Hello everyone,
I hope this email finds you all well as we gear up for an exciting Spring soccer season! My name is Emma Stetler and I am the new Head of Strength and Conditioning for Rio Rapids Durango Soccer Club. I am very excited for this new role and what lies ahead for the club. I wanted to reach out to you all today to provide a brief introduction of my role and present a pre-season strength and conditioning program for your athletes to prepare for the upcoming season.
About Me:
I am a Doctor of Physical Therapy, Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist, and Athletic Performance and Rehab Coach. With a passion for optimizing athletic performance and preventing injuries, I have worked with athletes of all levels and ages from youth to collegiate to professional athletes and military special forces. In addition to my role as Head of Strength and Conditioning, I also have the privilege of coaching the U16 Boys Team.
My Role as Head of Strength and Conditioning:
My primary goal is to be a valuable resource for both athletes and coaches within our club. I am here to support the development of our athletes through evidence-based training strategies, injury prevention initiatives, and overall performance enhancement. Beyond the pre-season, I am actively working to develop ongoing strength and conditioning programs, along with standard warm-ups tailored to the specific needs of our teams throughout the season.
Pre-Season Program:
Attached to this email, you will find a pre-season strength and conditioning program designed to prepare our athletes for the challenges of the upcoming season. I encourage both athletes and parents to review the program thoroughly and reach out with any questions. I've created two different program levels, one for U13-U15 and the other for U16-U18.
You know your athletes best. If they are well-versed in the weight room, feel free to bump them up a program level. The workouts should be difficult, so adjust weight as needed to ensure your athlete is challenged! At least one day a week is best done in a gym but can be modified at home if needed.
For children U9-U12, the best thing for young athlete preparation is to follow CDC guidelines for activity levels. One hour of active “play” daily is recommended for overall health. If your child is experienced in the weight room, feel free to have them join the U13-U15 program, modifying if needed.
Other Offerings:
For those seeking more personalized and hands-on experiences, I am pleased to offer the following:
Group Training Sessions
- If your athlete is interested in group strengthening sessions, please fill out this Google Form.
- These one-hour sessions, held at Illete Fitness, will cover proper exercise technique and target full-body strength and endurance.
- Depending on interest, I will organize groups and send out time options. Typically I offer twice a week for the 4-6 weeks leading up to the season. For a group rate, it’s $25 per session.
Injury Prevention Workshops
- Stay tuned for details on injury prevention clinics where athletes and parents can learn about common soccer injuries, risk reduction strategies, proper body mechanics, and exercises to promote strength and resilience.
I am enthusiastic about the upcoming season and the opportunity to work with you and your kids. Please feel free to reach out if you have any questions, concerns, or if you'd like more information.
Emma Kelly Stetler, DPT, CSCS, CPS
Head of Strength and Conditioning
Rio Rapids Durango Soccer Club
Phone: (703)447-1499