I'd like to explain a little about "IPI," or International Performance Institute."  IPS is a strength facility on campus that helps in speed, agility and strength; very similar to a local company called Velocity.  They have about 10 coaches running the whole thing.  The way it works is, whenever your team has IPI, you go as a team at the same time and they have a sheet of paper that you grab and it tells you 5-6 workouts that you are going to do that day.  They have sessoions all day long, and as long as you had IPI that day, you are allowed to return in the afternoon to work out again if you want. 

    The US Team has IPI at 7:00 AM until 8:00 AM on Monday, Wednesday and Friday.  We go in as a team and our coach for the day has sheets for "Rookies," and sheets for "Returners."  Basically the Rookie sheets are less straining and less reps, but the Returners are the ones who have been here since the beginning of the year and their workout is a lot more difficult. 

    When we first get in IPI, we do our core which is normally sit ups, sit ups with a 45 lb weight, bicycle and 6 inches.  Normally we do weight lifting such as bench press, dumb bells, curls, push ups and snatches.  We are always partnered up, so when one person is finished with the set they will have something called "Pre Hab" which are just smaller, less straining excercies that help to stretch and loosen the muscles that you are working on.   There are also recording sessions, which happen about every 3 months.  Recordings are done on the turf field, which is located behind the IPI center, and they include the 40 yard dash, broad jump, 5 broad jump, double leg jumps, single leg jumps and quickness drills.   The coach  records your time/distance and compares it with your previous times/distances to be able to chart your improvement and find your weaknesses.

    Personally I have seen a lot of improvement in my strength on the field.  The main reason why is that they plan their workouts on the basic soccer muscles that you are going to be using.  If there is one thing that the coaches are looking for from forwards like myself, is being able to, when the ball is played to you, hold 1-2 defenders off while the team is getting into position to support you.   

 Feel free to write me with any questions or comments you may have about IPI or the US Soccer team in general.  Thank you for all your support. 

\\Drew