IMG Academy

IMG Academy holds ribbon cutting for new state-of-the-art Student Residence Hall

john.esfeller@imgworld.com — Tue, 21 May 2013 18:14:37 +0000

Bradenton, Fla. (May 21, 2013) – Last evening IMG Academy held a ribbon cutting for the latest addition to its expanding campus - a five-story Student Residence Hall.

The opening of the new Hall comes just weeks after IMG Academy broke ground on a new multi-sport complex that will open in August.

“We couldn’t be more thrilled to open our new Residence Hall, which will quickly become the hub of our campus and provide each boarding student with a living space very similar to what they will experience in college,” remarked Rich Odell, Vice President of Student Affairs and Headmaster, IMG Academy. “This incredible facility marks just the beginning of a campus expansion plan that will include new academic buildings, student life facilities, and sport complexes.”

Several hundred students and staff, as well as community partners led by architect Fawley Bryant and Tandem Construction, were on hand for the event. Special guest Michael Dolan, Chairman and CEO of IMG Worldwide, made the trip to IMG Academy after receiving a personal invite signed by members of the IMG Academy Student Council. Dolan did the honors of cutting the ribbon, leading to a flooding of the Hall by eager students seeking a look at their new home.

Remarked Rick Fawley, President, Fawley Bryant: “The ribbon cutting ceremony for the new Residence Hall featured an energized IMG Academy student body - reminding me that the social environments we create for student-athletes are just as critical to maximizing their personal growth potential as ensuring their long term success to become great citizens of the world.”

Echoed Peter Hayes, President, Tandem: “Since our first days on campus, we have recognized and appreciated IMG’s vision and commitment to transforming this local facility into a world class sports training and educational campus like none other. Last evening, as students and stakeholders from across the country and around the world gathered to celebrate the completion of the first major building component of the new master plan, it became evident that the future is now. Inspiration, collaboration, focus and an unwavering resolve to be the very best is that which defines IMG and the leadership that has made it all possible. We are so very proud to be a member of the IMG Team!”

The Residence Hall will house 500 students during the academic year with the ability to expand to 1000 during the summer camp season. The building is wireless throughout and features a state-of-the-art security system. Floors two through five will feature academic study rooms, while the lounge area on the first floor will feature: a toiletries/snack shop; mail room; large-screen televisions; high-top table seating and relaxing furniture; pool, foosball, ping pong tables; and more. The first floor will also house Campus Life and Health Services offices, as well as a 24/7 Campus Safety desk in the lobby. Ten adults will live in the building – one on each wing of each floor – and will serve as resident assistants for the students.

IMG Academy celebrates the ribbon cutting of the new Residence Hall!

Kadji returns to Bradenton to prepare for NBA Draft

john.esfeller@imgworld.com — Wed, 08 May 2013 13:29:08 +0000

BRADENTON -- Kenny Kadji embodies the spirit of Robert Frost's famed poem "The Road Less Traveled."

His basketball knowledge was limited, and he faced culture shock upon leaving his native Cameroon for IMG Academy before progressing to the college ranks at the University of Florida and University of Miami.

Now the 6-foot-11, 250-pounder is preparing for the NBA Combine and NBA Draft.

Kadji's hard work and determination have guided the forward to the verge of playing professional basketball.

"It's all about business and preparing guys to make a big jump to a professional level," Kadji said about the program at IMG.

Beginning in Cameroon, Kadji had a growth spurt that made him too tall to play midfield on the soccer pitch. He shot up from 6-foot-1 to 6-8, and the transition to basketball was a no-brainer.

He left for France to hone his skills before departing for America and IMG.

Once in Bradenton, Kadji spent time adjusting to the American lifestyle and learning English.

But the big man's talent, thanks to his foundation in soccer, was always there for coaching staffs to see.

"He has probably the most elite body control that you can have," said Dan Barto, who coached Kadji when he was in high school at IMG. "He has a good base of the performance training and all that. But I think with the soccer in allowing him to really use his lower body a lot when he was younger really helps him now long term. Whereas a lot of basketball players who only play basketball, their lower bodies are really bad and they have no lower body control. He came in with that."

Kadji parlayed the fast rise into a spot with the University of Florida following the Gators' back-to-back national championships.

That pressure, coupled with the colossal jump in style from high school to college, created a difficult transition for Kadji.

He also suffered a back injury and never got into a regular flow with the Gators.

So he transferred to Miami and focused his energy on proving the detractors wrong. To do so, Kadji spent his summer months at IMG working on elevating his game to a level that could net him a standout role with the Canes.

