CRANBERRY TWP — Rob Naylor wants to give young athletes an early start on gaining an extra step on their competitors.

Naylor, the strength and conditioning coach for the Seneca Valley football team, is also founder of Speed Matters Sports-Specific Training.

The clinics include several exercises designed to improve athletes' performance.

Naylor has head and assistant coaching experience at the high school and collegiate levels in basketball, track and field and cross country, graduating from Slippery Rock University with master's degrees in sports administration, and health and physical education.

"I also have a bachelor's degree in exercise physiology, which is what enables me to come up with the script for the clinics," Naylor said.

A strength and conditioning coach for the past seven years, Naylor recognized the value of additional workouts to supplement athletes' regular practices in their sports.

"It began with me recognizing as a coach in several sports that young athletes need to have the skills broken down for them, and I knew I could teach them."

The clinics are available at several sites in the SV School District, as well as the Avonworth and Hampton districts.

Naylor has clinics of some type 11 months out of the year. Fees for the clinics vary.

"A lot of it depends on where the clinic is held," Naylor said. "If it is held at a site belonging to a school district, a percentage of the money goes to booster organizations at that school."

The scripts for the clinics change depending on the age group of the participants.

There are clinics available for youngsters in kindergarten through third grade, fourth through sixth and seventh through 12th.

"For the youngest kids, we just focus on the basic skills," Naylor said. "And as the kids get older, we work on agility. By the time you get to high school kids, we're working on power, speed and conditioning."

At a recent clinic for children in kindergarten through the third grade at Haine Elementary in Cranberry Township, Naylor began the session by making sure the participants remembered what they had learned during the previous workout. Then, he gradually introduced new exercises.

"The kids don't seem to get disinterested because they're always doing different things," said Naylor. "I try to be creative. It's all about combining a lot of different elements to help each kid explore their own abilities."

One participant at the clinic was Vincent DiNicola, 8, of Cranberry Township.

"We're taking part in the camp to see what goes on here," said Vincent's father, Vinnie. "Then, we'll apply it to the football season next fall."

Starting with students in seventh grade, sport-specific clinics are available.

Athletes playing basketball, softball, baseball, lacrosse, soccer, volleyball, football and tennis all can improve their skills by taking part in a clinic geared toward a particular sport.

Matt Plautz, a junior wide receiver for the Seneca Valley football team, is currently working with Naylor.

Last season, Plautz set the Raiders' single-season record with 51 receptions, but wanted to take his game to another level.

"I've been working with Coach Naylor ever since I got back from Christmas break," said Plautz.

"Since then, my vertical jump has went from 28 inches to 33, and my (40-yard dash time) has gone down by two-tenths of a second," added Plautz. "I've gone to three or four combines because I hope to play in college, and my score has gotten better at each one."

First-year SV girls lacrosse coach Dana Hughes encouraged members of the team to attend Naylor's lacrosse camp. Thirty of the 35 players did so in February.

"I wanted them to get conditioned and improve their speed and agility, and it paid off," Hughes said. "When we started practicing, we could focus on lacrosse. I didn't have to worry about the girls not being ready."

"We schedule the sports- specific clinics so that they don't interfere with the actual season, always holding them before it starts," Naylor said.

Upcoming clinics include the Tri-County Youth Soccer Clinic, SV Volleyball Clinic and Ladies Boot Camp, which is geared toward helping women get in shape.

For information on the clinics, visit www.speedmatters.biz or call Naylor at 412-398-1135.