How to spend an active summer vacation

Summer is knocking at the door. And, thanks to the GHSA, we finally get to have a couple of months to enjoy it. Recently, the Timekeepers in Thomaston moved the official beginning of athletic activities two weeks later into August for the 2006-07 school year. Now we can actually have a full “off-season” as well as take a guilt-free family vacation which has become more of an interruption than institution for this generation. Two full months…here are some ideas for taking advantage of this new dispensation of time.

Velocity Sports Performance is the single best program on the south side of Atlanta for helping your son or daughter become more flexible, develop balance, increase quickness, explosiveness, and pure speed. The lifting program is specifically designed to work in cooperation to the weight program at school. The emphasis is on Olympic lifts and is awesome. I’m telling you, if you want to see dramatic results this summer enroll for eight weeks at four sessions a week. It does not matter what sport your child plays you will see amazing results. Your child will enter the pre-season with an entirely new self-confidence. Worth every penny invested. By the way, my kids will be there.

If your son plays baseball or your daughter plays softball there is only one choice…Home Plate in Peachtree City. I realize there are some other options out there and each one does a great job. However, results cannot be ignored. Home Plate is at the top of the list. Any athlete who has gone through the instructional programs at Home Plate has reaped the benefits individually and as a team. From the 25-0 Starr’s Mill baseball team to the numerous other state championship travel teams, Lloyd Thompson seems to have the “mojo” when it comes to helping players develop into their full potential. I could name 50 kids who have become all-stars at all levels under Lloyd and his staff. Home Plate has the rare balance of pushing the kids hard and yet helping the kids develop a greater love for the game. Good stuff. Get ‘em enrolled. Play ball!

Basketball seems to be on the rise in recent years here in the Peach State. We have garnered national attention by producing such talent as Dwight Howard as well as Naismith winner and UConn bound Maya Moore at Collins Hill who will be the best female player in the nation (again) next year. If you get any chance to see her play – pay the price of admission – get there two hours early. In terms of Fayette County, there are a few quality camps every summer that really help an athlete develop. Most of these big camps with big backing are all about money and numbers. It is more a ranking service than an instructional service. However, if you really want to see your child develop skills and conceptual aptitude I can recommend two camps; Jim Waller runs a couple of camps at Velocity and Mike Patrick holds court at St. Paul’s. These men do it right. They keep the numbers down and the kids get quality individual attention. Both men have a teaching style that meets the kids where they are in their development.

On the subject of basketball…I’m about to make my first journalistic enemies. I want to warn parents to be very careful with the enticements of AAU summer basketball. Yes, there are good coaches out there. It is not all bad. However, I have heard so many horror stories and witnessed so many bad apples manipulating kids for profit and these same bad apples unable to coach the game any better than the youth volunteers at middle school church camp. AAU basketball is the underbelly of summer programs. Be very thorough before committing your son or daughter to a team. Again, there are quality opportunities out there…but just as many “play ground” operations.

Soccer is a no-brainer. Lightning and Lazers are awesome. These two organizations are well-oiled machines. Both clubs share in the overall success and the national reputation of Fayette County soccer at all age levels. There has been some internal jousting in both organizations in recent years but it does not seem to have lessened the overall impact of coaching and skill development. Our kids get the best individual instruction and team experience in the nation. Which of the two organizations is better? I don’t know…like picking between Barq’s or A&W!

Track is a very healthy sport in our Fayette County schools. I’ve heard many good things about the PTC Flash Track Team. Runners of all ages are welcome and there are enough meets to keep the kids fat and happy…well…happy. The Flash is summer program designed to end in time for the start of school. I plan to sign my son up to be a Flash! (Editor’s note: The Southside Pioneers also have a great summer program that has aided the high school and post-high school careers of numerous local track athletes).

Don’t forget we have a terrific Lacrosse association right here in town. In fact, if the numbers are any indication of success, the Fayette County Lacrosse Club is phenomenal. Lacrosse is the fastest growing high school sport in Georgia and we can prove it!

Lastly, there is no other option for the aspiring cheerleader than Infinity Elite. If you have a young lady in your home ready to learn how to begin tumbling, stunting and dance…what are you waiting for? I’m telling you, Infinity Elite is the real deal. Check out their website at www.infinityelite.com.

Hey, there are lots of choices for the summer of 2006. Whatever program or activity your son or daughter chooses to do this summer make sure you are there to support them, encourage them and cheer for them. There will be other voices out there this summer, too. We must silence these voices. These other voices will offer temptation, boredom and a taste of the streets. So, let’s go. Let’s get signed up. Let’s build some skill and self-confidence. And, don’t forget, Disney World still has some great weekly rates for the family. Coach won’t mind. Rumor has it he’s taking his own week of vacation this summer. Thanks GHSA.