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"We try to work with the teams that are coming in,
offer them team training or a free class," says Kris.
"We cross-promote."
VSC offers teams that rent from them for more than
five hours a free 30-minute team training. Summer
camps also include sports performance training.
Other ways to cross-promote include sport-specific
training. "Kids will do the agility training and then sign
up to play on one of our basketball teams," says Kris.
In this way, sports performance training helps grow
other programs.
Clinics help grow other programs as well. VSC offers
baseball clinics to get the kids warmed up for the
season. The clinics help promote the facility's baseball
programming. This year, since the winter was harsh,
batting cages have been in high demand.
In April, coaches from UConn offered a one-day
baseball clinic for middle schoolers. It was very
successful. "Getting involved with someone from a
big university was exciting for them," says Kris. The
coaches will return for a camp this summer.
"Probably the biggest thing we do for baseball is
individual instruction. Several couches are available
during the off-season," says Kris.
Recently, Danielle, who played softball in college, ran
a three-day softball clinic. Because the ground is
usually too wet at tryout time, VSC hosts tryouts for
little league. "We'll set up all the cages," says Kris.