Beyond Strength – Building Champions From a Young Age
Youth athletes are not just building a stronger body at PowerStrength Training Systems, but their minds and spirits as well. Catering to 5th through 8th graders in the “Little Beasts” performance program, PSTS transcends the conventional notion of fitness. PowerStrength youth training programs serve as a vehicle for cultivating hard work, coachability, and mental fortitude, all while honing athletic prowess.
This builds resiliency.
It builds self-confidence.
Ty Galloway makes the commute from Holland Christian to PowerStrength in Jenison – and has 2 sons that participate in the “Little Beasts” program: Finn – 8th grade, now in his 4th year at PSTS, and Graham – 5th grade.
“They definitely dominate on whatever field that they are on,” Ty said. “They are always 2 of the better players out there no matter what, absolutely they are the most confident out there you can see it by the way that they carry themselves. With my youngest boy, you will see him pulling away from people out there on the football field speed wise. My older kid is the same where he pulls away from defenders and when they are out there on the field there are bad things and good things that can happen throughout the course of the game, my boys stay even keeled so they are not only physically prepared, they are mentally prepared.”
Less than 2 years after starting his journey at PowerStrength, Finn was able to compete, and have success, against kids older than him.
“As a 6th grader you could see that he was fast,” Ty said. “He was running against 8th graders at that point so he was getting the first heat, as a 7th grader he had one of the fastest times in the 70 (meter dash) in the state, and last year he won conference and it was just the first time he ran the particular event, they just threw him out there because they needed somebody to run it.”
Pete Driesenga also has 2 sons that participate in the youth program at PowerStrength: Calvin – 7th grade, and Ethan – 5th grade. He has seen the value of getting a jump on the competition at PowerStrength.
“My middle child plays football and lacrosse, he started probably right after his 5th grade football season and by the next season I could tell his speed has tremendously picked up, and his confidence in his running really picked up.”
A WINNING ENVIRONMENT
At the heart of PowerStrength’s ethos is a commitment to fostering a positive environment where youth athletes thrive. Even those who aren’t super interested in exercise find themselves drawn to the camaraderie and encouragement that is present in each session. This is made possible by the exceptional coaches, who not only bring boundless positive energy, but also serve as exemplary role models for the athletes.
“Everything that I have seen has been positive out of these trainers that work with my boys,” Ty said. ”There has never been anything negative coming from them. If they see something that the kids are doing incorrectly they will correct it right then and there and when we talk about physical and mental preparedness out there on the field, that also carries into the classroom, the way that they treat kids around them and the teachers.”
One of the hallmarks of PowerStrength is the dedication to personalized attention within a small group setting. This ensures that every athlete receives the guidance and support necessary to reach their full potential. The comprehensive approach is meticulously designed to nurture, develop, and unleash the emerging abilities within each budding champion.
INSTILLING HEALTHY HABITS
The benefits of the program extend far beyond just physical fitness. As athletes progress through PowerStrength’s regimen, they experience a notable boost in self-confidence and self-esteem. This newfound belief in their capabilities go well beyond the gym, they are present in various aspects of their lives.
“They are getting conscious of their health, that is a big thing too,”Pete said. “They are conscious of what they eat, what they drink because they see the results, they want to keep the results. It teaches them good work ethic too.”
“They all have 1-goal, to get better,”he continued,“so they kind of push each other and it really helps the training aspect of it. I try to recruit as many kids as possible, it is just tremendous for the kids.”
INJURY PREVENTION
The program boasts many advantages, increased speed and explosiveness, refined acceleration, and enhanced agility mechanics. These attributes not only augment performance on the field but also serve as invaluable assets in safeguarding against potential injuries.
“What really sold me on it was in a game (Calvin) got tackled, and it was kind of one of those hip-drop tackles, and his ankle basically went on a 90 degree angle and I thought he broke his foot,” Pete said. “Took him into the chiropractor and he felt around and said everything is intact. I told him that he does strength training at PowerStrength, he said 100% that is why he wasn’t hurt. They really focus on the ligaments, and the joints, and everything around the ankles and knees just to avoid injuries. That sold me on it.”
THE ULTIMATE PREPARATION
PowerStrength’s youth program equips athletes with the tools necessary to enter their respective sports seasons primed, prepared, and brimming with confidence. By instilling discipline, resilience, and a relentless work ethic, PSTS empowers youth athletes to compete at the highest level, knowing that they possess the strength, speed, and mental toughness to excel.
“Finn works out 3 days a week at his high school, Graham does his practice 1 day a week, they come (to PowerStrength) 2 days a week, this kind of competes it for them,” Ty said. “If there is bad weather and we can’t make it here, the boys are pretty disappointed, this is what they look forward to. They kind of feed off this energy they get here, it is a pretty positive thing for them. We’ve seen it, whatever the field of play is, you see it out there as a parent as somebody that has played sports, I can see this, my wife would say that she sees it, the way that they interact with the people around them, with the exact results out on whatever field it is. There is no way we wouldn’t come here.”
In essence, PowerStrength represents more than just a place to exercise safely—it’s a sanctuary where dreams take flight, and champions are forged.
EXPERIENCE THE POWERSTRENGTH DIFFERENCE
Upcoming Opportunity – 5th-8th grade athletes who that would like to try PowerStrength are invited to join the upcoming 4-week Youth Speed & Power Camp! Click HERE to sign-up. Register soon to take advantage of the Early Bird Pricing!
Training programs run year-round that cater to all sports and abilities. 5th-8th graders can join the “Little Beast” program while spots remain, visit: https://powerstrengthpro.com/youth/ to schedule a free athletic assessment.