Parents seeking help preparing their children for sports competitions now have a place to turn for training and advice as their young athletes pursue their athletic goals. 

The Conway Regional Health and Fitness Center began offering youth sports performance classes to young people ages 8 to 10 and 11 to 13 last year. Erika Setzler, the fitness center’s human performance manager, said the classes are essential in winter when sitting on the couch and playing video games can become a temptation.  

“It helps the kids prepare for their next sport and keeps them active,” Setzler said. 

The youth sports performance classes are held on Tuesdays and Thursdays for both age groups. Tuesday classes usually consist of learning the proper running and agility training techniques with ladder, hurdle drills, and cone drills with games for 8 to 10-year-old athletes and more intense drills for 11 to 13-year-olds. Thursdays consist of circuit training and body weight exercises for the younger groups, with the older athletes engaged in more intense weight training such as deadlifts, squats, and bench presses. 

Many more experienced athletes participate in more than one sport, while some younger ones are still determining which sport is best for them. 

“Some of the younger kids are still trying to figure out how their bodies work, so we focus on the basics, like running. We work on a lot of footwork drills,” Setzler said. “Some kids want to learn the basics of the sports to make up their minds about what they want to play.” 

Natalie Kate Wood knows where her talents lie.  

An 11-year-old Conway volleyball player, Natalie began the youth sports performance program last year to increase her strength and registered for a second session this February. For Natalie’s age group, Setzler emphasizes body-weight training, including crunches, weighted balls, and circuit training. 

Her mother, Catherine Wood, a teacher at Ruth Doyle Middle School and volleyball coach, has already begun to see results.  

“Overall, she has more body control and is more confident on the court,” Wood said. 

Wood said they chose the Conway Regional program because of their experience with Setzler.  

“Natalie Kate had done some training with Erika before, and she did a great job,” she said. “Erika has such a great rapport with the kids; I trust her knowledge and abilities.” 

Setzler is a certified personal trainer with personal experience as a triathlete.  

“Training and competing in triathlons took a lot of discipline,” Setzler said. “My training included a strength program to help with injury prevention and increased power which is why it’s important to me to include this in these kids’ programs.” 

Wood added, “Natalie thought the first session was helpful and wants to perform to the best of her abilities. She enjoyed the extra attention and one-on-one training because it’s a smaller, more personal program.” 

March Sessions and Spring Break Camps 

The next sessions are scheduled for March 5 through April 4. 

Age groups 8-10 will train from 4-4:45 p.m. and ages 11-13 will train from 5-5:45 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays. The cost is $100 for members and $125 for non-members for all ten sessions. 

The Fitness Center will also offer three, one-day camps during Spring Break, each focusing on a different specialty for $20 per session and $25 per session for non-members. 

Monday, March 18: Strength Session is designed to improve overall conditioning, power, flexibility, and injury prevention. 

Tuesday, March 19: Speed Session is designed to improve acceleration, deceleration, range of motion, and endurance. 

Wednesday, March 20: Balance Session is designed to improve balance, coordination, reaction time, and cognitive performance. 

The 8-11 age group will train from 1-2 p.m., and the 12-15 age group will train from 2:30-3:30 p.m.