Business aims to improve one's athletic ability

Great athletes aren't born. They're made.That's the contention of Carl Bialorucki and his wife, Holly, an El Dorado Hills couple who has opened Velocity Sports Performance, a training facility for athletes.The facility, one of nearly 50 franchises nationwide, is located at 11270 Sanders Drive in Rancho Cordova. While it's not right around the corner, athletes serious about improving their athletic ability will drive the extra distance, at least that's the hope of the Bialoruckis."There's nothing else like it," Carl Bialorucki, 38, said of his facility. "We've got the latest equipment. We've got the sports-relevant surfaces, air conditioning and 24-foot ceilings. All of our coaches have a degree in an exercise science field and are certified strength and conditioning specialists. Our level of service is outstanding too. What makes us completely different from everyone else is that we have a more comprehensive approach."Velocity Sports Performance has 12,700 square feet to its disposal and features a 33-yard turf field; a 3-lane, 53-yard Mondo Super X Performance sprint track with electronic speed trap timing at 10, 20 and 40 yards; Olympic weightlifting and cardio areas, a Mondo half-court basketball/volleyball surface, as well as men's and women's shower and changing facilities. Bialorucki also features producer files containing more than 600 multi-directional training exercises which athletes can watch before doing the drills themselves, which will help them nail down the technique of the specific exercise. The library of exercises was designed by Loren Seagrave, co-founder of Velocity Sports Performance and recognized as one of the foremost experts in sprint, hurdle and speed training.Because of the size of the training center, Bialorucki said athletics could train at maximum velocity, an added benefit.Victor Hall serves as the Sports Performance Director and heads a coaching staff also including Russell Garcia, Justin Leach and John Hofman. Ruthie Bolton, a two-time Olympic Gold Medallist and an original member and two-time all-star with the Sacramento Monarchs, is the center's Community Relations Director. Hall, 26, earned his Masters Degree in Kinesiology from Sacramento State University and spent three years there as the university's strength and conditioning coach. He's excited about Velocity Sports Performance."The philosophy of how we train is that we break down complex movements to simpler components and once those components are mastered, we chain them back together," Hall said. "I'm looking forward to coaching too, because I love working with the kids."Bialorucki said his business is targeting athletes' ages 8 to 18 years old, but is open to anyone who wants to maximize their athletic potential. Clients will purchase "packages" which will range in price due to the length of the training agreement."We recommend that our clients come in two or three days a week," Bialorucki said. "We tailor the program to the athlete's needs, their finances and their schedule."Clients are guaranteed gains in their speed, power and agility and will work in groups of six or fewer athletes. One-on-one training is also available. The programs at Velocity Sports Performance are designed to increase speed, agility, coordination, strength, power, mobility, flexibility and metabolic fitness, while promoting regeneration and injury prevention."Our slogan is great athletes aren't born, they're made," Bialorucki said, "but I also like 'play like you're in first, train like you're in second.' We want to affect a positive change in our clients' athleticism."Velocity Sports Performance is open from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Friday and from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturdays. One-on-one training sessions will also be held in the early morning hours by appointment.For more information on Velocity Sports Performance, visit www.velocitysp.com/ranchocordova or contact Carl Bialorucki at 635-6735.