Which life lessons have greater impact on young people -- lessons they hear or lessons they live?

That question seems to be at the heart of the U-Turn Sports Performance Academy, a Christian organization that couples biblical training with athletic training and offers action and insight in the same lesson.

"Our brand promise is superior athletic training and sound biblical guidance to aspiring young athletes from ages 6 to 18," says Herb Delaney, U-Turn's director of community relations.

Delaney, a graduate of J.R. Tucker High School who played power forward for the Washington State University basketball team, is now charged with filling a cavernous sports facility with kids interested in bettering their performance in tennis, soccer, football, basketball and volleyball. Based on the enthusiasm they exhibit, the lessons both athletic and religious seem to be well received.

One of U-Turn's notable success stories is their program for upgrading the football skills of regional high school and semi-pro players. That program is led by Talmech "Wolf" Williams, a former Rutgers University varsity football player and all-American linebacker/safety. Recently, Williams helped Dorian Allen, of Thomas Jefferson High School, achieve First Team All-District as a safety. And with advice on how to review game film from Williams and other U-Turn coaches, John Miles, of Meadowbrook High School, went on to be the dominant safety in his district.

"We look at the position of the player, run though activities and then improve their lagging performance," says Williams, who charges $35 per session. "We do a lot of strength training and agility drills."

Also working in U-turn's favor are its vast facilities -- a 9,000-square-foot weight room well stocked with free weights; a 70-meter indoor sprint track (great for tweaking 40-yard dash technique); a 60-meter indoor turf matt for soccer skills training; an indoor tennis/volleyball complex that accommodates several courts; and a huge basketball area that houses two regular high school dimension courts and two college/NBA dimension courts.

And of course, there's U-Turn's religious focus.

Before each privately funded athletic training session, all present -- kids, coaches, volunteers and staffers -- are invited to participate in a devotion, a brief discussion led by a staffer that reflects on biblical verse, personal experience or both. Then the kids are challenged to go out and get physical with that devotional concept ringing in their ears. 

However, if the training session is governmentally funded, no devotion is offered and everyone goes straight into the activity.

All in all, with its Christian focus, the U-Turn Sports Performance Academy may not be for everybody, but it is a welcoming place that keeps a lot of kids active in a positive way. And if that's something that interests you, it may be worth a look.

"Anybody who is active in sports and has a desire to help our program can be active and give back to the community by volunteering with us," said Delaney.

Mike McCormick, the communications director for the Sports Backers, moved to Richmond in 2007 from Washington, D.C., where he spent four years working for the White House Press Office. He is a former national champion whitewater kayaker and father of two.

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