TOPHAT HIGH PERFORMANCE
Alexa Jones, Girls Director of High Performance, joined Tophat in 2013 and has since been the Performance Coach for Tophat. Alexa Jones earned a Bachelor of Science in Health Sciences from Furman University, holds Performance Enhancement Specialist (PES) and Corrective Exercise Specialist (CES) Certifications from the National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM). She also holds a US Soccer National C License and a USYS National Youth License. She designs Performance programs essential to Tophat’s success consisting of strength, conditioning, mobility, and injury prevention while overseeing the data tracking and analysis, periodization, and sport science education for the Select Programs
The main goal of the Tophat High Performance Program is to provide and implement an evidence-based program focused on Long Term Athlete Development. It is imperative that sports development programs are designed around critical periods of accelerated adaptation to training. These periods represent the time when children are ready and able to improve their speed, agility, and balance. Soccer Specific Sessions are developed that focus on speed, agility, coordination, endurance, power, strength, injury prevention, and recovery that have specific goals by age group. As players go through the different pubescent stages, there are specific areas of focus to enhance performance and well-being.
Speed/Mobility Clinics will be offered throughout the year to provide our players specific performance training relevant to their age and athletic ability level. The programs are aimed to improve their overall athletic ability and performance on the field while also focusing on injury prevention. The various Speed/Mobility Clinics are explained below:
FUNDAMENTALS SPEED/MOBILITY PROGRAM
Age Groups: U8-U10
OBJECTIVES:
- Begin to focus on the fundamental motor skills of running, vertical jumping, leaping, and dodging
- Begin to establish a solid athletic foundation and physical literacy by introducing the ABCs (Agility, Balance, and Coordination)
AREAS OF FOCUS:
- Multidirectional Speed
- Agility
- Balance
- Coordination
- Flexibility
- Running Efficiency
- Neuromuscular body control
INTERMEDIATE SPEED/MOBILITY PROGRAM
Age Groups: U11-U13
OBJECTIVES:
- Training developed for athletes who are in the growth and development stage in which developing endurance, speed, and strength are crucial to performance and injury prevention.
- Proper Strength training can take the stress off growing joints, increase speed, and reduce risk of injury. The program is cognizant to age specific injuries such as Osgood-Schlatter’s and Sever Disease by focusing on mobility and corrective exercise drills.
AREAS OF FOCUS
- Acceleration
- Top End Speed
- Agility
- Strength
- Flexibility
- Mobility
ADVANCED SPEED/MOBILITY PROGRAM
Age Groups: U13-U19
OBJECTIVES:
- Training designed to build on the foundations of speed and agility, balance and coordination, and Flexibility and Mobility
- Putting an emphasis on improving Acceleration/Top End Speed, Strength, Power, and Stamina
AREAS OF FOCUS
- Endurance
- Top End Speed
- Advanced Agility
- Strength
- Power
- Injury Prevention/Recovery