US Nike Football

Nike SPARQ Vapor Strobe eyewear

usnikefootball — Thu, 17 Nov 2011 14:00:45 GMT

High School. College. Professional. The game gets faster at every level. Train smarter with the Nike SPARQ Vapor Strobe eyewear to slow the game down. React quicker than your opponent, and anticipate with more accuracy for the ultimate edge. See how TeamNike receiver Greg Jennings has used the Nike SPARQ Vapor Strobes to take his game to the next level.

Check it out.

DON'T LET UP

usnikefootball — Mon, 14 Mar 2011 14:58:22 GMT

The offseason is more than twice as long as the season. And sometimes, it can feel like it. When you start to lose the motivation to keep going hard workout after workout, think about what you're laboring for. Think about the improvement, the plays, the wins and the titles. As long as you're working harder than your opponent, you're moving towards those goals and not away from them. NEVER LET UP.

2-A-DAYS PRE-SEASON WORKOUTS

usnikefootball — Thu, 12 Aug 2010 15:19:07 GMT

Download The Nike Football SPARQ Training Pre-Season Program - 2-A-DAYS PRE-SEASON WORKOUTS

The key to success in November is unrelenting preparation in the off-season and consistent movement and weight training throughout the season. As we transition from the off-season to the season, all teams go through 2-4 weeks of pre-season preparation. Coaches have players working hard on the field but we can’t afford to be out of the weight room during this period. This series of weigh lifting workouts was developed for easy implementation after 2-a-day practices. Weights are purposely kept light and our goal is for athletes to maintain their range of motion and keep their mind and body sharp so they can return to a normal workout pattern once the season begins.

Each work out consists of three sets of Clean Pulls, Squats and Bench Press, some auxiliary lifts, and range of motion activity for the neck and shoulders. Six workouts total (averaging 2x a week) over the course of a two to four week pre-season are enough to keep athletes’ bodies ready. The program can be sliced up in a few ways: Alternate the Big Guys (Offensive Linemen, Defensive Linemen, Linebackers and Tight Ends) and the Skill Guys (Quarterbacks, Running backs, Wide Receivers, Defensive Backs and Specialists), or break the workouts out by ability – Seniors and Juniors, Juniors and Sophomores, and a third group with little lifting experience. The third group can be used as a teaching group where new players and younger athletes can master the correct form and body movements involved in each lift.

A couple common sense things to keep in mind when implementing this program is to make sure athletes aren’t lifting the day prior to or right after a scrimmage, and that if the weather has been extremely hot during practice, it is a better idea to give the athletes a break.

Pre-season preparation helps athletes stay strong so they can finish strong. Work hard and have fun in the pre-season, and we’ll be back with an in-season program to help coaches and athletes achieve success on the field throughout the season.

The SPARQ Rating National Championship Kicks Off

usnikefootball — Fri, 09 Jul 2010 18:56:09 GMT

The competition was hotter than the temperature on the turf of the Bo Jackson Field at Nike World Headquarters Thursday July 8, 2010 at the first annual SPARQ Rating National Championship, where 24 of the nation’s most athletic high school football players put it all on the line to see who would be raising the trophy as the dust settled.

Each athlete put on an electrifying performance through four events – vertical jump, agility shuttle, kneeling Power Ball throw and 40-yard dash – but in the end, only one would be crowned the first ever SPARQ Rating National Champion. Ryan Henderson displayed a deadly combination of speed, power and agility to put up a record-setting SPARQ Rating of 134.79, besting his nearest competitor by a full 3.15 rating points.

Every football athlete trains tirelessly in the offseason, and every spring they put their athleticism to the test at Nike Football combines across the country. The SPARQ Rating National Championship raises the bar for football athletes, and we fully expect the competition at the 2011 SRNC to be that much hotter.

A complete list of results and final SPARQ Ratings are below.

