Speed Camp for Female Athletes

Over the past few months I have had what feels like dozens of conversations with many parents, peers, athletic trainers and coaches about the increased incidence of injury in female athletes, especially to the knee joint. Now, each person I spoke with developed their own theory on why this occurs, but one thing we all agreed on was this: There is a lack of training opportunities for the female athlete. PERIOD! 

​One of the biggest mysteries to me is why aren't these opportunities there for these girls? Especially when you consider the facts:

1. ​Female athletes are four to six times more likely to injure their knee when compared to their male counterparts.
2. The CDC reported that females under the age of 19 have roughly 46,000 sprains or strains of the knee joint and the surrounding areas.
3. Almost 30,000 knee surgeries are performed on female athletes each year!

​Take some time to think about that for a second. Every year, 30,000 female athletes are told their seasons or careers are over and they need to go under the knife. In addition to that, they will have to sit out an additional 6-12 months recovering from the injury. For anyone who has ever suffered an injury, the recovery process is no easy task. When they are finally cleared to play, the chances of occurring another injury have increased greatly. The  number 1 predictor of future injury is previous injury.

​In order to correct this, these young athletes need opportunities. I have met and worked with dozens of girls who are going to college for athletics but have never stepped foot into a weightroom or have been coached on the fundamentals of speed & agility development. This is concerning. I believe that most​ lower body injuries can be prevented. Unfortunately we cannot make these injuries go away for good but we are able to reduce the incidence rate.

Here is how we do it: 

1. ​Develop lower body strength & core stability. When running and landing from a jump, the body needs to have the strength to absorb the shock from the ground. If not, these weak links will eventually lead to injury.
2. Develop a stronger connection between brain and body. Neuromuscular training programs are designed to both increase the strength of the knee joint and increase the individual’s awareness of proper balance and technique.
3. Teach proper landing techniques. Two of the top causes of ACL injuries (knee rotating inward when landing and landing stiff legged) are preventable through learning.   

Which brings me on to something that I am really excited about. This summer Brickhouse Strength Performance Camps will be offering a speed camp designed specifically for the female athlete aged 7-14 (high school training opportunities will be held separate). This camp will take place at Saucon Valley High School and will begin on July 17th and end on July 20th. Each session will begin at 9 am and end at 11 am.  Over the course of these four days, athletes will be coached on a variety of skills with a focus being placed on the three aforementioned areas: leg & core strength; neuromuscular training; and landing mechanics. They will also be instructed on speed technique, agility training, and conditioning to get them prepared for the upcoming season.

​If you have any questions, contact Chris at [email protected].
If you would like to register, click the button below:

Click Here To Register!

I hope to see you all in July!