5383). Please let us know your interest as soon as you can before November 26, 2009.

Football games are won and lost by the smallest of margins. Being one step faster can make the difference between holding that Championship trophy, and going home disappointed. Don't get left behind!!

Kanata Knights team up with Elite Performance Academy

Kanata Knights Head Coach and Vice-President Rob Hamm made the following announcement:

"The Kanata Knights have hired a full time Speed and Agility coach to work with our athletes over the winter and spring. It is our pleasure to bring Pat Woodcock on to our team as our lead Speed and Agility Coach. This is a first for the Knights and a first by any other club in NCAFA. The Knights believe that exposure to this type of training by our players is a cornerstone in developing players for next season and beyond."

Personally, I am very excited about this collaboration. Being able to work with a group of athletes throughout the entire off-season, and beyond, will allow us to be very detailed and aggressive in our training. The Knights will definitely be a fast, and explosive football team come next season!