Any sport, any season, there's a spot to train in Q-C

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By Andrew Petersen | Saturday, July 26, 2008 |

VIDEO: Athletes of the 21st Century: Training
At Beyond the Baseline in west Davenport, young athletes are able to practi…
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Gary Thrapp stumbled onto the Field House Sports Complex quite by accident.

He wasn’t looking to start a business. He just wanted his kids to have a place to work in the offseason.

“I just didn’t anticipate owning a 42,000-square-foot building,” he said.

Some 18 months after buying the building on West 12th Street in Davenport, Thrapp hosts small camps, team practices, tournaments and a bit of individual instruction.

During the past decade, his is far from the only sports training/instruction business to pop up. There are at least three baseball-specific facilities, two speed acceleration clinics, the Orthopaedic Specialists Sports Complex (aka “the Dome’’) and more.

Whatever the season, whatever the sport, there’s a place to play or practice.

“It’s definitely a growing demand,” The Sandlot owner Tim Gronski said. “Five or 10 years ago, there were very few facilities that offered anything private instruction-wise.

“I think what’s driving this whole thing is athletics has gotten so competitive.”

The quest for success is good for business.

It’s wise to book several months in advance to have your baseball swing broken down by Gronski over the spring and winter months.

Likewise, you’d be hard-pressed to wander into the Field House, which houses Thrapp’s Beyond the Baseline business, and find it empty most weeknights.

The place is hopping.

And though Thrapp’s primary concentration is basketball, his space is used for volleyball players and gymnasts throughout the year. Beyond the Baseline also hosts a youth soccer skills camp.

“I don’t think parents and kids have ever been as involved,” Thrapp said. “In the past, when your season was over, you didn’t play. Beyond the Baseline gives an athlete the opportunity where if your team isn’t playing, you can come here.”

With the same mind-set, Bob Herrmann opened the Dome on Brady Street three years ago. In that time, the inflatable structure has hosted tournaments, practices and camps for golf, soccer, football, baseball and volleyball.

“Anything they can do outside, we can do inside,” Herrmann said. “I think people had the interest in this 10 years ago. I just had to get a lot of people to commit to get the project done.”

Former college football players Ryan Arnold and Marques Simmons run Quad-City Sports Acceleration, one of 160 like-minded training facilities nationwide. QC Acceleration pays royalties to the Athletic Republic company in exchange for specialized equipment and workout regimens.

“There’s a lot more around than when I was in school,” Simmons said. “I’m not the coach. I’m not going to teach you a 10-yard out. I’m going to give you back a better athlete.”

More and more businesses pop up each year trying to do exactly that.

Andrew Petersen can be contacted at (563) 383-2288 or apetersen@qctimes.com.