Speaking of IMG, there is a big article in today's Wall Street Journal about them: https://www.wsj.com/articles/how-a-h...ory-1509122949
This is behind a paywall so here are some of the more interesting points:
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Like I said, it's a wonder any normal high school team gets a win against them, although IMG hasn't lost since 2014...
This is behind a paywall so here are some of the more interesting points:
Players work out at an $11 million training complex with a high-tech weight room where each repetition is filmed and evaluated by coaches and trainers. Scientists from the Gatorade Sports Science Institute monitor hydration, body composition and other aspects of players’ physical development.
In the past several years, IMG Academy has been transformed into a gleaming, 500-acre campus that includes 52 tennis courts, 24 athletic fields, two five-story dormitories and a 5,000-seat football stadium. Coming soon: a 150-room hotel for visiting parents and college coaches.
Those facilities are signs of a cultural shift in youth sports away from backyards and sandlots. The overall market for youth sports is expected to balloon to $41.2 billion in 2023 from an estimated $19.8 billion this year, according to WinterGreen Research Inc. of Lexington, Mass. Those figures include sports apparel, gear, facilities construction and travel expenses.
Those facilities are signs of a cultural shift in youth sports away from backyards and sandlots. The overall market for youth sports is expected to balloon to $41.2 billion in 2023 from an estimated $19.8 billion this year, according to WinterGreen Research Inc. of Lexington, Mass. Those figures include sports apparel, gear, facilities construction and travel expenses.
Day-to-day life for football players can be grueling, with little down time to socialize or relax. They usually wake up at 6 a.m. to be on the field by 7:45 a.m. for a four-hour block of meetings, film sessions and practice.
After lunch, classes and tutoring sessions run until 5:30 p.m., followed by dinner in the cafeteria. Think kale salads and protein shakes, not sloppy Joes and soda. The evening includes more team meetings and study hall before a 9:45 p.m. curfew. Mandatory lights out is at 10:45 p.m.
Other aspects of campus life resemble a college team’s routine. Teachers travel with players to games, and an in-house media team helps juniors and seniors plan their college commitment announcements.
After lunch, classes and tutoring sessions run until 5:30 p.m., followed by dinner in the cafeteria. Think kale salads and protein shakes, not sloppy Joes and soda. The evening includes more team meetings and study hall before a 9:45 p.m. curfew. Mandatory lights out is at 10:45 p.m.
Other aspects of campus life resemble a college team’s routine. Teachers travel with players to games, and an in-house media team helps juniors and seniors plan their college commitment announcements.
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