His first year with Miami, Kadji became an All-ACC third-team selection.

This past season, he was named to the ACC's second team. His marquee game came in a home rout of Duke in January, when he scored 22 points on 9-of-11 shooting.

It was a significant victory in the Miami men's basketball program as the Hurricanes defeated a No. 1 team for the first time in history.

"It was a magical game," said Kadji, who is expected to get drafted anywhere from the late first round to the early second round, according to most mock draft boards. "It felt like everything was going right for us and everything was going wrong for them."

Miami was bounced in the Sweet 16 by Marquette, but the Canes and head coach Jim Larranaga revitalized a program long searching for an identity. And Larranaga was instrumental in giving Kadji the space to operate on the floor and showcase his versatile skills as a forward rather than the center spot he was recruited to play at Florida.

"He just really gave me a lot of freedom," said Kadji, who averaged 12.9 points and 6.8 rebounds per game while shooting 35.1 percent on 3-pointers as a senior last season. "He saw my game, and he saw my game is different. Coming out of high school would see me as a center. I just think he saw that's not how I played and I could do different things."

He's back at IMG, with its new basketball courts, to train alongside fellow college basketball players vying for a coveted selection with an NBA franchise in June's draft.

Kadji said he's prepared for the combine, scheduled for May 15-19 in Chicago, because of how seasoned he is now at age 24.

Alumnus Kenny Kadji returned to IMG Academy to prep for NBA Draft

Former Miami Hurricanes put books aside to prepare for NBA

john.esfeller@imgworld.com — Wed, 08 May 2013 13:16:20 +0000

Final exams end Wednesday at the University of Miami, but the studying and learning go on in Bradenton for former Hurricanes basketball players Kenny Kadji, Reggie Johnson and Julian Gamble.

They are participating in IMG Academy’s NBA Draft Training Program, and Shane Larkin is scheduled to join them Thursday night.

Draft prospects in the program are preparing for the NBA Combine, being held May 15-19 in Chicago. They are trying to elevate their stock by spending 12 hours per day working on basketball skills, speed and movement, strength and conditioning, mental exercises, vision training, nutrition and communications. Among the activities they go through are a mock combine, a mock draft, mock interviews with general managers and mock news conferences.

While they await their Atlantic Coast Conference championship rings in the mail, the former Canes are chasing their NBA dreams together. Larkin, a sophomore who decided to skip his final two years of college eligibility, is projected to be picked anywhere from late in first round to the middle of the second round. Kadji is expected to be chosen in the second round.

Among the other players in the program are Brandon Paul of Illinois, Laurence Bowers of Missouri and Romero Osby of Oklahoma.

“It’s definitely not college anymore,” said Johnson, who is working his way back from arthroscopic knee surgery that kept him out of the NCAA Tournament’s Sweet 16. “The whole focus is on life as a pro, everything from getting strong enough to handle bigger guys to how to walk into a room to meet with a GM. They told us to shake everyone’s hand, to make eye contact, and not to rock back and forth in our chair because that makes you look nervous. I’m glad Kenny and Julian are here because we’ve gone through so much together, we push each other, and we have a lot of fun together.”

Johnson said he meets with the nutritionist three times per week, is drinking only water and G2 (diet Gatorade) and already has lost 12 pounds since arriving nearly a month ago. He was itching to play after his surgery, and now he has added motivation — infant daughter, Camryn, who was born May 1 in North Carolina to Johnson’s high school sweetheart. He said they plan to marry “pretty soon,” but first he hopes to sign with a team and get financially stable.

“I have a beautiful little princess depending on me now,” he said. “I was there for the childbirth and it was the most amazing thing. God works in mysterious ways, and he brought us this little girl. When I look into her eyes, it makes me want to cry. I want to provide everything for her, and that drives me to work harder.”

He said the most challenging parts for him have been the outdoor agility training and the vision training. Athletes sit in a dark room, see lights coming quickly from different angles and have to react. The goal is to improve hand-eye coordination so players can handle quick passes and have better peripheral vision to find open teammates.

Gamble said the group of about a dozen athletes has bonded like a team, and he will be rooting for all of them on draft day June 27. Paul has been ribbing Kadji about a controversial out-of-bounds play during the NCAA Tournament game between the Canes and the Illini.

“We’re grinding hard together, day in and day out, and it’s good to be around guys that can relate,” Gamble said. “They don’t know anything about what to expect in the draft process, just like I don’t know anything. We’re learning together from people who coached, played and scouted in the league and the experience is invaluable.”

