Police Sgt. Mike Prouty starts new youth sport training program
SCITUATE – A former college football player and youth sports coach, Scituate police Sgt. Mike Prouty says he has seen so many sports-specific programs pop up, such as skills development tailored to baseball or lacrosse.
But few programs focus on the whole athlete, he says.
So there came the idea for Gravel Pit Academy, a new youth sports training program that launched in January that helps athletes in grades five through seven hone their skills in agility, speed, strength and flexibility.
It aims to be a place where kids learn proper movement patterns that help avoid injury in the long run.
“When I was in high school, you got to a certain point that if you hadn’t learned to do it correctly, you were left to learn to do it on your own unless you had a strength and conditioning coach,” said Prouty, who played safety at Westfield State University. “It’s important you learn the proper technique early so you don’t wing it.”
Gravel Pit Academy offers coed group training sessions at Crush It Fit in North Scituate. The academy aims to provide a well-rounded approach that enhances overall athleticism and builds confidence, resilience and leadership qualities so athletes can “unlock their full potential.” The name gravel pit is based on the concept of building athletes from the ground up and helping to create a strong foundation.
Prouty’s career in law enforcement demonstrates important of fitness
Prouty knows well the importance of developing and maintaining good fitness habits. He teaches physical fitness to police recruits through the Massachusetts Police Training Council.
In that role, he said he his job is to help recruits develop a good foundation so they don’t get hurt in the academy or when on the job.
“They can be 20 years old or 35 years old, and they come in in great shape, or they’ve never never been in the gym before,” said Prouty, a Scituate native. “It’s working with all walks of life in that aspect, and preventing injury is a huge part of it.”
He said Gravel Pit Academy also focuses on having a healthy lifestyle, sports aside. Prouty said he personally views everything in moderation, but tries to get to the gym every morning before work and eats a healthy, balanced diet as much as possible.
He said a friend of his who is a functional nutritionist – or one who takes an individualized approach to nutrition – will also be on hand to talk about nutrition to support an active lifestyle.
“We want to build it as a holistic approach to general wellbeing. As much as we’re focused on sports, you want to be able to say your whole life, ‘I can run. I can exercise,'” he said. “It should be part of your life and be instilled in them because it’s hard to pick up as you get older.”
Skills help develop the whole athlete
Prouty said one thing he has realized in his time as an instructor and youth football and lacrosse coach is that a lot of athletes don’t realize the importance of a proper warm-up routine.
“When I taught at the police academy or coached youth sports, I’ve always encouraged a dynamic warm-up focused on opening the hips and getting the arms activated,” Prouty said.
The classes will also focus on speed and strength, and building power and muscles needed for coordination. Prouty said drills will be specific for each kid and age group.
He said athletes who play hockey, football, lacrosse, basketball and baseball have signed up to work out together.
“We have a great mix of sports, which is something we want to push,” he said. “We don’t want them to specialize in one sport because it improves athleticism and reduces burnout.”
Classes have several coaches on hand, as well as players helping out from the Scituate High football team, which won the 2024 MIAA Division 4 Super Bowl in December.
Prouty said the classes are a mix of fun, competition and structure.
“It’s a good mix. The kids are having fun and you’re moving the whole hour, but there’s also structure and boundaries,” he said “We have some competition built in there.”
Classes are an hour long and run from 4:15 to 5:15 p.m. or 6:15 to 7:15 p.m. on either Monday and Wednesday or Tuesday and Thursday. Twelve-session packages are $240, and drop-in workouts on Sundays from 11 a.m. to noon cost $25. For more information, go to www.gravelpitacademy.com.
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