A free strength and conditioning program for Newtown High School athletes will begin Monday, December 5.

The program – led by strength coach Cody Foss MS, LATC, CSCS, PES – will run Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays from 3 to 5 pm through March 9. A detailed calendar will be available at www.nighthawksports.com.

The program is open to the first 40 student athletes to register. Deadline to register is Tuesday, November 29.

Mr Foss presently is the Director of Performance Programs at a Ridgefield health club. He has had experience working with almost every sport at the high school level and over his career has worked with NFL athletes, Olympic athletes, champion Tae Kwon Do competitors, the Knick City Dancers, professional boxers, a professional tennis player, the Women’s Professional Volleyball Association, the Manhattan College basketball team, and the US Athletic Training Center.

Mr Foss provided the Newtown High School volleyball and football teams with enhanced conditioning programs last year and based on their success, the athletic department is sponsoring the new after-school strength program.

The primary goal of the strength program is to decrease the likelihood of injury and then increase overall performance of each student athlete. Success of the program will be based on high participation and effort levels by the student athletes. The program will stress proper technique, appropriate exercise selection and appreciation of the demands of the sport(s).

The program will consist of sport specific testing, flexibility, injury prevention exercises, base strength, sport specific strength, and advanced power training. The program is geared towards teams, but individual athletes are welcome and will be offering time clots with athletes who have comparable goals. Any athlete attending Newtown High School is eligible to participate.

Registration forms can be picked up at the athletic office or can be downloaded from www.nighthawksports.com.

Mr Foss will also be working with the Newtown Parks and Recreation Department to present a Stength, Quickness and Agility Training Program for middle school students beginning on Monday, January 23.

The program, open to students in grades six through eight, will meet Mondays, 6 to 7 pm, at the Middle Gate Elementary gymnasium. Cost of the eight-session program is $130 (Code 23562A).

The program serves as a compliment to athletes or teams currently involved in a sport or preparing for an upcoming season. The basis for success of this program will be improving body control or “neurological efficiency.” Athletes who have higher levels of body control decrease likelihood for injury and have greater ability to express sports performance.

The initial phase of the program will involve using biomechanical techniques and implementing drills and exercises to improve body control. Once body control is established focus will turn to strength, power and speed. The majority of the exercises are movement based using cones, hurdles, and open space. Strength training will utilize resistance bands, medicine balls, and body weight.

For more information on either the high school or middle school programs, call Mr Foss at 1-917-667-1694 or email strenghtraining@sbcglobal.net.