The basketball skills training is led by former NBA coach Kenny Natt, who worked with the Utah Jazz, Cleveland Cavaliers and Sacramento Kings. He has coached Karl Malone, John Stockton and LeBron James. Speed expert Loren Seagrave, who has coached Olympic track and field stars, works with the athletes on lateral movement, explosion and stamina.

Kadji is familiar with the staff and the campus, as he attended high school there. He showed Johnson and Gamble around when they arrived and is thrilled to be among friends.

“It’s great to have my UM brothers’ support,” Kadji said. “This is a big step for everybody, and there’s going to be a little bit of butterflies, I’m sure. This will help us be ready.”

He said he has been focusing on getting stronger, and improved from six repetitions bench pressing 185 pounds to 11 reps. He is enjoying the leadership training, and thinks it will come in handy.

“The teams want to see how professional you are, especially if you’re not a top 10 pick, if you’re a guy on the fence,” he said.

“Here, they give us advice on what to say and what not to say to GMs, how to handle the trap questions they throw at you, how to dress, things like that. So, when we get there, we’ll look like pros, not like nervous college kids.”

Kenny Kadji, Julian Gamble and Reggie Johnson describe training at IMG Academy

Thirty-three of 41 draft-eligible IMG Academy trainees selected in 2013 NFL Draft

david.portnowitz@imgworld.com — Mon, 29 Apr 2013 15:37:48 +0000

Thirty-three of 41 draft-eligible IMG Academy trainees were selected in the 2013 NFL Draft, including seven first-round selections.

The complete list follows:

Round One

Luke Joeckel (Texas A&M, OT) selected #2 by Jacksonville Jaguars
Sheldon Richardson (Missouri, DT) #13 by New York Jets
Eric Reid (LSU, S) #18 by San Francisco 49ers
Tyler Eifert (Notre Dame, TE) #21 by Cincinnati Bengals
Sharrif Floyd (Florida, DT) #23 by Minnesota Vikings
Bjoern Werner (Florida State, DE) #24 by Indianapolis Colts
DeAndre Hopkins (Clemson, WR) #27 by Houston Texans

Round Two

Justin Hunter (Tennessee, WR) selected #2 in the 2nd, #34 overall by Tennessee Titans
Manti Te’o (Notre Dame, LB) selected #6 in the 2nd, #38 overall by San Diego Chargers
Geno Smith (West Virginia, QB) selected #7 in the 2nd, #39 overall by New York Jets
Menelik Watson (FSU, OT) selected #10 in the 2nd, #42 overall by Oakland Raiders
Gavin Escobar (San Diego State, TE) selected #15 in the 2nd, #47 overall by Dallas Cowboys
Margus Hunt (Southern Methodist, DE) selected #21 in the 2nd, #53 overall by Cincinnati Bengals
Vance McDonald (Rice, TE) selected #23 in the 2nd, #55 overall by San Francisco 49ers
Montee Ball (Wisconsin, RB) selected #26 in the 2nd, #58 overall by Denver Broncos
Aaron Dobson (Marshall, WR) selected #27 in the 2nd, #59 overall by New England Patriots
Robert Alford (Southeastern Louisiana, CB) selected #28 in the 2nd, #60 overall by Atlanta Falcons
Eddie Lacy (Alabama, RB) selected #29 in the 2nd, #61 overall by Green Bay Packers

Round Three

Blidi Wreh-Wilson (Connecticut, CB) selected #8 in the 3rd, #70 overall by Tennessee Titans

Round Four

Matt Barkley (USC, QB) selected #1 in the 4th, #98 overall by Philadelphia Eagles
Nico Johnson (Alabama, LB) selected #2 in the 4th, #99 overall by Kansas City Chiefs
Tyler Wilson (Arkansas, QB) selected #15 in the 4th, #112 overall by Oakland Raiders
Barrett Jones (Alabama, OG) selected #16 in the 4th, #113 overall by St. Louis Rams
Gerald Hodges (Penn State, LB) selected #23 in the 4th, #120 overall by Minnesota

Vikings

J.C. Tretter (Cornell, OT) selected #25 in the 4th, #122 overall by Green Bay Packers
Trevardo Williams (UConn, DE) selected #27 in the 4th, #124 overall by Houston Texans

Round Six

Chris Jones (Bowling Green, DT) selected #30 in the 6th, #198 overall by Houston Texans

