Sam Beaver, owner and head coach at The Well Health and Fitness
By Ryan Harless
Special to the Sentinel-Tribune
In youth athletics, preparation and confidence are two of the most important elements that can help your child take the next step in their athletic journey.
Whether their goal is to play at the next level or simply to play to their highest capabilities at the high school level, The Well Health and Fitness in Bowling Green is looking to help 25 youth athletes from the area see where they stack up against the competition.
“I have been an athlete my whole life,” Sam Beaver, owner and head coach at The Well Health and Fitness, said. “Some of my greatest highs and lowest lows came from sports. They taught me how to navigate life. I want to create an environment where athletes can work together to become the best versions of themselves, on and off the field.”
On Wednesday, May 20, at 6:30 p.m. The Well Health and Fitness is holding a free youth athletic combine in Bowling Green.
“This is more so to help athletes understand where they can improve best and what they need to be working on,” Beaver said. “Most youth athletes in BG have never been tested on anything outside their sport.
“They jump from one season to the next without any real picture of where they stand athletically. This is not a feel-good workout. It is real testing. We just want to give kids real numbers and something to work toward this summer. But a little friendly competition is always encouraged.”
The combine will involve a set of five tests consisting of a 10-yard sprint, broad jump, lateral shuffle, vertical jump, and a body control screen.
“Every athlete will walk out with a printed report card,” Beaver said. “It is the same kind of testing college coaches and athletic trainers actually use.”
Beaver, a lifelong athlete, found his passion for training while studying exercise science at Bowling Green State University. He has personal experience playing football and hockey as well as wrestling.
“I worked as a trainer during college,” Beaver said. “When COVID hit, the facility I was working with closed permanently. I trained people in the parking lot of the Slippery Elm Trailhead, then a storage unit, then a three-car garage with a port-a-potty on the side due to not having running water. Once I graduated, we got a spot in the Woodland Mall and were there for three years until we moved into the space that we are in now.”
A large portion of what drew Beaver to the world of training was seeing how big an impact it could have on people’s lives and their families.
“Having a space for encouragement, accountability, and positivity is a special thing to have nowadays,” Beaver said. The foundation of our training philosophy is ‘Training for Life.’ Teaching kids how to be successful in sports is great, but teaching kids how to use lessons that they learn during sports to become better adults is a non-negotiable for us.”
Beaver hopes to be able to turn this into an annual event as long as the interest from the community is there.
Outside of focusing on youth athletics, The Well Health and Fitness is a tool that can be utilized by anyone regardless of age and ability.
“Our youngest member is just six years old, and our oldest is in their 90’s,” Beaver said. “We also train children and adults with developmental and physical disabilities.”
You can RSVP for this event by going to thewellbg.com and clicking on the blue banner at the top of the page.