By Nick Brockman, Messenger Sports Reporter nbrockman@the-messenger.com
The Difference: it's not just the name of the program, but it's also the impact one YMCA training regimen has been making with some Hopkins County athletes.
Developed by former Madisonville-North Hopkins and Hopkins County Central assistant football coach Chad Cunningham, the program helps youths improve fitness through arduous conditioning.
Named "The Difference," the workouts are specifically designed for youth and young adults ages 7-18 and utilize scheduled testing to measure increased strength and agility.
"It's basically the total body," Cunningham said of the routine. "It's a version of the presidential physical fitness test."
Cunningham, now the strength and conditioning coach for the Lady Storm soccer team, designed the program for local youth athletes to train closer to home.
"I've seen beaucoups of talent go through Hopkins County and you always hear about Owensboro and this, that and the other," he said. "Those people have a place to go to and I felt like there's no reason why we don't have that.
"There's no reason that people should have to go to Owensboro to get this kind of training. It should be offered right here with the number of kids in sports."
Developed by former Madisonville-North Hopkins and Hopkins County Central assistant football coach Chad Cunningham, the program helps youths improve fitness through arduous conditioning.
Named "The Difference," the workouts are specifically designed for youth and young adults ages 7-18 and utilize scheduled testing to measure increased strength and agility.
"It's basically the total body," Cunningham said of the routine. "It's a version of the presidential physical fitness test."
Cunningham, now the strength and conditioning coach for the Lady Storm soccer team, designed the program for local youth athletes to train closer to home.
"I've seen beaucoups of talent go through Hopkins County and you always hear about Owensboro and this, that and the other," he said. "Those people have a place to go to and I felt like there's no reason why we don't have that.
"There's no reason that people should have to go to Owensboro to get this kind of training. It should be offered right here with the number of kids in sports."
Kelly Forbes, the Hopkins County Family YMCA sports and marketing director, said there are currently 17 athletes enrolled in the four-week sessions and individuals can sign up to come once, twice or three times a week.
The Difference began in March and many athletes have already seen positive results, Forbes said.
"Athletes are taught proper body weight exercises, running and agility form," she said. "The have developed cardio endurance, strength, stamina, speed, power, flexibility, coordination and power from performing constantly varied functional movement exercises."
After four weeks, participants can continue to enroll in the program as they wish.
"It's something that you're going to keep getting better and seeing improvements at," Cunningham said. "Even if somebody comes and does it for eight weeks, that doesn't mean they can't keep going."
Cunningham said the participation is nearly even between boys and girls and he is even working a team camp with the Central dance squad.
"Somebody like the dance team you wouldn't think would enjoy this kind of stuff or it would help, but it helps on balance and it helps on speed," he said.
In addition to dance team members, Forbes said athletes participating in volleyball, basketball, softball, baseball, football and golf have enrolled with The Difference.
Former Central football coach Rick Snodgrass joins Cunningham as an instructor for the course.
Cunningham said he asked Snodgrass to help because of his reputation in the community and knowledge for exercise physiology.
"As far as the high school level, 25 years as a coach, he knows what he's doing," Cunningham said. "I felt he would be a good fit and he's good with the kids."
With summer in full swing, all high-school athletes are in an official down time, but that hasn't stopped the most determined from trying to make a "difference" for next season with one of the YMCA's latest offerings.
The Difference began in March and many athletes have already seen positive results, Forbes said.
"Athletes are taught proper body weight exercises, running and agility form," she said. "The have developed cardio endurance, strength, stamina, speed, power, flexibility, coordination and power from performing constantly varied functional movement exercises."
After four weeks, participants can continue to enroll in the program as they wish.
"It's something that you're going to keep getting better and seeing improvements at," Cunningham said. "Even if somebody comes and does it for eight weeks, that doesn't mean they can't keep going."
Cunningham said the participation is nearly even between boys and girls and he is even working a team camp with the Central dance squad.
"Somebody like the dance team you wouldn't think would enjoy this kind of stuff or it would help, but it helps on balance and it helps on speed," he said.
In addition to dance team members, Forbes said athletes participating in volleyball, basketball, softball, baseball, football and golf have enrolled with The Difference.
Former Central football coach Rick Snodgrass joins Cunningham as an instructor for the course.
Cunningham said he asked Snodgrass to help because of his reputation in the community and knowledge for exercise physiology.
"As far as the high school level, 25 years as a coach, he knows what he's doing," Cunningham said. "I felt he would be a good fit and he's good with the kids."
With summer in full swing, all high-school athletes are in an official down time, but that hasn't stopped the most determined from trying to make a "difference" for next season with one of the YMCA's latest offerings.
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