Round Seven

Tommy Bohanon (Wake Forest, FB) selected #9 in the 7th, #215 overall by New York Jets
Nick Williams (Samford, DT) selected #17 in the 7th, #223 overall by Pittsburgh Steelers
Garrett Gilkey (Chadron State, OL) selected #21 in the 7th, #227 overall by Cleveland Browns
Everett Dawkins (Florida State, DT) selected #23 in the 7th, #229 overall by Minnesota Vikings
Ty Powell (Harding, LB) selected #25 in the 7th, #231 overall by Seattle Seahawks
Zac Dysert (Miami-Ohio, QB) selected #28 in the 7th, #234 overall by Denver Broncos

More than 40 prospects traveled to IMG Academy in January to prepare for the annual NFL Scouting Combine and ultimately increase their draft stock. IMG Academy’s renowned NFL Combine/Draft Training program presents athletes with education and training in position-specific skills, speed and movement, physical and mental conditioning, sports nutrition and hydration, vision training, communication and more. Former program participants include: 2012 NFL Draft first-round picks Ryan Tannehill (Miami Dolphins, #8) and Luke Kuechly (Carolina Panthers, #9); 2012 later-round gems like Russell Wilson (Seattle Seahawks, #75) and Alfred Morris (Washington Redskins, #173); 2011 first-round selections, Cam Newton (Carolina Panthers, #1) and Anthony Castonzo (Indianapolis Colts, #22); 2004 first-round pick Eli Manning (San Diego Chargers, #1); and 2001’s first pick of the second round, Drew Brees (San Diego Chargers, #32).

Thirty-three IMG Academy trainees selected in 2013 NFL Draft

Seven IMG Academy trainees selected in first round of 2013 NFL Draft

david.portnowitz@imgworld.com — Fri, 26 Apr 2013 15:42:57 +0000

Seven IMG Academy trainees were selected in the first round of the 2013 NFL Draft last night in New York City. They included:

Luke Joeckel (Texas A&M, OT) selected #2 by the Jacksonville Jaguars
Sheldon Richardson (Missouri, DT) #13 by the New York Jets
Eric Reid (LSU, S) #18 by the San Francisco 49ers
Tyler Eifert (Notre Dame, TE) #21 by the Cincinnati Bengals
Sharrif Floyd (Florida, DT) #23 by the Minnesota Vikings
Bjoern Werner (Florida State, DE) #24 by the Indianapolis Colts
DeAndre Hopkins (Clemson, WR) #27 by the Houston Texans

Seven players who trained at IMG Academy selected in the first round of the NFL Draft

IMG Academy’s 2013 NBA Combine/Draft Training Program underway

john.esfeller@imgworld.com — Thu, 25 Apr 2013 22:17:04 +0000

Bradenton, Fla. (April 25, 2013) – After preparing more than 40 top NFL prospects for the NFL Combine and a chance to increase their stock in this week’s Draft, IMG Academy has announced its annual NBA Combine/Draft Training Program is in full swing. Initial participants include: Kenny Kadji (Miami); Brandon Paul (Illinois); Nate Wolters (South Dakota State); Reggie Johnson (Miami); Romero Osby (Oklahoma); Laurence Bowers (Missouri); Adonis Thomas (Memphis); BJ Young (Arkansas); and Tamir Jackson (Rice).

For a decade and a half, top Draft prospects have selected IMG Academy to prepare for the NBA Combine and increase their Draft status. Players eat, sleep and train on campus, with 24/7 access to athletic facilities, as well as a wellness spa, medical office and athletic training/sports therapy clinic. In addition to daily skills training led by former NBA Head Coach and Director of Basketball, Kenny Natt, and Head Pro Skills Trainer, Dan Barto, players receive education, training and support in areas like speed and movement, physical and mental conditioning, athletic training/sports therapy, sports nutrition, vision training, and communications:

Skills Training

Skills training is delivered by Director of Basketball, Kenny Natt, and Head Pro Skills Trainer, Dan Barto. Natt spent 13 years as an NBA coach for the Utah Jazz, Cleveland Cavaliers, and Sacramento Kings, including as the head coach of the Kings during the 2008-09 NBA season. As an assistant coach under Jerry Sloan in the mid-90s, Natt was part of the Jazz’s NBA Finals run with legends Karl Malone and John Stockton. He then joined the Cleveland Cavaliers as an assistant coach where he was involved in the development of a young LeBron James. Natt also had a nine-year professional playing career within the NBA, CBA and WBL.

