Academy Sports Club, like many football clubs, wants its players to fulfil their potential. The latest initiative the team is taking to reach that goal is employing fitness coach Alton Williams.
The George Town native runs a sports and personal fitness training company called Island Physique. Williams, 26, is coaching four youngsters for Academy’s Under 13 team in Nathan Borde (11), Vincent LaChance (11), Sebastian Martinez (12) and Elijah Seymour (12). All are taking part in drills that focus on their agility, quickness and leaping ability.
Williams states so far the partnership with Academy has been worthwhile.
“Right now I’m training four of their players at a time for six weeks,” Williams said. “Last week we capped off our third week with our ninth and tenth sessions. Primarily I focused on their 10 and 40 metre times along with the height on their vertical jump. Within two weeks they’ve shown great results and everyone is noticing that. I even have a lot of team parents wanting to sign up for themselves.
“The confidence the kids have is through the roof and as an instructor you can’t beat that. I’m simply supplementing the advice they get from their coaches. I’m all about empowering Cayman’s young athletes. They can run faster, jump higher and be more agile and I simply want to help them do all of that.”
So far the results have spoken for themselves. Borde saw his 10m dash times go from 2.66s to 2.53s, his 40m dash drop from 7.66s to 7.06s and his vertical jump increase from 13.5 inches to 15”. LeChance saw his 40m time drop from 7.47s to 7.22s and his jump go from 14.75” to 19”. Martinez boasts a 7.07s 40m time (up from 7.20s) and a 14.75” jump (up from 12”). Seymour has seen his 40m go from 7.72s to 7.13s and his jump increase from 13” to 15.75”.
The boys are currently playing in the Cayman Islands Football Association U13 League and their training has translated well on the field. Heading into last weekend Academy were coming off of two landslide wins over St. Ignatius and Cayman International School. In both matches the margin of victory was greater than four goals.
One of the people who can appreciate those numbers is Academy U13 head coach Virgil Seymour. The life-long footballer, who is in his third year leading the squad, states the performances he has seen in games validates the training regimen.
“We’ve done well in our last two games and I’ve easily seen changes in things like their acceleration,” Seymour said. “I’ve seen significant improvement. I’m impressed with Alton’s work. I’m about the development of kids in football and Alton’s program is a big help in that area. Moreover he is really good with the kids and he doesn’t miss a beat with them.
“Last year we took our licks in this competition but I feel like this year we can improve a lot. Speed was always a factor in our side though the physical physique was lacking against some of the bigger kids. Alton is getting the kids in tip-top shape and over the next several months he’ll be working with us as we have many youth teams in the various competitions such as the U15 and U17 leagues.
“We’re also in the process of getting a Jamaican youth team down to play us (most likely for the long weekend in January). From a Minnesota tournament last year to the Dallas Cup in April we’re always looking to get our kids more competition. They want to improve their fitness and ball awareness and we want some of them to make the national team down the road.”
All of the kids currently training with Alton have a positive take on the drills. Among them is Virgil’s son Elijah Seymour. The younger Seymour states the quickness he has gained would carry him in all sports.
“It feels good and I see where it helps,” Elijah said. “I see where I’ve greatly improved on the field. For instance I feel lighter and I’m faster to the ball.
The kind of speed I have now I feel could make me fast in any sport. I’d recommend this program.”
Related Videos
