"Athletic Republic" vs. "Velocity Sports Performance" what do you think?

[Brian Van Hook]

Just wanted to get some thoughts on what you think are some of the best Sports Performance Training Centers/Programs the country?

The two major franchises (in my opinion) are:

Athletic Republic (formerly Frappier Acceleration Sports Training).

Velocity Sports Performance.

Or you can comment on any others you have experience with?

I am a little bias because I have worked at “Athletic Republic”, but I would like to hear what other have to say about Velocity or other major programs around the country.

Also any thoughts on SPARQ?


.

[Rick Karboviak]

I am an "AR" fan, since it all got started up here in my neck of the woods (Fargo, ND was the first main site for it, with one in Grand Forks, ND starting soon after). My past professor from college was also the same professor for the man who came up with AR, John Frappier. I have also worked for FAST/AR in the past, with many of my years of experience of training with that system. I know that AR sites are unique in the fact that they all have the high speed treadmill of their own, plus many other unique machines, in common, but can differ from site to site. I have yet to see a Velocity Sports Performance center.

The one downside that I didn't like about these types of franchise sports performance centers is that no matter what your certs or experiences are, they are mostly about making money off of you, the trainer. Granted that things need to be in the budgeted numbers for fees to charge for such services, but with that type of structure, you may end up with some issues. For one, the business format loves internships, because its cheap labor and anyone looking for experience will ultimately get it at a center that has mass numbers of athletes being trained there. However, when you see how much is brought in per athlete on a per session scale, and how much the trainer is making, I feel its unfair to the trainer to be in charge of so many, and get paid an unfortunate amount in return for so much responsibility. In some cases, a trainer's wage may be just a dollar or 2 more over a minimum wage salary. Minimum wage is fine for flipping burgers and making fries, but a trainer is creating and training real live athletes who need supervision, coaching, and encouragement. I could go on a long rant here, but I'll keep it at that.

[Brian Van Hook]

Thanks for the input and you were lucky to have John Frappier as a professor, I am also a big fan of his training protocols. While working at “AR” (or FAST “Frappier Acceleration Sports Training” as it was called in the past), I was a big fan of his “Plyo-Press” as well as the high speed treadmills.
And your right about the pay, I did start out in an Internship position but stayed on as a full time employee, unfortunately the pay was not up to par for a college graduate trying to earn a living. But I would say anyone wanting to enter the field should think about doing their internship at AR, if anything you will learn a lot through the mass number of athletes you will be training on a daily basis…as well as learning about Frappier’s protocols and training methods.

I was hoping to get some input for anyone familiar with Velocity SP.…anyone…anyone?

[Rick Karboviak]

Sorry, John Frappier's professor was also my professor, and that professor helped me 'get in' with FAST while in college, looking for an internship. I should have been more specific. I have however, met John on a small number of occasions, and enjoyed his knowledge & insight.

Brian Van Hook said:

Thanks for the input and you were lucky to have John Frappier as a professor, I am also a big fan of his training protocols. While working at “AR” (or FAST “Frappier Acceleration Sports Training” as it was called in the past), I was a big fan of his “Plyo-Press” as well as the high speed treadmills.
And your right about the pay, I did start out in an Internship position but stayed on as a full time employee, unfortunately the pay was not up to par for a college graduate trying to earn a living. But I would say anyone wanting to enter the field should think about doing their internship at AR, if anything you will learn a lot through the mass number of athletes you will be training on a daily basis…as well as learning about Frappier’s protocols and training methods.

I was hoping to get some input for anyone familiar with Velocity SP.…anyone…anyone?

[Matt Hank]

I am from Southern California where there are quite a few Velocity’s around my area. Actually, a brand new 27,000 sq. ft. facility just opened up. I have not worked at a Velocity but I have trained with the owner of one of the Velocity and spoke to a few other owners, and I have contacts in the field that have trained at a Velocity in the past. Anyways, the facilities are amazing and that is how they market and sell training to athletes. The programs are pre-planned and not tailored to specific athletes, unless you come to the facility as a team. This is how most of these franchises work though.

The founder, Loren Seagrave, is an obviously legendary speed coach and the programs are designed around his methods. However, coaching varies from facility to facility.

The pay at these facilities also sucks and overall I am only a fan of the equipment/facility set up. If someone is looking for an entry level position as a strength and conditioning coach then this is the place for you.

Overall, not a big fan of franchised cookie cutter programs.

[Rick Karboviak]

That's another downside to the 'cookie cutter' aspect of a franchise, but its a solution that works to a point, a point of making money & being a success for a good % of athletes who would benefit from any good training out there. I tend to use the McDonald's model as an example of franchises. If you want a Big Mac value meal, you go to McDonalds and they can get you one that will taste the same in pretty much any McD's you go to. That's about the same style used with a sports performance franchise: you ask for a speed program and they deliver you some options from their menu of choices for training.

I will say this about the AR programs from my experience, it is that even though we'd use a protocol for each athlete, we were able to modify as needed within the protocol, mainly based on our judgment of what each athlete was/is capable of doing. For instance, a 10 year old & 18 year old doing the first level protocol at the same time will be able to do only so much. The 18 year old may be capable of handling everything put in front of them, while the 10 year old is going to need some modifications in speeds on the treadmill, heights to jump over/to in plyo work, etc.

RK

Matt Hank said:

I am from Southern California where there are quite a few Velocity’s around my area. Actually, a brand new 27,000 sq. ft. facility just opened up. I have not worked at a Velocity but I have trained with the owner of one of the Velocity and spoke to a few other owners, and I have contacts in the field that have trained at a Velocity in the past. Anyways, the facilities are amazing and that is how they market and sell training to athletes. The programs are pre-planned and not tailored to specific athletes, unless you come to the facility as a team. This is how most of these franchises work though.

The founder, Loren Seagrave, is an obviously legendary speed coach and the programs are designed around his methods. However, coaching varies from facility to facility.

The pay at these facilities also sucks and overall I am only a fan of the equipment/facility set up. If someone is looking for an entry level position as a strength and conditioning coach then this is the place for you.

Overall, not a big fan of franchised cookie cutter programs.