Barto is one of the game’s top one-on-one instructors; he and his staff have worked with more than 100 current or former NBA players, including: Joakim Noah; Jrue Holiday; Vince Carter; Al Harrington; Luol Deng; Alonzo Gee; Aaron Jackson; Glen Davis; Kevin Martin; and 2012 NBA Draft first-round picks, Kendall Marshall, Moe Harkless and Fab Melo.

Speed and Movement

World-renowned speed expert Loren Seagrave oversees the speed and movement segment of the program. Over the years, Seagrave has worked with athletes at every level – from aspiring high school athletes to collegiate runners to veteran NBA and NFL players and track and field Olympians. Seagrave currently works with countless Olympic and World Champions in the track and field world, many of whom now call IMG Academy their training home. He also recently helped prepare more than 40 top NFL prospects for the 2013 NFL Scouting Combine.

Seagrave architects workouts delivered by IMG Academy’s expert training corps that address linear and multi-directional improvements for speed, agility, explosion and stamina. Assisting Seagrave is Motus Global, a leading human performance technology firm, who provides cutting-edge 3D motion capture data and tools for biomechanical analysis of each player. Athletes are then given prescriptive feedback to address limitations and correct any biomechanical issues.

Physical Conditioning

Scott Gadeken, Head of Physical Conditioning, and his staff oversee strength and conditioning for players. Prior to joining IMG in 2012, Gadeken was the Head Assistant Strength Coach for the University of Washington football program. Among his countless titles and accolades, Gadeken was a finalist for the National Strength and Conditioning Association’s National Strength Coach of the Year award in 2001, following an impressive string of bowl wins while at both Kansas State and LSU. In 2003, he helped lead LSU to a national title, and in 2004 and 2005, he aided the LSU women’s basketball team in reaching the Final Four.

Mental Conditioning

Dr. Angus Mugford and Josh Lifrak lead the mental conditioning portion of the program. Dr. Mugford holds a PhD in Sport Studies (specialization in sport counseling psychology) from the University of Kansas, and is a Certified Consultant with Association of Applied Sport Psychology (AASP) and British Association of Sport & Exercise Sciences (BASES), which are two of the world’s top sport psychology professional organizations. Lifrak possesses a Masters degree in Exercise and Sport Sciences with an emphasis in Sport Psychology from Ithaca College.

Athletic Training/Sports Therapy

ATC Robert Zelesnikar and Graeme Lauriston, PT, DPT, MTC, manage the athletic training/sports therapy portion of the program. Athletes have access to a team of eight Certified Athletic Trainers and two physical therapists, as well as a podiatrist and an orthopedic physician. State-of-the-art facilities include hyperbaric oxygen chambers with oxygen concentrators, cold and hot baths, and an anti-gravity treadmill.

Sports Nutrition

Sports nutrition is led by IMG Academy Head of Nutrition, Stephanie Wilson, and aided by the Gatorade Sports Science Institute (GSSI), located on the IMG Academy campus. Wilson earned her Master of Science in Food Science and Human Nutrition from the University of Florida in 2009 with summa cum laude honors. She provides live-meal coaching to help meet athletes' needs and to ensure customized nutrition plans are achieved and athletes are ready for peak performance at the NBA Combine and throughout their NBA careers. GSSI scientists bring their world-class expertise in sports nutrition and exercise performance to the athletes.

Vision Training

Vision training specialist David DaSilva heads this unique and critical component of the program. Using state-of-the-art technology, DaSilva applies the same techniques used by fighter pilots to increase the endurance and efficiency of eye muscle movements, and to improve communication between the brain and the images captured by the eyes, thus improving the speed and efficiency by which an athlete responds, reacts and makes decisions.

Communications

Nonalee Davis leads the communications portion of the program, helping athletes build personal presence, confidence and awareness through the art of improvisation. In turn, athletes are better prepared to maximize their opportunities with the media, conduct themselves successfully in interviews and within social media, and handle themselves powerfully and effectively in every type of setting. Before joining IMG Academy, Davis was a professional stuntwoman for several years, which helped her develop an insight into the demands faced by competitive athletes and performers. She has taught all over the country on personal presence, improvisation, voice, movement, acting, directing, and more.

2013 NBA Draft Training Program is underway!

New tech makes NFL players faster, smarter

john.esfeller@imgworld.com — Thu, 25 Apr 2013 17:42:45 +0000

In the weeks leading to February’s NFL combine, the draft hopefuls at the IMG Academy sweated through an intense battery of drills and workouts. But they may have exercised their synapses hardest of all, thanks to an electronic version of Whac-a-Mole called the Dynavision D2 machine. First, the players stood in front of a large board studded with blinking lights, which would each randomly flash for a few seconds. The players would then slap each light as quickly as possible while a technician evaluated their response times. Did we mention a screen just above the middle of the board that would display numbers, letters and math equations, which the players would have to read aloud as the lights flashed?