Name	Weight (lbs)	VJ (in)	Peak Power (watts)	Shuttle (sec)	Power Ball (ft.in)	40 yd dash (sec)	SPARQ Rating
Henderson, Ryan	165	44.6	8210	4.00	34.5	4.34	134.79
Hunt-Days, Jabari	233	34.5	8060	4.09	49.5	4.62	131.64
Leftwich, Wesley	195	40.1	8140	3.95	34.5	4.43	131.10
Crowell, Conner	215	34.8	7730	4.03	42.0	4.59	131.07
Lewis, Kyle	176	36.6	7210	3.94	40.0	4.44	129.84
Gray, Troy	206	42.2	8690	4.04	36.0	4.53	129.45
Dunaway, Jaiari	221	35.3	7930	4.22	42.0	4.52	128.73
Jorgensen, Colby	223	35.1	7940	4.15	46.0	4.64	126.84
Sumler, Tacoi	163	39.7	7420	3.90	34.0	4.24	126.60
Handley, Todd	171	39.9	7610	4.06	37.0	4.39	125.34
Boyd, Samuel	225	35.4	8030	4.10	38.0	4.54	123.27
Cobbs, Brian	197	39.2	8040	4.18	39.5	4.63	120.00
Eaddy, Henry	156	39.6	7260	4.02	35.5	4.44	118.65
Morris, Romar	176	34.4	6870	4.21	38.0	4.32	117.18
Williams, Jalen	188	36.9	7500	4.03	37.5	4.60	116.85
Byrd*, Damiere	161	38.8	7240	4.05	32.0	4.28	116.01
Lindgren, Aaron	180	32.0	6580	4.05	37.5	4.45	113.43
Balfour, Michael	214	35.5	7820	4.26	39.5	4.67	112.14
Wallace Jr., Aaron	210	34.7	7610	4.22	36.5	4.65	106.17
Shuler, Miles	171	39.2	7510	4.19	31.0	4.45	105.66
Fiore, Eric	211	34.7	7630	4.38	34.0	4.61	97.95
Hutton, Chris	177	33.8	6800	4.16	35.5	4.72	95.67
Thomas, Danny	193	SCR	SCR	SCR	SCR	SCR	SCR
Marcus, Kadetrix	181	36.8	7340	4.38	36.0	INJ	SCR

SCR = SPARQ RATING SCRATCHED AT ATHLETE’S REQUEST

Stage Set for Inaugural SPARQ Rating National Championship

usnikefootball — Wed, 07 Jul 2010 21:56:32 GMT

For the past six months, Nike Football and SPARQ have been searching for the nation's most athletic high school football players. After 18 Nike Football Combines spanning 13 states, the results are in.

On July 8th, 2010, twenty-five elite high school football players have been invited to compete at the inaugural SPARQ Rating National Championship at Nike Worldwide Headquarters. Billed as the ultimate football combine, the athletes will put it all on the line and compete in 4 tests- the 40-yard dash, agility shuttle, kneeling ball toss and vertical jump.

The competition will be headlined by Heisman Trophy winner and Denver rookie Tim Tebow, who got a 96.92 SPARQ Rating in 2005 when he was a rising senior. Tebow had the following to say about the event, "I'm thrilled to be a part of the SPARQ Rating National Championship because it celebrates the nation's best football athletes and all the hard work they have put in this off-season."

So who is the best athlete in football? Check back next week to see who is crowned the first ever SPARQ Rating National Champion.

Final list of competitors:

1.	Kyle Lewis (California)	127.86
2.	Todd Handley (California)	127.38
3.	Wesley Leftwich (Missouri)	126.09
4.	Colby Jorgensen (Utah)	125.82
5.	Troy Gray (Georgia)	122.16
6.	Jabari Hunt-Days (Georgia)	121.32
7.	Ryan Henderson (California)	120.33
8.	Samuel Boyd (California)	119.79
9.	Derek Landisch (Wisconsin)	119.64
10.	Jalen Williams (Texas)	118.53
11.	Henry Eaddy (Florida)	118.26
12.	Chris Hutton (New Jersey)	117.27
13.	Aaron Lindgren (Ohio)	117.24
14.	Miles Shuler (New Jersey)	116.82
15.	Brian Cobbs (Wisconsin)	116.73
16.	Eric Fiore (Pennsylvania)	116.58
17.	Danny Thomas (California)	116.58
18.	Aaron Wallace Jr. (California)	116.40
19.	Tacoi Sumler (Florida)	116.37
20.	Romar Morris (North Carolina)	115.86
21.	Conner Crowell (Maryland)	115.35
22.	Kadetrix Marcus (Georgia)	112.26
23.	Jaiari Dunaway (Tennessee)	111.39
24.	Michael Balfour (Oregon)	109.89
25.	Damiere Byrd (New Jersey)	106.32

Stage Set for Inaugural SPARQ Rating National Championship

usnikefootball — Wed, 09 Jun 2010 20:36:46 GMT

Tim Tebow scored a 96.92. So far this year, the highest score is 127.86. Who will beat it? On July 8th, the 25 fastest, strongest, most explosive players in high school football will clash at the inaugural SPARQ Rating National Championship at Nike Worldwide Headquarters.

For the past six months, Nike Football and SPARQ have been going across the country hunting for the top high school football athletes, measuring the athleticism of football players through a series of drills and tests geared toward the sport - the 40-yard dash, agility shuttle, kneeling ball toss and vertical jump.

