About Pocono Athletics
What is Pocono Athletics?
Started in July of 2023 Pocono Athletics offers small group sports sessions for kids ages 5-12 years old as well as strength and conditioning/personal training for ages 11 and up. Or goal is to get all kids and adults engaged in sports and physical activity.
No man has the right to be an amateur in the matter of physical training. It is a shame for a man to grow old without seeing the beauty and strength of which his body is capable.
Socrates
About Me
My Background
Welcome Athletes, my name is Matthew Strand. While growing up in the Poconos I spent much of my childhood playing outside as well as in organized sports. I played many years in Little League as well as high school basketball and football. After graduating from Pocono Mountain High School, I attended Penn State where I earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Kinesiology. After graduation I spent several years in the corporate fitness industry. I returned home in 2006 to run Countryside Cottages, a family business. I now look forward to growing this new business and have a positive and healthy impact on both the adults and youth of this community.
My Journey
Why at the age of 46 did I want to start an athletics business? As a parent of two young children, I know the struggles of trying to raise kids in this digital age. We fell into all the traps, kids on i pads, amazon fire tablets, games on our phones and watching YouTube videos of everything from Ryans World to slime videos one after another. Then about a year ago my son said he didn't want to go to baseball while he laid on my bed playing his pad. He said he didn't know anyone, and he wasn't good at it. I knew that was a lie. He had the time of his life just the week before at baseball. I said, "do you not want to go so you can stay home and play your pad?" I don't have to tell you what his answer was. As we got into the truck on our way home from baseball that day, I asked him if he had a good time. he said, " Yeah dad, it was great, it's a good thing I didn't stay home and play my pad, right dad?"
My Philosophy
Everyone young and old can benefit from unplugging, being physically active, and being outside. The more my kids play outside the better they behave. When I get my daily physical activity in, the better my mental health gets. Pocono Athletics isn't about turning kids into D1 athletes. There are plenty of other places to go that will sell you that promise. Pocono Athletics is about building a strong base to live a healthy life, physically, mentally, and spiritually.
Pocono Athletics is training for life.