The Dynavision D2 is as entertaining as it sounds, but it has a much deeper purpose. According to University of Cincinnati neurology professor and athletic trainer Joseph Clark, who uses the D2 in his research, it’s a pioneering way to measure and improve players’ hand-eye coordination, reaction times and peripheral awareness. And that could result in increased on-field awareness—like “wiping away the dirt on a camera lens while also adding pixels,” he says.

David da Silva, who heads the vision training programs at the Bradenton, Fla.–based IMG Academy, says the $15,000 machines can improve reaction time by a tenth of a second in as few as three sessions—the difference between beating a lineman off the line or getting pancaked. One of the top performers among linebackers at this year’s academy, according to da Silva? Heisman finalist Manti Te’o—not that it slowed his draft free fall.

IMG began using Dynavision machines two years ago, and the technology is also a fixture in the Steelers’ locker room, where offensive linemen vie for supremacy in the test every Thursday during the season. But that’s just the beginning of its potential applications. Forty Veterans Affairs hospitals use Dynavision to retrain hand-eye coordination in soldiers who have suffered traumatic brain injuries. Similarly, because delayed reaction time can be a symptom of a concussion, the University of Cincinnati is using it as a tool to address football players’ head injuries. Team officials take a baseline measurement of each player’s score at the beginning of the season, and they won’t let someone return after a concussion until he can meet that baseline. “It works for me in both diagnostics and rehabilitation,” Clark says. “And if there are athletes who want to improve their performance, I can write programs for that too.” No doubt, in a flash.

The process works in 4 steps…

1. Seeing the lights requires surveying 16 square feet.

2. Lights can flash randomly or in a set pattern to the player’s blind spots.

3. An advanced setting requires the user to read numbers or letters off a screen while hitting the lights.

4. Real-time results chart improvements, allowing intra-team competition.

NFL Draft hopefuls use unique technology to become faster and smarter

Tune in Thursday night to see where this year's IMG Academy NFL Combine Training Program participants go in the NFL Draft

john.esfeller@imgworld.com — Wed, 24 Apr 2013 21:51:24 +0000

Thursday night at Radio City Music Hall in New York City, the 2013 NFL Draft will get underway. The Kansas City Chiefs are on the clock with the No. 1 overall pick in the draft, and several of this year's IMG Academy Combine trainees are projected as possibilities. Will it be Texas A&M OL Luke Joeckel? West Virginia QB Geno Smith? Tune into find out, and to see where all the other trainees will be playing football on Sundays this fall.

The Draft will get underway on Thurs., April 25 at 8:00 p.m. EST, followed by the second and third rounds on Fri., April 26 at 6:30 p.m. EST. Rounds 4-7 will be held Sat., April 27 at 12 p.m. ET.

Don't forget to visit IMG Academy on Facebook and 'Like' our page to enter for a chance to win an IMG Academy prize pack! Simply go to: https://www.facebook.com/IMGAcademy

In addition to Joeckel and Smith, the remaining list of IMG Academy trainees to look out for includes:

Eddie Lacy, Alabama, RB	Matt Barkley, Southern Cal, QB
Bjoern Werner, Florida State, DE	Menelik Watson, Florida State, OT
Manti Te’o, Notre Dame, LB	Trevardo Williams, Connecticut, LB
Sheldon Richardson, Missouri, DT	Gerald Hodges, Penn State, LB
Tyler Eifert, Notre Dame, TE	Everett Dawkins, Florida State, DT
Shariff Floyd, Florida, DT	Kwame Geathers, Georgia, DT
DeAndre Hopkins, Clemson, WR	Zach Line, Southern Methodist, FB
Eric Reid, LSU, S	Vance McDonald, Rice, TE
Barrett Jones, Alabama, C/OG	J.C. Tretter, Cornell, OG
Tyler Wilson, Arkansas, QB	Tommy Bohanon, Wake Forest, FB
Justin Hunter, Tennessee, WR	Gavin Escobar, San Diego State, TE
Zac Dysert, Miami (Ohio), QB	Albert Rosette, Nevada, LB
Margus Hunt, Southern Methodist, DE	John Wetzel, Boston College, OT
Montee Ball, Wisconsin, RB	Ty Powell, Harding, LB
Blidi Wreh-Wilson, Connecticut, CB	Garrett Gilkey, Chadron State, OL
Robert Alford, Southeastern Louisiana, CB	Devin Smith, Wisconsin, CB
Aaron Dobson, Marshall, WR	Nick Williams, Samford, DT
Covaughn DeBoskie-Johnson, Cal, RB	Nico Johnson, Alabama, RB

Follow IMG Academy's trainees through the NFL Draft!

