Hammond Mayor Thomas M. McDermott, Jr. is pleased to announce that the Hammond Sportsplex is teaming up with Empowering Athletes For Life to host a combine during the NFL100 Centennial Celebration at the Hammond Sportsplex on April 27th.
The combine will be open to kids from 6th grade through 12th and take place from 2pm – 5pm. Shane Lawson, Certified Functional Strength Coach (CFSC), 9 year strength and conditioning coach for the Chicago Blackhawks / Rockford Ice Hogs and part of the 2010, 2013 and 2015 Chicago Blackhawks Stanley Cup Championships, will run the combine along with Jerry Foss, Certified Functional Strength Coach (CFSC), 6 year High School Football and track and field coach, 5 year National Bodybuilder with a first place finish in 2012, and top 3 in 2014 & 2015. The cost of the combine is free of charge. To sign your athlete up for the combine, please go to hammondsportsplex.com or call 219-853-7660 with questions.
Testing is for 8th – 12th grades. 6th – 7th grades will have limited testing. Kids will be tested on the following:
Pull-Up or Pull Hang
Athletes have 1 attempt to do as many pull-ups as they can. Athletes will be required to have full arm extension at the bottom and finish with their chin over the bar for a rep to count. If an athlete is unable to perform 1 complete pull up, they will have the opportunity to do a pull up hang (chin over bar) for time. (1min max)
Broad Jump
This test is designed to measure lower body horizontal power. Athletes will get 2 attempts to jump with the longest distance recorded. Athletes must stick the landing in order for the jump to count.
Seated Jam Ball Throw
This test is designed to measure upper body pushing power. Athletes will get 2 attempts to throw with the longest distance recorded. Athletes will be seated on the floor with their back flat against the wall and legs out straight. Males will throw a 20lb jam ball and females will throw a 10lb jam ball.
Vertical Jump
This test is designed to measure vertical jumping power. Athletes will get 2 attempts to jump with the highest jump being recorded. Athletes will jump from a stationary standing position.
40 Yard Agility
This is a 40yd test designed to measure directional change, speed, and neuromuscular coordination. Athletes will sprint 5yds to a cone and return to start, sprint 10yds to a cone and return to start, and sprint 5yds to a cone and return to start to complete the test.
Empowering Athletes For Life is a non-profit company that is designed to help athletes prepare for the college sports world mentally, financially and physically. Empowering Athletes For Life hosts combines that are the first of its kind, and allows them to learn from professionals and Olympians to empower themselves to become the New Athlete.