Tri-Lake FC partners with CrossFit Tullahoma

Staff report

Early last week, two of Tullahoma local sports organizations joined forces to help local youth continue to get out and be active.

The Tri-Lake Futbol Club and CrossFit Tullahoma have struck up a partnership. The deal will allow kids at the club to train at the local CrossFit location.

According to Tri-Lake Director Richie Chadwick, the partnership with CrossFit was almost a no-brainer.

“We see the importance of preventing ACL/MCL injuries,” Chadwick said. “By partnering with CrossFit, our youth players will be better prepared physically. We are taking a proactive approach to our players’ health and preparation. Fitness is an important component of soccer.”

Chadwick and the Tri-Lake staff keep the soccer program local and some of the  club’s instructors have played under Chadwick as head coach of the Tullahoma High School boys team.

Additionally, the club has enlisted the assistance of some of the area’s health care providers to ensure players are informed about what they can and should be doing to stay at the top of their game.

“Several of our coaches are former THS players and know our system of play really well,” Chadwick said. “The club also has a partnership with Harton Physical Therapy and Sports Medicine headed by Chad Reed and Phillip Hill. Their staff attends our festivals and they do a great job of educating our parents, staff and players about injuries.”

One of Chadwick’s former players is Jake Altom, co-founder of Tullahoma CrossFit.

“Jake is highly trained and displays great character,” Chadwick said. “I had the opportunity to coach him in the early 2000s. Having our players work with this high-quality staff is very important to our club.”

In CrossFit, participants engage in a 10- to 20-minute constant workout that pushes them to their physical limits, unlike traditional workouts, which can take more time to complete and may not be as effective. The CrossFit routine switches from day to day and usually varies between six different exercises per day.

“The goal is to be able to do all six things efficiently,” Altom said. “The goal is, over this broad spectrum of fitness, to be the best person that you can be at everything. We do gymnastics, power lifting, Olympic lifting, body weight exercises and running. It’s a way to train for everyday life.”

Tri-Lake Director of Player Development Marvin Carson said the reason behind the partnership was “simple.”

“I feel that CrossFit, with all of its dynamic movements and exercises, was a great complement to the sport of soccer,” he said. “By our players utilizing CrossFit, we expect to see less injuries and better performance.”

After opening over a year ago, the local CrossFit organization has switched locations and is now up and running at 1440 Cedar Lane. For additional information, visit the organization’s website at crossfittullahoma.com or by phone at 931-588-0329.

In 2009, Tri-Lake was created to offer youth soccer players an opportunity to experience soccer beyond the recreational level. Since opening, the program has gained nonprofit status and is recognized as a 501(c)3 organization.

The program fields teams throughout the year. For more information on the Tri-Lake Futbol Club, visit trilakefc.org.