IMG Academy and Coastal Orthopedics team up to educate local trainers on Comprehensive Concussion Program and gear up for summer Sports Medicine Symposium

john.esfeller@imgworld.com — Wed, 24 Apr 2013 12:30:39 +0000

Following the NFL’s tightening up on its concussion policy, athletic organizations around the country have looked to apply lessons learned to their own programs. The first Comprehensive Concussion Program session offered jointly by IMG Academy and Coastal Orthopedics was open to all area trainers and featured an intro to the new concussion protocol. The second session, slated for April 27, will focus on implementation of the program. IMG Academy’s trainers will join other trainers in the area to learn from Coastal Orthopedics’ newest physician and Concussion Management Specialist, Jeremy Ng, MD and his staff. From diagnosis, to treatment, and recovery, the program will consist of a full spectrum of concussion management services, which includes a complete medical evaluation, physical and comprehensive neurological exam, as well as a computerized neurocognitive assessment using the ImPACT (Immediate Post-Concussion Assessment and Cognitive Testing) Testing System. Dr. Ng is the first and only Credentialed ImPACT Consultant (CIC) in Bradenton.

In addition to their work together on the Comprehensive Concussion Program, IMG Academy and Coastal Orthopedics are hosting the first Sports Medicine Symposium at IMG Academy, June 1-2, 2013. The conference will feature experts from IMG Academy’s Athletic and Personal Development team, alongside leading physicians from Coastal Orthopedics. Some of the featured presenters at the Sports Medicine Symposium include:

Matthew F. Grady, MD, is a board-certified pediatrician with a CAQ in primary care sports medicine. He joined the Department of Orthopedic Surgery at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) in 2007, and is an Assistant Professor of Clinical Pediatrics at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania. Dr. Grady is the Director of the Primary Care Sports Medicine Fellowship, the Director of the Outpatient Sports Medicine requirement for the CHOP emergency department fellows, and the Director of Sports Medicine electives for pediatric residents and medical students in the CHOP/Penn system. He completed his Primary Care Sports Medicine Fellowship at the University of Maryland, during which time he served as the fellow physician for the Baltimore Ravens. He currently serves on the American Medical Society for Sports Medicine educational committee and reviews articles for several journals. He serves as the concussion consultant for several high schools and has teamed with county and state officials to develop return to school guidelines after concussion injuries. In addition to his professional interests, Dr. Grady is very involved in youth sports at the community level. He serves on a local community youth sports board, is the commissioner of the basketball program, and is a youth soccer coach.
Christina L. Master, MD, is an academic general pediatrician with a CAQ in primary care sports medicine. Dr. Master completed her undergraduate studies at Princeton University before graduating summa cum laude from The State University of New York at Buffalo School of Medicine. She completed her pediatric residency at The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) where she also served as Chief Resident. Dr. Master spent 17 years with the Pediatric Residency Program at CHOP, 11 of which were as the Associate and Vice Program Director. She recently completed a sabbatical year of fellowship training in primary care sports medicine at The Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania. Her research and clinical interests are in the area of pediatric and adolescent concussion. Dr. Master is an Associate Professor of Clinical Pediatrics at The Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania and an attending physician in Pediatrics and Orthopedics/ Sports Medicine at The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. She is also the mother of three children, two of whom play ice hockey and are part of the reason for her avid interest in concussion.
Jeremy Ng, MD, is a board-certified emergency medicine physician who completed his fellowship in primary care sports medicine. He is currently employed at Coastal Orthopedics in Bradenton, FL. He completed his medical degree at the Boston University School of Medicine. He completed his Emergency Medicine Residency at Albert Einstein Medical Center in Philadelphia. After one year as an attending physician, Dr. Ng went back for his sports medicine fellowship through the combined Pennsylvania Hospital/Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia Program. There he was a physician for William Penn Charter School, Rowan University, University of Pennsylvania, and a fellow physician for the Philadelphia Eagles and Philadelphia Flyers. He has also coached for over 10 years at the high school, NCAA, and post collegiate levels. He has coached multiple state sprint champions. He also has a passion for football players for the NFL Combine. From 2009-2012, 67 players were selected in the NFL Draft. He served as a physician and coach for the 2013 IMG NFL Combine Preparation Program.
Jason Waterman, MD, is a board certified Internal Medicine physician with a CAQ in primary care sports medicine. He is currently a primary care sports medicine doctor at 3B Orthopaedics in Philadelphia, PA. He completed his internal medicine residency at the Cleveland Clinic. After spending time there as an attending physician, he completed his primary care sports medicine fellowship through the Combined Pennsylvania Hospital/Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia Program. Dr. Waterman has a strong interest in education on concussion and has lectured on concussion at numerous high schools in the Philadelphia area.
Neno Bartocci, LAT, ATC, is a board certified and PA licensed athletic trainer. He is currently the Head Athletic Trainer for the William Penn Charter School in Philadelphia, PA and pursuing his Masters degree in Performance Enhancement at California University of Pennsylvania. Neno graduated summa cum laude with a BS in Athletic Training (and a minor in Exercise Science) from West Chester University. His passion is to promote the "3-sport athlete" in the secondary school setting, which limits the pitfalls of early specialization. He also worked hard to institute the first concussion management program at his school. In a former life, Neno was a Sergeant in the US Army and led troops into two different war zones. He is a certified TRX trainer and has a wife and a 9 month old son that take up most of his free time.

