July 2, 2007
At this gym, they embrace the 'chaos' of sport
Competitive Athletic Training Zone is home to the men's national volleyball team, but nonathletes are invited to join.
By DORIS BENAVIDES
The Orange County Register
What do professional beach volleyball player Misty May-Treanor, champion kick boxer Nicole Sedmak and Major League Soccer player Danny Califf have in common? When they want to work out off the field, they go to a gym in Anaheim.
Competitive Athlete Training Zone, a 6,400-square-foot performance training franchise, opened in the American Sports Centers in February 2006. Since then, CATZ has trained more than 500 youth and adult athletes in a variety of sports, including ice hockey, basketball, baseball and volleyball. The program emphasizes quick movements to respond to the "chaos" of playing sports.
The center is the official sports performance and physical therapy provider to the U.S. Men's National Volleyball Team, which is competing to make the Olympic draw for Beijing in 2008.
You don't have to be an athlete to join. Programs are also designed for noncompetitors.
CATZ provides injury evaluation and rehabilitation services on site, said John Boehle, the center's co-owner and general manager. He is also co-owner of a CATZ center in Yorba Linda.
Q. Please describe the services provided at CATZ Anaheim.
A. For athletes, we provide performance training, a sports-specific training designed to help each athlete maximize their performance while reducing the likelihood of injury. Using a "train-like-sport" approach, each session is designed to mimic the dynamic forces placed on the athlete during competition. Performance classes are delivered to groups with no more than six athletes per session. We also provide one-on-one sessions on request. The format is fast-paced and designed to help reach the same cardio level as in an actual game or match. The group/team training helps a team get in shape and develop communication and camaraderie before the season starts. Class size has a maximum of 24 athletes. During both the performance and group training we emphasize movement improvement. We don't use machines as traditional gyms do, and to build strength we use free weights like dumbbells, med balls, core balls and the athlete's own body weight. Most sports are played on one leg and we help athletes react to chaotic cues and changes in direction while controlling their bodies and momentum. We also provide general fitness training for adult groups, as well as training for children ages 6-9 designed to help them generate a love of sports.
Q. What famous athletes have trained at CATZ Anaheim?
A.Professional volleyball players Misty May-Treanor, April Ross, Jason Ring and Whitney Pavlik. Major League Baseball player and Cal State Fullerton standout Justin Turner; Danny Califf, Major League Soccer player.
Q. Who are you catering to?
A. Everyone! We have athletes that range in age from 8 years old to 65. CATZ is for people who are not satisfied with the typical gym format and who want better results in a way that is fun and challenging.
Q. What differentiates CATZ from similar sports training centers?
A.The No.1 thing that differentiates CATZ is the training. We use a "train-like-sport" methodology, utilize chaos training to match the dynamic nature of sport, and use none of the boring machines found in every other gym out there. Secondly, our trainers have, or are working toward, a certification in strength and conditioning. They will work out with the group; they are not the type that will sit alongside and count reps. CATZ is committed to helping athletes remain injury-free. The biggest difference between CATZ and a typical gym is that gyms are unsupervised people with weights, and at CATZ each session is instructor-led. Our goal is to maximize performance.