Zak DeOssie, a linebacker for the New York Giants, trains at BlueStreak. Check him out on the Super Treadmill!
Chelsea Piers BlueStreak sculpts average athletes into fierce competitors and collegiate athletes into professional players. For the past week, six NFL prospects have been using Chelsea Piers BlueStreak and the Sports Center to fine-tune their game, and prepare themselves for the highly anticipated 2011 NFL Draft. Even though the 2010 season hasn’t officially ended yet, the countdown to the Combine has certainly begun.
Keep an eye open in the Draft for:
Shaun Draughn - University of North Carolina Running Back, 6’0” 210 lbs. MVP of The 2011 Music Bowl with 168 Yards & 1 TD. Will play in the All-Star Game. Ranked 35 out of 196 RB’s. Projected 4th Round
Martin Parker - University of Richmond Defensive Tackle, 6’3” 295 lbs. All-American pick, a finalist for the Buck Buchanan Award and a First Team All-CAA Football selection. Ranked 18th of 176 DT in NCAA. Projected 3rd Round. Won defensive MVP in the All Star game (Shrine Bowl)
Charles Smith - Texas Southern University Offensive Tackle, 6’5” 340 lbs. 1st Team SBN All-American in the Senior Scout bowl. Ranked 75 out of 190 OL.
Ed Barham – University of North Carolina Tight End, 6’3” 260lbs. Offensive Captain and Leader. Ranked 34 out of 88 TE.
Theron Kadri - Vanderbilt University Defensive End, 6’4” 255 lbs. Ranked 58 of 173 Defensive Ends.
Chevon Walker - Sioux Falls University (transfer from University of Florida) Running Back 5’10” 198 lbs. Ranked 71 of 196 RB’s
Reynard Horn - Univ of Virginia RB 6’0” 215lbs ALL-ACC 2nd team
The BlueStreak staff trains these athletes using a variety of equipment, including high speed treadmills, dartfish video analysis of running form on our indoor track, a world class weight room and indoor turf fields. We wish them the best of luck at the Combine and in the 2011 Draft!
We're excited to announce a brand new addition to BlueStreak's team of expert coaches, Jamel Thomas. As a former NBA and NCAA Division I basketball player, Jamel brings a wealth of knowledge to the BlueStreak team. After leading his Abraham Lincoln High School team to a NY State Championship, Jamel was awarded an NCAA Division I scholarship to play for Providence College Friars. Graduating with a Bachelor's degree and as captain of his basketball team, Jamel led his conference in scoring, helping the Friars reach the Elite Eight of the NCAA finals. After college, Jamel played for the New Jersey Nets, Boston Celtics, Portland Trailblazers and Golden State Warriors of the NBA, followed by a professional career in Italy, Greece, Turkey and Croatia.
Jamel has trained NBA, European and high school basketball players, and has an irrefutable passion for the game. To schedule a training session for your child with Jamel, call 212.336.6123 today.
While fitness fads are constantly coming in and out of style, one of the most prevalent current trends is the increase in children and teen personal training. Many children have begun sport-specific training sessions in hopes of obtaining a college athletic scholarship. However, another reason for the rise in personal training with a younger demographic is the absence of physical education classes in school core curricula.
In an experiment published last month, researchers at the University of Indiana set out to learn more about how fitness affects the immature brain.
Through a combination of two separate studies, researchers recruited 9 and 10 year old schoolchildren and had them run on a treadmill. After running, the children were sorted into categories based on the results of their treadmill run. The groups then completed a series of cognitive challenges in one study and a series of complex memory challenges in the other study. After testing, the children’s brains were scanned to measure the physical volume of specific areas of their brain.
In general, fitter children scored better on the tests. Furthermore, however, the portion of the brain exercised in each intellectual challenge proved to be larger in fit children. After the series of cognitive challenges, the brain scan images revealed that fit children had significantly larger basal ganglia, a key part of the brain that aids in maintaining attention and the ability to coordinate actions and thoughts.Also, after the series of complex memory challenges, fit children had an increase in the size of their hippocampi, the portion of the brain associated with complex memory activity.
The takeaway is clear--kids need more aerobic exercise. So get your kids moving!