[ About Us ]
Here at AR Norwood each of us is committed to helping our athletes to progress and perform. We constantly strive to provide the safest, most efficient, and most effective, training environment. Training programs and methods will continually evolve to match our athletes’ needs and sports.
Each of us has been an athlete and is passionate about furthering athletic performance through careful teaching and training. We maintain industry credentials certifying us to work in many areas of athletics, as well as connections to the sporting communities from recreational to professional. We strive to be your resource as you work to better yourself, your performance, and your understanding of sports and athletics.
Our Staff
PJ Vande Rydt - President
AR Level III Certified
Owner/Coach, Certified IYCA (International Youth Conditioning Assoc.) - PJ has had a passion for sports throughout his life. As a young athlete he excelled in both baseball and football. He played in the Tom Yawkey Baseball League for three years. He was on the Board of Directors and head coach for Brookline’s Pop Warner Football B team for six years.
He coaches girl’s youth softball and is assistant coach to a boy’s youth hockey team. In 2008, he was an assistant coach for the undefeated Westwood middle school football team and will be the team’s head coach this upcoming season. His love of sports and experience in coaching young athletes has resulted in the development of Precision Speed and Strength, now Athletic Republic Norwood.
Matt Helming – Director
CPT & AR Level III Certified
Matt is a retired Pro/Elite Cyclist. He cycled for Team Louis Garneau and the Team KENDA/RALEIGH. He has raced at the National/International Level against Professional and Olympic cyclists. Matt trained and raced full-time for years in the pursuit of performance. A comprehensive year-round program of directed work which included nutrition, strength, physical testing, and endurance, was integral to life in the sport.
Matt brings years of fitness and training experience to AR Norwood by helping athletes to understand the comprehensive approach to fitness and strength required to excel in any sport.
Mike Kelleher - Trainer
AR Level 1 & 2 Certified
Mike comes to AR Norwood with extensive experience in Hockey coaching. He currently coaches for the Boston Junior Rangers, after serving as an assistant coach for Thayer Academy. Mike brings a wealth of hockey experience to us. After a stellar career at Brookline HS, Mike played NCAA hockey at Merrimack and Salem State College. After College Mike embarked on a pro career that included stops in the WCHL, ECHL, & Europe. Mike brings his extensive hockey playing and coaching experience to Athletic Republic Norwood where he coaches skating, strength development, skill clinics, and on-ice sessions.
Dave Monahan – Trainer/CSCS
AR Level III Certified
David was a multi sport athlete in high school excelling in hockey and football. In 2002 David received a B.S. in Exercise Physiology from UMASS/Lowell. Having minored in Nutrition and Clinical Lab Science, he also worked as a Student Athletic Trainer at the University rehabilitating and conditioning collegiate athletes. Working at the Dexter Hockey Camp for 9 years he coached athletes from the ages of 6 to thirteen years old as an On-ice Coach and the Off-ice Director until 2003. David is a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist and has been an Assistant Ice Hockey Coach and the Strength and Conditioning Coach for Brookline High School from 2001-2003 and Walpole High School from 2005-2009. David also has worked at the Boston Sports Club as a Personal Trainer from 2003-2009.
Jon Coleman - Director of Hockey
Jon Coleman joins us as the Director of Hockey operations. He has had an extensive playing career and will bring his expertise to coaching our athletes in skating and skills. Not only does he have extensive playing experience, but he has trained under many programs and coaches for conditioning and strength in the Hockey world. He has provided valuable input to building our programs for the best on ice performance from our skating athletes.
Phillips Academy graduate 93 (4 years) Captain Hockey and Baseball (New England Prep Defenseman of the year '93)
Detroit Red Wings 2nd round (48th selection) 2nd round 93 draft
1993 member of the USA World Junior Championship Team 1995 member of USA team competed in the Tampere Cup in Finland,
Boston University 93-97 (NCAA Champion 95, First team All American 97, 2nd Team All American 96, All Hockey East 96 and 97,Best Collegiant Defenseman voted by New England Sports writers 93, voted as a member of the BU All Hockey East team marking the 25th season of Hockey East)
Professional from 97- present
AHL (Providence, Adirondack, Kentucky, Worcester) AHL All Star 98-99 season
IHL Orlando Solar Bears Turner Cup Champions 2000-01 Season
European Leagues: Russia Austria, Germany, Sweden, Italy, England