Find Out More About Power Source

Our Philosophy

Beyond just delivering physical results, Power Source is committed to fostering a workout environment that is guided by a set of core values we believe represent the foundation of success in both athletics, and beyond. We want all of our participants to:

Pay attention to detail. Using proper technique during training is the difference between greatness and mediocrity, and we want our athletes to do what it takes to be great. Our staff will provide you the proper guidance and motivation to allow you to seek perfection in every part of your workout.

Always give your best effort. Injuries aside, this is a critical habit we work to build within every Power Source athlete to help them become more successful in everything they do.

Commit to growing through consistent practice. Nothing worth achieving comes quickly and easily in sports. To become more successful you are going to have to dedicate yourself to consistently showing up and getting the job done.

With that in mind, we provide the right atmosphere for you to grow and develop your skills over time. Our staff will always be there to teach and instruct proper technique, but we are not going to scream and yell at you when you inevitably make mistakes. Our job is to hold you accountable for your actions, and constantly provide an environment where you will not be afraid to fail and grow through your mistakes.

Overcome challenges. Power Source Training programs are designed to constantly challenge you at your current ability level. We aim to always give you drills and competitions that are within your ability to achieve success with just a little extra effort, allowing you to take those small steps towards excellence each and every day.

Be enthusiastic about your training…even when it is tough. It is not in any athlete’s long-term best interests to create a negative atmosphere that does not inspire you to continue to work hard over time. With youth sports dropout rates at record highs, we believe this approach to fitness and health is sorely lacking in our society, and we want to play a part in reversing that trend.

And finally,

Build lasting bonds. Sports and training provide the most fulfilling experiences when you are surrounded by a supportive cast of mentors and friends. As coaches, we seek to build positive relationships with all of our athletes, and become truly invested in helping them reach their dreams. We also encourage kids to work together and build friendships while working hard, so they can all achieve higher levels of success together.

Program Director/Founder

James Herrick, Jr
(Program Director/President):

james-herrick-jr Jim is currently the Strength & Conditioning Coach at Cushing Academy, located in Ashburnham, MA, and has held that position since 2001.

Jim began his fitness career as a personal trainer at Orchard Hills Athletic Club (Lancaster, MA), and Global Fitness (Leominster, MA). He spent 3 years working in this role.

In 1999, he was hired to train the St. Bernard’s football team during their off-season. It was here that Jim started to develop a passion for working with athletes, particularly those who have a strong desire to improve.

While the team was in-season that year, he went out to Anaheim, CA and filled an internship position at IntenseCity, an elite performance center that trained the Anaheim Angels and Anaheim Ducks, as well as hundreds of younger athletes in all sports.

After retuning home he continued to work with St. Bernard’s, and remained there part-time until 2004. After spending the 2000 off-season consulting for the Leominster High football program, he began his Cushing Academy tenure in 2001. He currently trains Cushing's male and female athletes in a variety of sports during the school year, and runs the Power Source training program in the summer (see below for more details on Power Source's history).

Jim's Certifications

Certified Strength & Conditioning Specialist (CSCS)

Obtained through the National Strength & Conditioning Association (NSCA), this is the standard bearer of recognition for performance coaches throughout the United States. Essentially every college and pro performance coach has earned their CSCS.

Performance Enhancement Specialist (PES)

Certified through the National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM), coaches with this qualification have gone through the equivalent of a masters level program centered around performance enhancement blended with injury prevention.

Level 2 Speed & Agility Specialist

Jim is one of the first coaches in the country to obtain this extremely practical and valuable certification, which just became available in May 2010. Building on the Level 1 certification that taught the proper foundations of athletic movement, the Level 2 program helps coaches to design effective, high-level speed and agility programs for any sport.

The certification program is taught by Lee Taft, one of the top speed coaches in the world.

Sports Axiology Certification

Only a handful of coaches worldwide are currently trained to administer the Ready to Play Profile, and offer effective strategies to help coaches and athletes use the results to raise the mental side of their game

This program is run by Jeremy Boone, a highly respected performance coach who has worked with the NFL's Carolina Panthers for years, and has pioneered the concept of Sports Axiology as a practical and valuable tool to help athletes from youth sports all the way to the pros.

Power Source History

The Power Source program began in the summer of 2002 as a personal training service to Cushing Academy students. During that first summer we had two athletes training two hours per day, five days a week. The second summer was quite similar to the first, except the program took in a third athlete full-time.

It was in 2004 that local athletes outside of Cushing began training with us. As the numbers grew, the idea of one-on-one training became impossible. What once was a personal training service had now evolved into small group training. As each passing summer went by, the numbers continued to grow. Today, we have over 80 athletes training with us during the summer months in our small-group format. No longer just a high school age program, we have trained athletes from ages 8 to 23.

With its roots in the personal training mindset, we continue to stress individual attention as often as possible. Each athlete is given a training program that best fits their personal skill set, with careful consideration given to their age level and the sports they are training for.

What we have been lucky to add during our growth is a tremendous group dynamic that has increased the energy level in our sessions. Power Source has been blessed to have worked with so many amazing kids over the years who are friendly, hard-working, respectful, and who genuinely train for the love of sport.