The 25 highest-rated athletes will report to Nike’s campus in Beaverton, Oregon all with the same goal in mind – to be crowned the SPARQ Rating National Champion. The competition will be headlined and emceed by Heisman Trophy winner and Denver rookie Tim Tebow, who had this to say about the event, “I’m thrilled to be a part of the SPARQ Rating National Championship because it celebrates the nation’s best football athletes and all the hard work they have put in this off-season.”

Who is the country’s most elite high school football athlete? We’ll soon know. Stay tuned for news and updates about this first-ever, one of a kind event.

Nike Football SPARQ Training Pre-Season Program

usnikefootball — Thu, 03 Jun 2010 20:48:09 GMT

Download The Nike Football SPARQ Training Pre-Season Program - Weeks 1-2
Download The Nike Football SPARQ Training Pre-Season Program - Weeks 3-4
Download The Nike Football SPARQ Training Pre-Season Program - Weeks 5-6
Download The Nike Football SPARQ Training Pre-Season Program - Weeks 7-8

Download the Program Workout Log to keep track of your reps, sets and loads

The Nike Football SPARQ Training Pre-Season Program is an 8-week movement-based program designed to make your athletes more dynamic and explosive. Our program will help you teach your athletes to move more efficiently and increase their overall athletic ability. We believe better athletes make better players and our goal is to help you build a championship football team.

This program is based on proven training philosophies that have been developed over many years with athletes of all ages. For the coach, this program is effective because it replicates the movements and positions required in football. The stages of development are organized so that your youngest athletes will be able to see progress while your most advanced and talented athletes will be challenged on a daily basis.

The teaching hierarchy of the Nike Football SPARQ Training Pre-Season Program is progressive and sequential. This means your athletes will be taught the necessary movements on the field and in the weight room. Once they master the proper technique, they will then work on developing the speed of the movement and the loads required to develop peak athleticism.

This program is unique because it looks beyond the ‘stronger is better’ mentality. While developing strength is an important component of any program, it’s not our end goal because we’re making dynamic football players, not weightlifters. Use this 8-week movement-based program as part of your pre-season regimen and help ensure that your athletes train, practice, and compete at the highest level.

COACH CARLISLE
The Nike Football SPARQ Training Pre-Season Program was developed in conjunction with Chris Carlisle, the current Strength and Conditioning Coach for Seattle. Prior to going to Seattle, Carlisle was an integral part of Pete Carroll’s staff at USC and is credited with developing the explosive style of play that enabled the Trojans to become the most dominate program in college football over the past decade.

WARNING! Sport training can result in serious injury. Do not exercise without proper instructions or supervision, or without first consulting your physician. Use of the information in the Nike Football SPARQ Training Pre-season Program implies an understanding of these risks and releases Nike, Inc., it's trainers and affiliates from any and all damages. For more information on Nike Football and SPARQ, go to www.nikefootball.com. COPYRIGHT 2010 NIKE, INC. All Rights Reserved. Unauthorized copying or reproduction of this book is strictly prohibited.

Nike SPARQ Training

usnikefootball — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 16:21:24 GMT

Nike is sponsoring a training program called the Nike SPARQ Training Football Academy, which focuses on improving Speed, Power, Agility, Reaction, and Quickness. 32 different high school football teams are currently participating in this program, including Mater Dei High School of Santa Ana, CA. The program is specifically designed to make better athletes by training the specified athletes in an off-season training program. Two Mater Dei Monarchs that are taking part in this program are juniors Fred Eggert and EJ Dorame. These two athletes have been training since January and have already received their initial SPARQ rating and are training very hard to improve themselves.

Aspects of the program include “working on speed and agility and ways we can apply that to the game of football” says Dorame. It takes a certain motivation to improve their skill within this intensive program. “I just want to become the best player I can be with the gifts I’ve been given” said Eggert. They are preparing for the second set of ratings by doing certain drills such as “the timed forty and drills that will compare all players. We also train at Velocity with coaches that work specifically for the combine” said Eggert.

This training may help improve the players’ skill, but it doesn’t come without a few challenges.

“The conditioning is intense. My challenge is having the stamina to do workout after workout to the best of my ability even if I’m tired,” said Dorame. This training has also benefited the boys in specific ways. Dorame says that it improved his forty time and made him a more dynamic player as well as improving his flexibility and speed. “We are doing this training to prepare for the combine” said Eggert. The Monarchs hope that the training will benefit their playing and take them to CIF next season, which is always their ultimate goal.

_{Article by Emily Crane and Photography by Christine Zirneklis.}