Edward Fitness Center helps athletes make team

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Updated: August 4, 2011 4:20PM

There’s nothing to do. That can be a common complaint from some kids during the long summer vacation. Naperville residents Greg Burdett, 16, and his brother Jack, 14, didn’t have that problem. They devoted much of their break to one goal: becoming stronger, more effective and less injury-prone athletes. Ultimately, each hoped to win a place on the Naperville Central High School soccer team. But the competition was sure to be fierce.

Their mom, Elizabeth, a member of Edward Health & Fitness Center, wanted to make sure her sons had every opportunity to compete successfully, while avoiding injury. This was especially top of mind since Greg had injured the growth plates in his hips in late 2009.

The injury required time off for recovery and physical therapy.

Elizabeth talked with the center’s fitness coordinator, Carol Teteak, who suggested personal training could build up the brothers’ fundamental athletic skills and complement the sports-specific training they were getting in soccer practices. Elizabeth shared the idea with other local moms, and soon about a half dozen teenage soccer players were signed up for small group training with Teteak.

Greg and Jack had school soccer from August to November and were on travel teams from December until June. Team practices continued into the summer, two or three times a week.

“I wanted to take that extra step by working with Carol throughout the summer,” Greg said.

“My balance needed work so we did a lot of work with core training — planks and crunches while balancing on the big exercise ball and balance exercises on the BOSU. (BOSU is a balance trainer that’s flat on one side and dome-shaped on the other.) I definitely improved my balance over the six weeks, as well as strength and agility.”

Reducing the risk of injury is another benefit of training, according to Teteak.

“You can’t guarantee all injuries will be avoided, especially in contact sports,” she says. “But by improving efficiency, the athlete can help reduce noncontact injuries that can potentially happen while pivoting, landing, decelerating or changing direction. These are teachable skills. We start with fundamental patterns, stressing form and function, as well as strengthening the core. Then we keep progressing until the movement is automatic.”

Jack pointed to increased endurance and core strength as the key benefits he gained from his training. He can’t afford to tire easily when playing defensive soccer.

Mom Elizabeth appreciated the broad spectrum of training Teteak offered — including nutrition advice.

“She suggested what and how they should eat in preparation for training and competition. Teens are more likely to pay attention to the professional trainers than to their parents about something like that,” Elizabeth says.

But did the Burdett brothers make the teams? Yes, all the hard work paid off. Greg is on the varsity team, and Jack made the school’s junior varsity squad.

Parents who are interested in small group training for their young athletes can contact Carol at 630-646-7920 or carol.teteak@edward.org. To learn more, visit www.edward.org/fitness.

Submitted by Edward Hospital