Sanford Sports experts supporting athletes during COVID-19 pandemic

The team at Sanford Sports, including Sanford POWER, Sanford POWER academies and the Sanford Sports Science Institute, are offering advice and support for athletes during the COVID-19 pandemic.

This includes insights from experts in strength and conditioning, sports nutrition, sports skills and sports performance. Bookmark this page to stay current, and follow the Sanford POWER channels on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook plus our YouTube playlist for the latest updates.

We encourage everyone to be safe, follow proper medical protocols – and use this as an opportunity to get prepared to return to the games that you love.

Introduction

Sanford Sports is encouraging athletes to abide by COVID-19 restrictions, while offering support in the form of ongoing education from coaches, experts and academy leaders. President Steve Young explains.

Advice to parents

Many young athletes have taken to social media to express sadness and frustration about the COVID-19 situation. Sanford Health sports performance specialist Andy Gillham explains how parents can try to help.

At-home sports nutrition

• Athletes have an opportunity during COVID-19 to adjust their nutrition and start new habits that will help them in the long run. Sanford Sports registered dietitian Lizzie Kasparek offers examples and advice.
• Smoothies can make a quick, healthy meal or snack, and are an especially good option when you’re trying to limit your trips to the store and need to make nutritious meals with what you have on hand in your pantry, refrigerator and freezer. Registered dietitian Lizzie Kasparek discusses different smoothie options in this video. Here’s a complete smoothie guide that she put together, as well.

Home workouts

• Let’s get the blood flowing. Sanford POWER coach Sam Herauf of Aberdeen has a 15-minute workout you can do at home. Feel free to contact your regular POWER coach via text or email for more tips. 
• DID YOU KNOW: Athletic power fades relatively quickly if you stop working on it. POWER certified strength and conditioning coaches Brad Rilling and Charley Smook walk through a power-based workout that you can do at home.
• We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again: Athletes need to keep working on maximal speed and maximal POWER in order to retain their hard-earned gains. That’s the idea behind this at-home workout put together by POWER coach Chris Rivinius.
• Sanford POWER Strength and Conditioning Specialist Sam Thielen shows you how to incorporate common household items into a great workout.
• Stay active at home by doing this great stair workout led by Sanford POWER Strength and Conditioning Specialist Dylan Masloski.
• Sanford POWER Strength and Conditioning specialists Randy Martin and Sam Thielen show you how to stay active while at home with this fast-paced ladder workout.
• Working out at home can be difficult, especially without any teammates or coaches there to fire you up. We’ve got you! Try this live workout with two of our high-energy POWER coaches.
• POWER coaches are writing full at-home plans for the schools, sports and groups they work with.
  • Harrisburg High School
  • Sioux Falls Roosevelt
  • Sioux Falls Lincoln
  • Golf

How to keep your mind sharp

There are so many things athletes can be doing to keep their minds sharp during the COVID-19 situation. Sanford senior sports science specialist Dan Poel has the details. Use this time to get better – just like you would try to do under normal circumstances.

Sport-specific drills you can do at home

Sanford POWER is integrated with sport-specific skills through POWER academies. The academy coaches are working on ways to keep athletes active and engaged during the COVID-19 slowdown. We’re going to feature their efforts, too.

• POWER Golf Academy director Todd Kolb has two simple ways to improve your putting stroke.
• Freddy Coleman of POWER Basketball in Fargo demonstrates a simple dribble drill.
• The Sanford Pentagon Volleyball Academy staff has some drills players can do at home. Former South Dakota State volleyball standout Ashlynn Smith demonstrates a wall-passing drill.
• Shane Hennen of the Sanford POWER Basketball Academy at the Sanford Pentagon has a shooting drill you can do in your living room.
• The Sanford POWER Riggs Premier Football Academy high school combine has been postponed. But here are some videos designed to help football players perfect their drill techniques:
  • 40-yard dash
  • Pro agility drill
  • Bench press
  • Vertical jump

Running recommendations

• Needing some fresh air? Sanford POWER Physical Therapist Josie Stockland and Certified Athletic Trainer Jenny Dalland lead you through a dynamic running warm up to get you ready before heading out the door.
• Sanford POWER PT Josie Stockland shares insights from her personal experience preparing for the Boston Marathon and how runners can adapt to canceled or postponed races.

Sanford Sports pros share their experiences

• How are professional athletes dealing with the COVID-19 situation? What advice do they have for younger athletes? Sanford Sports athlete, LPGA golfer and North Dakota State graduate, Amy Olson shares her experience and thoughts.
• Even Olympic-level athletes are facing uncertainty. That includes South Dakota native, elite triathlete and Sanford Sports Science Institute intern Tony Smoragiewicz. Read about how he’s been doing research on training, and how he’s trying to continue his workouts.