PEABODY — Peabody Track Coach Fernando Braz, who helped lead his boys and girls team to Northeastern Conference titles, now turns to his coaching service, Going the Distance.
Braz’s service includes personal one-on-one coaching, a cross-country training program, and an all-sports training program designed to improve conditioning and prepare for upcoming seasons.
“The concept is simple, we work on conditioning, overall conditioning for athletes who are going to perform in the fall, from ages 8 to the collegiate level, and the whole idea is to provide agility and anything that has to do with speed development,” said Braz.
He added, “Our uniqueness is we also provide the cardiovascular and aerobic strength work that sometimes is sorely missed in the off-season for athletes to develop.”
The programs run at Peabody High School three days a week for six weeks, beginning July 6 and ending right before high school athletics begin. These programs also have a broad demographic of kids trying to improve their conditioning.
Athletes are divided into four age groups of 10 and under, 11-12, 13-15, and 16 and up to help gauge the athletes coming in. However, as coaches get a better look at everyone, some younger athletes may have enough acumen to participate in a higher age group.
“It is all levels, all ages from 8 up, and it equals itself out and balances itself out, and we use that as a grouping for conditioning during those six weeks, and we adjust and assess along the way,” said Braz.
Braz says these programs, beyond a shadow of a doubt, will help any athlete trying to prepare for their upcoming season.
“I can say, without hesitation, 100 percent, that when these young kids, youth, high school, or college leave the six-week program, they are in shape. They are ready to go to their primary coach in their sport,” he said.
Braz also emphasized, “I cannot stress this enough: we are not soccer coaches, football coaches, hockey coaches, basketball coaches. We are a conditioning program that gets them ready and develops the initial quality they need as an athlete for their coach.”
As the starting date for Braz’s programs approaches rapidly, there will be a large turnout. This year’s cross country program has 22 schools participating, and there will be hundreds of athletes sharpening their skills.
For even more information regarding the coaching service and helpful summer programs, Braz says the best places to go are the websites http://www.goingthedistancefb.com/ and http://brazcamp.com/.
“When they get to their coach, they are going to be strong, quicker, more agile, more flexible, and ready for their coach cardiovascular-wise for when their season starts,” said Braz.
