By incorporating educational learning methods into a sports setting, the Bobby Valentine Sports Academy in Stamford hopes to revolutionize the way athletic training facilities operate.
The academy, located in a 36,000-square-foot building on Camp Avenue in Stamford, bears the name of local legend Bobby Valentine. Valentine is well known locally, as he starred in baseball, football and track at Rippowam High School (class of 1968) and is the only three-year All-State football player in Connecticut scholastic history.
Valentine went on to play Major League Baseball, but made a name for himself managing the Texas Rangers and New York Mets, whom he led to a World Series appearance in 2000. Valentine currently manages the Chiba Lotte Marines of the Pacific League of Japanese baseball.
Mitch Hoffman, owner and director of operations for the academy, met Valentine through several baseball clinics they both participated in and discussed the idea of opening a sports training facility. Hoffman is a former college baseball player and athletic director at St. Luke”™s School in New Canaan and ran several clinics.
After finally locating a suitable building, the academy opened up in March and currently utilizes 25,000 square feet of the building.
“It”™s a family training center,” said Hoffman. “There”™s something really for the whole family to do.”
For example, while a youngster is receiving hitting lessons, a parent can use the weight room or take a yoga class on the second floor of the building, he said.
“Parents can do personal training exercises while the kids are here,” he said.
The academy is poised to offer more programs, as it is planning a 6,000-square-foot expansion for the summer. In this space, the academy will offer strength and conditioning programs in conjunction with the Moore Center, a physical therapy group with several locations throughout Fairfield County.
The facility offers programs in several sports other than baseball, including football, basketball and lacrosse. Hoffman said the academy incorporates many classroom teaching ideas into its sports training.
Hoffman, who has a master”™s degree in education, developed an “Internal Education System” that the academy uses, and all its instructors must be trained in it.
This would include using film sessions, discussions, and reading and writing work to complement the athletic practicing the students undertake.
“It”™s about understanding every kid, every student,” he said. “Everybody learns differently.”
He also runs study programs for the students, including SAT preparatory courses, in conjunction with the Hoffman Educational Group, a private tutoring and educational coaching service run by his brother, Marc Hoffman.
Hoffman said the academy utilizes technology to instruct its students in addition to physical practice.
One such example is the use of video technology to may a student”™s baseball swing, which can then be compared alongside the swing of a Major League ballplayer such as Derek Jeter.
The students can take the video home on DVD and study it, he said.
“We encourage the client to take the drills home and practice, and not only rely on an instructor,” he said.
A student can then keep the DVD and track his or her progress over several years, he said.
The academy has students ranging from age 3 to college-age athletes. One of the programs the academy offers that Hoffman is proud of, called The Athletic Edge, is tailored to helping kids get into colleges via sports scholarships.
Hoffman said when Valentine is not in Japan managing, he is at the sports academy “90 percent of the time.”
Valentine left for Japan a little over a week ago, but earlier this month spoke at an Entrepreneur”™s Organization event and discussed the sports academy.
“I”™ve always wanted to do something like this and share my knowledge in my hometown,” Valentine said at the time.
Hoffman said partnering with local charities and nonprofit groups is a big part of the sports academy”™s mission. He estimates the academy has given $30,000 worth of clinics for free to local charities.
Hoffman also has big plans for the academy beyond Fairfield County. He hopes to open up franchises throughout the country and even the world if the model proves successful enough.
He said he has “already been approached by several groups” inquiring about such a possibility.
On the Web: www.bobbvacademy.com.
