May 26, 2011

To be the best of the best, high school athletes put extra effort and training into their sports. Still, competing at the college level often takes a new workout strategy. Joe Sanford's AthElite Factory at Total Performance in Albemarle County offers training by athletes, for athletes and features some familiar faces.

Both Joe Sanford, who played football for the University of Massachusetts, and former UVa player Mark Verica are training the next generation of colleges athletes.

"We do athletic training all around that incorporates all sports, resistance training, dynamic training, things that aren't very generic that you don't get anywhere else that you just focus on making everybody a better athlete," said Joe Sanford, of the AthElite Factory.

Both players are fresh out of Division 1 football, which helps them to connect with the athletes.

"That definitely helps, when you hear it from someone who's been there and who's done it somewhere a lot of the young kids are striving to be, I think that's huge," said Sanford.

The first thing taught at the AthElite Factory is technique.

"Technique will always replace speed, first because we always want to be able to do things the right way to affect the right muscles first," said Sanford.