CATZ Sports Performance Helps Columbus Crew Win MLS Cup
Columbus Crew Coach Sigi Schmid credits CATZ Sports Performance for keeping team healthy and fit during historic season that ended with Crew winning the MLS Cup. Columbus becomes the first team since the 2002 LA Galaxy to win the MLS Cup and Supporters Shield in same season. CATZ provided performance training to both of these teams. Needham, Mass. (PRWEB) November 26, 2008 -- CATZ Sports is back training championship professional soccer teams and founder Jim Liston could not be happier. After an incredible run with the Los Angeles Galaxy from 1998-2003 in which the Galaxy won every major trophy in US soccer (the MLS Cup, US Open Cup, CONCAF Cup and Supporters Shield), Liston took a break from training professional teams to focus on expanding his CATZ Sports Performance Centers business. The company now operates 12 training centers around the country.
Prior to the start of the 2007 season, Columbus Crew Coach Sigi Schmid called Liston to see if CATZ was ready to get back into MLS. "Sigi called and asked me if CATZ was ready and willing to train the team," said Liston, "It was a good time for us to get involved with a pro team again and I could not pass up the opportunity to work with Sigi."
The results of the partnership between CATZ and the Columbus Crew speak for themselves. In 2006, the Crew had players miss 226 games due to injury and missed the playoffs for the second consecutive year. After implementing the CATZ performance training program over the past two years with Crew Fitness Coach Steve Tashjian, the injury numbers were reduced by more than 50%. Most importantly, the Crew also had every player available when the playoffs started.
"CATZ keeps our players healthy and playing at a high level by striking the proper balance between performance training and regeneration," stated Crew Head Coach Sigi Schmid, "Our fitness level this season was extraordinary, and our guys were ready to play each and every game. Having my best 11 players healthy and available when the playoffs started made a huge difference in our results."
It sure did. Yesterday, at the Home Depot Center in Carson, CA the Crew defeated the New York Red Bulls 3-1 to win the team's first MLS Cup. The victory capped an historic season for the Crew in which they became just the fifth team in MLS history to win both the MLS Cup and the Supporters Shield (for the best regular season record) in the same season. The last team to accomplish this feat was the 2002 LA Galaxy. Both of these teams were coached by Sigi Schmid, and both teams were trained by CATZ Sports.
About CATZ Sports Performance Centers
CATZ Sports Performance Center (Competitive Athlete Training Zone) is recognized as a leading provider of sports performance training to athletes of all ages and abilities. For more than a decade, CATZ has trained athletes to enhance their speed, agility, strength, power, and quickness, while also focusing on reducing the risk of injuries. CATZ operates 12 training centers around the country. For more information, please go to www.catzsports.com.
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