Agility Training Camp Getting A Thumbs Up From Parents and Kids

STAMFORD – The first week of the Summer Olympics competition was an excellent time to learn about a group of like-minded individuals dedicated to athletic training and the benefits it has for everyone, not just die-hard athletes.

It explains, in many cases, the disparity in performance between athletes and how some have more endurance, speed or the ability to adjust, than others. That is what the agility aspects of athletic training are all about.

Brent Trimbell cannot sing the praises of agility training enough and is so dedicated, he is looking to start a business that will provide athletic training to youth in the region.

Jim Quarino is the guy who kind of got things started, working with his own son, Conor Quarino, who recently graduated from South Kortright Central School as a standout basketball player and excelled in other sports as well. It started during the pandemic, said Quarino, when basketball season was cut short and the basketball teams at SK never got to finish what was a highly successful season. "It helped him incredibly," said Quarino, who is the assistant varsity basketball coach at SKCS. He has a bachelor's degree in physical education and by day he is a landscaper.

It's called MVP Training Camp and it started in 2020 when a couple of the SKCS coaches, including Lexi Dubois and Brandon Porter got together with Quarino to give kids some athletic training as school activities and school sports were stopped for a time. Ashley Moeller, who is an assistant girls varsity basketball and soccer coach at SKCS, is also involved with the camp.

"Athletic injuries have increased since Covid," said Jim Quarino, an assistant basketball coach at SK. Agility training has been proven to reduce injuries. That was his interest, along with keeping his son focused and in shape and he said it made a difference.

It also sparked other's interest in the agility training and the coaches started the camp. "We had a lot of success with our first camp. You could really see the difference. It was like night and day." Most of the participants were from SKCS, but it has now expanded to include others.

This summer they started a four-week camp that was extended by another five weeks because its popularity has soared. There are more than 40 campers signed on for one of two sessions three nights per week. More camps are coming in the future, but over the summer they utilized Churchill Gym in Stamford. 

"It's for everybody, not just athletes," said Bella DuBois, another assistant coach at SKCS and coach at the camp. "We're trying to create a healthy lifestyle. We have kids who do not play sports but still love the camp."

It is keeping the kids active. The ages range from third grade and up. There are three one-hour sessions per week at a cost of $15 per session. There are kids attending from Oneonta, Jefferson, Stamford, South Kortright and Delhi.

The one-hour  camp consists of a 10-minute warmup, 40 minutes of high intensity training and a 20-minute cool down. 

Campers take turns working at several different stations that are designed to emphasize different types of movements. Campers learn how to jump and land properly, how to run properly, how to move from side to side and other movements. DuBois pointed out that a lot of injuries happen because the kids do not know how to jump or land properly. The stations include explosion, foot speed, jump & land, and agility. They spend time at each station learning the proper technique, then use what they learn in the stations to run through a series of drills.

While it is considered a good workout, the kids were not complaining.

The camp has been held on and off since 2020 and has helped players keep and maintain tone. They also offer advanced training for collegiate athletes. "Many students move on to college sports, but their lack of strength and condition is often three years behind the other athletes," said Quarino

The camps also help students learn how to properly use the equipment they might find in their home school gyms.  "A lot of schools have weight training equipment, but a lot of the kids don't use it because they don't know how to use it, or how to use it properly," said Quarino. They plan to add weight training to next year's agility camp. They also hope to have backpacks, cross trainers and water bottles at the camp, which they expect to grow to 200 campers. DuBois pointed out that two previous campers are now helping to coach at the camps, which is helping out. 

And there is no lack of testimonials, either from the kids or their parents. This is not a parent "told me I have to do this" type of activity, this is "I want to do it because I have fun and it makes me better" type of activity.

Sarah Gaida brings her two daughters to the camp. "They love it," she said. "The oldest is all about sports and the youngest is into gymnastics. It has absolutely helped them. The oldest one has increased her speed and endurance. You can tell the difference."

Boston Quarino said "It makes me quicker," and his younger sister Patty said, "It makes me faster than my opponents."

Lillian Eklund said, "It is intense, but I feel good. It's more about the basics. We want to be better. We are striving to be better. It's about setting goals. The drills change and your are working different skills for an athlete." Her favorite sport is basketball, but she plays three sports at Stamford. "It helps us work together as a team and to work hard, " she added. 

Stacy Vasta, her daughter, Allyson, likes camp and working with her cousin Bella DuBois. "She's starting to see the benefits and thinks it will help her in playing soccer this fall. She is getting a good workout and is working really hard, but is enjoying it."

But the person who is most excited about it all is dad, Brent Trimbell, whose daughter got him started on his pledge to start an athletic training facility.

His daughters and son are in the camp and he notices the difference the training has made in them. He said Quarino and himself are envisioning how much it would help athletes and others in the region.  "With Jim's background in physical education, it will be possible," said Trimbell.

He is seeking property now and he sees it as an indoor/outdoor facility and he said the camps are just a small sample of what is to come. He even has a name picked out: Catskill Athletic Club.

Trimble said he loves softball. He just finished his first year of coaching the Stamford/Jefferson girls' team and his oldest daughter plays in a traveling softball league. "I am geared toward softball and baseball. Agility and strength is a major part of  it."

He is hoping there will be a facility over the next year. "It's something I have wanted to do over the past decade, really. I have wanted to start an athletic training facility."

As the owner of a local landscaping company, Lasting Impressions, he said landscaping isn't what he wants to do for the rest of his life. "You are going to see some good stuff coming."

As the first session was finishing up, those in the next session began to arrive. Throughout Churchill Gym, there was a bustle of activity. Kids were running through obstacles and jumping over short hurdles, with coaches telling them to pump their arms and keep moving. "Don't stop moving."

Rob Truesdell drives his son, Declan, from Oneonta to Stamford three times per week. Declan plays basketball with kids in eighth, ninth, and tenth grade. He will be entering the sixth grade this fall. His dad worries about sports injuries, especially with him playing with kids bigger and older. "It makes him better," said Truesdell. "It makes him stronger and faster." It is likely the reason Declan is able to be competitive with those older kids. He plays AAU basketball in Binghamton and he plays football in Oneonta as a running back. 

"I literally love it. It is helping me improve my strength and endurance a lot," said Declan, "It has helped me play basketball. I can run faster and longer and it's really a lot of fun. It does help you work together as a team and to work hard. You learn how to tough through things."

Both Truesdells praised the coaches and staff.