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Program Details
Scientific research suggests that it takes eight to twelve years of training for an athlete to reach elite levels. Unfortunately, too many coaches approach training with an attitude best characterized as the "win early and win often". At the IMG Leadbetter Golf Academy, our approach, because we have the science to prove it, is a commitment to long-term athletic development, incorporating all aspects of training, development and management, which is the only proven route to elite status.
A specific and well-planned training regime will ensure optimum development and control the stress recovery cycle that leads to over training, major injuries and burnout. Ultimately, success is tied to training and performing well over the long-term rather than winning in the short-term. There are no short cuts to success in athletic preparation. Rushing development always results in shortcomings in physical, technical, tactical and mental abilities. The uniqueness of the IMG Leadbetter Golf Academy junior programs can be defined in its periodization approach to the technical, tactical, mental and physical elements of training. Using video and computer analysis, students are evaluated to determine strengths and weaknesses. Major emphasis is placed on adapting the program to the needs of the student. All students are required to participate in strength conditioning, flexibility, endurance, mental efficiency, nutritional performance programs conducted by the International Performance Institute (IPI) and the Mental Conditioning Division.
Developing confident, student/athletics, who strive to improve and love to compete, is the essence and core competency of the IMG Leadbetter Golf Academy. To this end, competitions in parallel with our student’s abilities are scheduled locally, regionally, nationally and international.
Periodization Overview
- Training is efficient, precise and goal oriented
- The athlete reaches peak performance at selected times.
- Training is arranged to reach a collective peak in technical, tactical, physical, mental and nutritional components.
- Specific work/rest plans are established
- Variety in practice avoids boredom and burnout
- Over-training and injuries are prevented
- While the primary objective is individual improvement, emphasis is placed on making the process fun and enjoyable.
Hi-tech Video Analysis
IMG Leadbetter Golf Academy video analysis systems allow an instructor to film a student's swing and digitize it onto a computer.
With the aid of proprietary software, the instructor can identify the subtlest of faults and illustrate them to the student.
Drills and Practice Technique
To achieve the goal of long term athletic development, practice sessions are conducted each day at the IMG Leadbetter Golf Academy's 30,000-sq. ft. tee, chipping area, and bunker stations. This consistency enables students a greater grasp of the fundamentals of the full swing and short game. To make the necessary improvements, IMG Leadbetter Golf Academy instructors prescribe corrective drills that are specific to each student's needs.
Course Management
It takes more than the correct technique to produce champion golfers; it takes mastering the art of managing oneself and the course. To this end, a significant amount of the IMG Leadbetter Golf Academy student’s time is spent on a variety of golf courses under various conditions.
The IMG Leadbetter Golf Academy has chosen a number of courses for their design, quality, variation and overall conditioning. By playing the selected courses, students have an opportunity to apply what they have learned on the practice tee and in class. During the course of the round, the instructor is there to encourage his/her students and to assist with specialty and scoring shots.
Tournament Preparation
Since preparation is a major part of golf, one of the instructor’s roles is to assist students in developing routines for on and off the golf course. Formalized routines make for more consistent play. Simple objectives like being on time, having all the right equipment, knowing how to chart a golf course, knowing the correct yardage and knowing green depths are essential to championship play and are stressed as a part of the student’s preparation. Beyond this, students are schooled in how to play in all types of weather together with how to mentally prepare for inclement conditions during tournament play.
Tournament Play
Tournament play helps students test their skills under pressure. It reveals their current level and the necessary corrections they need to achieve before becoming consistent contenders. Competitions are important because they give students the opportunity to test their commitment to training and practice. More importantly, competition builds character, patience, courage and determination.
The IMG Leadbetter Golf Academy as developed an extensive tournament program, which permits students to compete on both the local and state levels. In keeping with IMG Leadbetter Golf Academy's overall instruction philosophy, instructors are required to accompany students to each event. Additionally, instructors are required to assist students in deciding which tournaments they should enter based on their playing ability and level of development.
Mental Conditioning
Mental conditioning, like any other conditioning, is an art that must be taught and practiced. Because mental conditioning is crucial to a student’s attitude toward performance, the IMG Leadbetter Golf Academy has a separate mental conditioning department, staffed by professionals, which is integrated into their teaching philosophy. Mental conditioning covers all aspects of a student’s life because it is the totality of personality that leads to peak performance.
Mental conditioning is crucial in addressing a student’s attitude toward practice and competition. It covers the more specific techniques that are used in course management and facilitates what is learned in practice to benefit performance.
Fitness training with IPI
Sports specific training is essential to the success of any athlete. Having long understood this need for strength and fitness, IMG Leadbetter Golf Academy, in tandem with the professionals at the IMG Performance Institute, have developed sports specific individual development plans for all their students.
Fun
The IMG Leadbetter Golf Academy has a reputation for unrivalled excellence. Part of that excellence is derived from the many “fun” elements that are incorporated into the daily instruction. “Fun” wards off burnout, keeps the students focused and attentive while helping to enhance the learning and retentive process.
College Placement
Selecting a college that meets personal academic and athletic needs is a challenging and stressful process. To facilitate this process, the IMG Leadbetter Golf Academy has developed a full-time position designed to help students with their college selections.
The role of the Director of College Services is to facilitate the rigorous recruitment process by working with the student’s coach to create a recruitment video and by working with their high school teachers to ensure that the students meet the academic requirements. (e.g. SAT, ACT, TOEFL, GPA, etc.).
Because the process has several components and a variety of potential obstacles, students are encouraged to contact the Director of College Services as early as their sophomore year.