WHAT TO EXPECT

ADTF Academy is a USATF club that provides individual training to youth, college and elite athletes. At this time we are not a competitive club yet. Though we can provide you with information of competitions we have simply not taken on that responsibility at this time. Training and improving athletes technical abilities is our main focus.

ADTF Academy offers individual instruction to Track and Field athletes in the Greater Grand Rapids, MI Area and Greater South Bend, IN Area as well as athletes from all over Michigan, Indiana and Ohio that wish to take their event and skills to the next level.

As mentioned we are a USATF Club that deals with the instruction of Track athletes on multiple fronts. The head instructor is Danny Wilkerson who is a USATF Level 2 National coach that has expertise in the Jumps, Sprints,and Hurdles. Though he has spent time working with the throwing and distance runners as well. Danny has worked with many top high school, college and elite athletes, such as Lindsey McKnight (5-7 High Jump Indoor and D2 State Champ, 57.0 D2 400 state champ, 2:12 for the 800 Mid West Meet Champion), Brandon VanDriel (2 time state D2 100 meter champ 10.52 last year), Mark Hollis (elite pole vaulter jumped 18'10" in 2008), plus numerous other sprinters and jumpers on the high school and college level.

Training an athlete is much more than simply telling them to go out there and run for the sake of running. Everything an athlete does has a benefit and consequence. If you are looking for a place to go and get individual instruction on your specific events on the topics of technique, training strategy and competitiveness then we may be an option for you. We will do our best to not only show you how to perform a skill correctly, but will take the time to teach you why you are doing the action. It is our opinion that "Why" an athlete performs a skill a certain way is as important as just simply performing the skill. When an athletes learns why they are doing a given skill or activity they will have more confidence in what they are doing and thus perform and train at a higher level.

On the high school level the availability of quality coaching is a major challenge. We enjoy and respect the countless number of coaches that are willing to volunteer their time to help the youth excel, but their help can only go so far. No athlete or parent should ever be disappointed with the quality of their local coaches. Most of them only know what they did or how they were coached. They are doing what they feel is the best to help you excel. The main issue is that they have never been given the formal training to help athletes with advanced topics. If you looking for more advanced coaching we may be an option for you to work with as well an option for local coaches who wish to learn more.

Sometimes all an athlete needs is to hear things in a slightly different way from a different person to confirm what they were being told in the first place. We focus on the fundamentals of the events and how to accomplish them correctly. We teach athletes the correct progression and terminology as well as the correct logic behind their event. We will show you WHAT you need to work on and how to perform such actions. Everything in athletics happens for a reason based on biomechanic principles we all live under as athletes.

If you're sick of generic statements and want more come check us out.

For More Information

SESSIONS AND LOCATIONS

Offering Individual or Group Programs

Cost:

Sprints and Hurdles

Learn proper acceleration and top end running mechanics. Also how to better manage your race distribution so that you can finish stronger than your competitors. Learn the correct mechanics behind the famous 3 stepping. Learn what is meant by hurdling rhythm and how this is the most important aspect of your hurdling ability. Majority of the training we do is based on teaching proper running mechanics and efficiency. This is done through an initial running mechanics clinic. For more information contact us on ways to improve your running mechanics and basic technically ability. We are about to start a new session of training. We provide the athlete with workouts for 5 days each week and meet twice a week to train. This program cost $240.00 and last till the start of the outdoor season. We also offer running mechanics sessions that last roughly 2 hours during which we teach you the correct way and mind set behind running correctly. The cost for this session is $40.00. Contact us for more information on either of these programs.

Long Jump

Learn how to have an explosive and constant approach and takeoff. Speed is a very important component of the Long Jump, but being able to utilize the speed you generate is key to an effective takeoff and overall potential. Learn the basics behind the flight and landing mechanics. This clinic is done in conjunction with a running mechanics clinic due to the fact if you are not in the correct position mechanically at takeoff it will usually result in a very flat takeoff and loss of distance. For a long jump focus add an additional $20.00 onto the individual mechanics clinic and expect to spend an additional hour with us. If you train with us the long jump training is included.

High Jump

Learn the fundamentals behind the "J" approach finishing with an explosive takeoff. Are you a power or speed jumper? The way and how you jump will be different depending on which type of jumper you are. All high jumpers were not created the same. Plus how and why clearance occurs. This winter we are offering High Jump session at our Grand Rapids Facility on Tuesdays from 5:45 to 7:00 pm. The cost is a one time fee of $30.00 plus $7.00 each time you come and plans to kick off the 1st week in December. The program is progressive so the early you get into the program the more training you will receive. Contact us for more information.

Pole Vault

Our speciality, we have an entire site on the vault click on the link below. We will be offering three days of jumping opportunity in Grand Rapids. This are open gym type settings where an athelte can either come in and request coaching or can come in with their coach and use the pits. As long as safe practices are being used the pits are open for use. The cost is a one time fee of $30.00 and $7.00 each time you come. The time will be Sunday from 6:45 to 8:45, Tuesday 6:45 to 8:45 and Thursday 6:45 to 8:45 and plans to kick off the 1st week in December. Contact us for more information.

Throws

Glide or spin technique, learn the importance of getting into the power position and the follow through.