The symposium will feature cutting edge panel topics and roundtable discussion to challenge the practitioner and improve their “toolbox” through collaboration and dialogue. An opportunity to put new tools into practice will also take place through on-field demonstration during the second day of the conference. For more information, visit the Sports Medicine Symposium website by clicking HERE.

IMG Academy and Coastal Orthopedics are joining forces

IMG Academy chooses SPRI Products for NFL Combine Training

john.esfeller@imgworld.com — Mon, 22 Apr 2013 15:47:14 +0000

The NFL Draft is right around the corner, but earlier this year, each of the athletes had to prove their mettle at the NFL Combine. Three of the most critical tests at the Combine are the 40-yard dash, bench press and the vertical jump - drills that help scouts evaluate strength, speed and power - which is where SPRI comes into play.

“SPRI is both pleased and proud to be the preferred provider of exercise equipment for the IMG Academy NFL Combine Training Program,” said Greg Niederlander, SPRI’s Director or Product and Program Development. “The same excellence that these elite athletes strive for goes into each and every SPRI product, built to withstand the rigors of the highest level training demands that directly impact players’ strength, speed, power, and agility.”

Throughout the seven week program, each of the trainees powered through a rigorous workout schedule comprised of five weekly weight lifting sessions and four speed sessions. To give the athletes every edge possible while training, IMG Academy provided the players with the best training accessory equipment available with SPRI Products. The trainees utilized a variety of SPRI equipment, including Superbands, Braided Lateral Resistors and Xering’s during their dynamic warm-up in order to activate specific muscles for the day’s lift or movement session, helping to increase athletic performance and reduce the risk of injury.

All IMG Academy NFL Combine trainees used SPRI Superbands during strength training sessions that focused on heavy compound movements, such as the squat or bench press. The bench press test is one of the most important evaluations, as the number of repetitions performed provided valuable insight into the overall strength of each athlete. The squat is an essential movement to build speed and power, and as a result, better results in the 40-yard dash time and vertical jump. During dynamic workouts, SPRI Superbands were attached to the bar for the bench press and squat, forcing the players to focus on controlling the weight during the eccentric (downward) phase and driving the bar throughout the concentric (upward) phase of the lift. The more the trainees were able to control the weight, in conjunction with the speed at which they were able to move the bar, had a direct correlation to the number of reps they performed on the bench press, their 40-yard dash time and their vertical jump.

Additionally, SPRI Xerball Medicine Ball’s and Elite Xercise Ball’s were used throughout all workouts to warm up and increase core strength, while teaching the players to control their bodies throughout the variety of physical tests at the NFL Combine. Without a strong core, a player’s physical tests would have suffered. Alongside the more popular tests, players underwent stringent functional movement evaluations in which core strength was essential. SPRI Products were utilized throughout a wide variety of exercises during the IMG Academy NFL Combine Training Program, and the the trainees were able to walk into the NFL Combine with a distinct sense of confidence as they realized their training, and the SPRI Products used throughout, had given them a noticeable advantage.

For more information on SPRI, visit www.SPRI.com.

IMG Academy NFL trainees used SPRI products to prep for the Combine