The thrill of victory, the agony of defeat, the first time we kicked a ball, made our first basket or scored a winning goal. The first time we touched home plate or saw how big a soccer net really was until the goalie made it look a whole lot smaller. The first time we laced up our skates and tried on a real jersey with its own number or picked up a helmet that seemed to be a little too big but we knew it fit just right.... for the love of the game. Maybe you're the high school athlete chasing down the Holy Grail; the scholarship to your dream college, or the collegiate athlete sacrificing it all for the brief glimpse of an interested scout. You might be the parent who has logged countless miles in the auto to get to practices, stood in the cold and selflessly put their lives on hold for their aspiring athletes, realizing it was worth every ounce when your child had their moments on the field...... for the love of the game. Perhaps you are the coach who took the underdog to heights no one could have dreamed of or knew your warriors bled for that banner or had the courage to hold their heads up high as they watched it go over to the other side. Maybe next year......for the love of the game. Sports are a huge part of our lives regardless if we play, coach, parent or cheer from the sidelines. We know it's just a game but to so many it is so much more. Built on blood, sweat and tears it becomes a big part of whom we are or who we someday hope to be. It can be a hobby, an outlet for stress, a means of exercise, a tool to build confidence, a way to teach us sportsmanship and respect and provide that fire to shoot for our goals and chase our dreams. That's why I love the game and decided to create the Upper Hand Sports Institute. I’ve loved the game since I was a child, but to me it was so much more. I was always the smallest kid in class or on the team, so athletically I was often at a disadvantage compared to some of the larger kids who had more strength, speed and natural talent. Rather than cry, although I shed my fair share of tears, I worked harder and looked for ways to improve my game and even up the odds. Eventually, evening the odds wasn’t good enough and I looked for ways to acquire the “upper hand”. At age 8, I learned that racquet balls and tennis balls were a good way to practice catching off the wall for baseball practice. However, the upper hand came when I would throw golf balls as they came at you nearly twice as fast. Try it if you don’t believe me. The golf ball scorching off the pavement improved hand-eye coordination, speed and fielding ability. Later I learned little tricks here and there to gain the upper hand advantage with tennis, hockey and volleyball. I was mesmerized watching one of my favorite hockey players come back early from knee surgery and skating around with a parachute on his back to gain strength and explosive speed. 18 years later, he’s still going strong at age 38. That’s what having the upper hand is all about; going that extra step to make a good athlete a better athlete. So for everyone who has practiced with a lead puck, ran with ankle weights, fielded a golf ball or had a parachute strapped to your back; thank you for inspiring the Upper Hand Sports Institute. The goal of the Upper Hand Sports Institute was to create a program of sports instruction that would address the needs of the very athletic as well as those who have never found an outlet of physical activity to help improve their health. Our programs for the athlete will focus on improving athletic performance regardless of sport. Proprioception, balance training, speed, agility, footwork, injury prevention and lower energy expenditures will teach athletes how to gain that athletic edge over the competition. Small classes offer greater personal attention for the athlete or private one-on-one classes are available and can address any sport of choice. Other classes were designed to provide an athletic forum for the non-athlete or those who never found their calling with individual or team sports. Designed to be fun and non-competitive, this program is a great way to establish confidence, provide exercise and a healthier lifestyle and serve as a great foundation to further expand upon. Athletic success is influenced by so many factors. Training, coaching, discipline, desire and natural abilities all contribute to the big picture. However, fine tuning certain abilities, isolating weaknesses and correcting them and training the body to function with better precision, strength, stability and speed with less effort not only tips the scales in your favor but unquestionably provides you with The Upper Hand.