Frisby's focus on fitness

View larger image D.J. Frisby, son of fitness trainer James Frisby, works with resistance bands at an EGA clinic. Dennis Grundman/Daily Recommend This Print This Get E-mail News Alerts Buy Photos/Page Reprints * Breaking News If local news is breaking and you know about it: * Call Us: 800-296-5137 * E-mail Us * Upload Your Photos View larger image D.J. Frisby, right, works with his father, James, taking handoffs with resistance cords at a recent Erick Green Athletics football clinic. Dennis Grundman/Daily

By Tommy Keeler Jr. - tkeeler@nvdaily.com

WINCHESTER -- James Frisby was very aware of Erick Green and his reputation. He knew Green was a successful AAU coach who had helped many different youths in the area.

He admired the way he did things, so about two years ago Frisby approached Green to see if there was any way he could help out.

Frisby is a fitness trainer at Lifetime Fitness Health Club in Ashburn. While Green focuses on skills, Frisby helps athletes train physically at Erick Green Athletics.

"He does mostly the skill part, so I thought I would come in and give a hand to the fitness side," Frisby said.

Frisby has trained many high school, college and pro athletes in the last 10 years. He currently trains the Washington Redskins' Chris Horton and Rocky McIntosh.

While Green has been working with different kids for years on the skill side of things, having Frisby work on physical training is a big asset for EGA.

"James puts together all of our sports performance training part of it," Green said. "He is a certified trainer. I wouldn't ask James to go coach a basketball game because that's not what he does. I'm not going to ask a coach to set up a training program.

"I think that's one of the biggest things we offer compared to schools is we have certified people here who know what they're doing and are going to put our kids in the best positions to be successful."

EGA has managed to buy a lot of equipment through the money it has made in the program. The business uses dumbbells, barbells, medicine balls and also has a vertimax machine available for athletes.

The vertimax has straps that are used as a resistance, and helps different athletes in different ways.

"It helps deliver more power and explosion," Frisby said. "It can help with any sport -- golf, hockey soccer. We use it for the volleyball players to work on their vertical jump.
"We're probably one of the only training facilities in the area that has one."

The fitness program has worked for many of the athletes in EGA.

"We do a lot of strength and conditioning," Millbrook junior Ky Rooks said. "We lift a lot, which definitely helps. We learn how to lift weights so that when you go back into the high school season, you know how to do everything."

This is the first year EGA has worked with volleyball players. Green said he is in the process of hiring someone to work with athletes on their skills.

For the time being, the volleyball program has consisted of working on strength and conditioning and things have gone well for the athletes.

"I'm seeing myself get faster, and I feel like I can play longer without getting tired," Millbrook senior Brittany Whitacre said. "We use the vertimax for increasing my vertical and everything, and we do dumbbells. I think it's a good experience."

Seeing the athletes improve and have more success in sports is exactly why Frisby wanted to join Green several years ago. Frisby knew the area had plenty of athletes, and with the right help their games could get better and better.

Frisby said one of the big goals is to allow athletes in the area the chance to improve and get in better shape without having to travel so far to do so.

"I train high school, collegiate and professional athletes at my job in Northern Virginia," Frisby said. "I'm just trying to provide the same service here in Winchester.

"We're not magicians. But we can make a difference if your kid applies the work ethic."