The uOttawa Gee-Gees are excited to announce their partnership with a local state-of-the art strength training facility, the Canadian Strength Institute located in Kanata, Ont. Strength coach specialists and Gee-Gees alumni, Mike Sheridan and Sean Young, will see that the uOttawa Gee-Gees football team is lean and mean for the upcoming season.
Players will have full access to Sheridan and Young's expertise and innovative training regimens. Gee-Gees head coach Jean-Philippe Asselin explains the sense of accountability that they will bring to his players: "We are very excited to have them on board with us. I think it is great for the program as a whole that we can offer our players such a high level of support and expertise. It will also help us monitor our players and hold them accountable both on and off the field."
Asselin was particularly excited about his players receiving a monthly biosignature. This accurate body composition assessment technique measures numerous health determinants in order to optimize a player's training regiment and guide them towards the best possible food and supplement choices.
"The biosignature is not only going to show us that the nutrition is working, but also that the training is working. So that's definitely something a little more innovative and it's something that a lot of strength programs would not have access to, even in the U.S. So it's a huge benefit for the Gee-Gees and a huge benefit for us that we get to assess the players on a different level," explains Sheridan.
In the past, biosignatures were only done once a year and so it was difficult to monitor a player's progress throughout the season and where there could be improvement, said Asselin.
Sheridan was a successful starting outside linebacker for the Gee-Gees during his five-year CIS career at uOttawa. He helped the Gee-Gees win the 2006 Yates Cup Championship, along with coach Asselin who played as a receiver, and was an All-Canadian, OUA All-Star, a two time Team Defensive MVP, a President's Trophy nominee, and a CFL Combine attendee.
As for Sean, he competed with the Gee-Gees Track and Field team while pursuing a degree in biology and exercise philosophy. Much like Mike, he understood the importance of proper training and how it could translate into improved performance. Sean still competes on the track, and is a current member of the Canadian Track and Field Team wherein he is nationally ranked in the 800m.
"It's exciting for both of us, we both went to (uOttawa) and for me especially being a Gee-Gee," said Sheridan. "I've always wanted to return, and this is a great opportunity having played with JP (Asselin) and being teammates, and now we can work together to try to keep Ottawa at the upper echelon of the OUA and the CIS."
"I think Sean and I can bring some personal experience and some passion to the program because we are new, young and fresh. We're not only going to worry about the strength program, but we're also going to assess their nutrition and supplementation, which we found to be a key to success not only in the weight room but also in one's sport," added Sheridan.
For more information on the Canadian Strength Institute visit www.canadianstrength.ca
