Former Buffalo Bill Don Beebe Brings His House of Speed to Rochester, NY

Former Buffalo Bill Don Beebe is most famous for catching Leon Lett from behind and swatting the ball out of his hands to save a touchdown, after spotting him a 35 yard head start during Super Bowl XXVII. This is considered by some to be the one of the greatest displays of character in the NFL, and ESPN calls it the 11th greatest Super Bowl moment ever. He also was considered one of the fastest players in the NFL, running for over 3400 yards receiving and 25 touchdowns. He started his House of Speed franchise in 1998 to train athletes of all ages and at all skill levels within a variety of sports. He will attend the opening of the Rochester, NY franchise, locally owned by Scott and Mary Frutchey, on October 25, 2009. The grand opening will be at Unity Health System Total Sports Experience at 880 Elmgrove Road, from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.

Scott Frutchey was kind enough to take time out of his busy schedule to answer some questions about the program.

AC: Why is Don Beebe bringing his House of Speed franchise to Rochester, NY?

SF: Don began House of Speed in 1998, and has been franchising nationally since 2006. It wasn't until my wife, Mary, and I found House of Speed and spoke with Don, that he felt he had a franchisee that could bring the vision of House of Speed to upstate New York.

AC: Why is this program so important to the Rochester, NY community?

SF: Rochester is well known for its quality of life and focus on family. Part of that focus is on youth athletic sports and the highly competitive nature of Rochester athletics. House of Speed will provide best-in-class sports performance programs that will compliment the many successful sports programs.

AC: What makes this program unique in Rochester?

SF: House of Speed applies our exclusive scientifically developed program which makes individuals become better athletes, but true victory can only be achieved through making that individual a better person. Nothing resonates the character aspect of our program better than our founder, Don Beebe.

AC: How can families benefit from participation in the program?

SF: Athletes within our programs not only become better performing athletes, but they also become better teammates and more confident individuals. They learn to take ownership of their future, develop mental toughness, play with passion and play with respect.

AC: How much does a typical camp or program cost?

SF: Two-hour sessions can run as low as $6/hour based on the number of sessions in a package. Camp costs may range from $69 to $129. Additional discounts will be extended during our Grand Opening on October 25th.

AC: Many families in Rochester, NY have promising young athletes, but have no extra funds for such programs. What kind of accommodations can be made for lower-income families?

SF: We are very committed to the Rochester community. House of Speed continues to investigate areas where grants, scholarships or sponsorships can be extended to families in need of assistance.

AC: Which sports benefit from the program, and how?

SF: Any athlete's athletic performance can be impacted by improved balance, body control, explosiveness, speed or quickness of feet/hands. We tend to be very popular with sports such as Soccer, Hockey, Basketball, Lacrosse, Baseball, Football, Track, and many, many more.

AC: Does the child need to be currently on a sports team or can the program be used to train a child looking to join a team in the future?

SF: Our program is intended to be a compliment to sports specific training, but being on a team is not a requirement. We prepare an athlete to be at their best when their season commences, and to continue to perform at their highest level throughout the season. Scientifically designed tools such as the "PowerPull", "The Bear" and "Dartfish" give athletes an edge, allowing the multi-sport athlete to remain in peak condition and prepared for all of their sports.

AC: How can your facility be used for family-friendly events sponsored by schools and churches?

SF: House of Speed is utilizing a shared facility model in Rochester which is to say that we utilize already existing sports related space. We do this to create strong partnerships with existing community programs and to assure that our programs are focused on the athlete over the facility.

AC: What is the upcoming Age-less class?

SF: More and more we find that parents of our athletes see the value that our programs bring to their children and they would like to see similar benefits in their fitness. Whether it to continue to play a sport they've enjoyed for many years or just to stay fit as an example to their children. We plan to offer programs adapted to fit the needs of "ageless athletes."

AC: What are your plans for future expansion?

SF: Our grand opening will be at Total Sports Experience at 880 Elmgrove Road, Rochester, NY 14624. This west side location will soon be augmented by an east side location. We are currently negotiating with east side facilities. Beyond that, we would love to see additional locations throughout upstate New York.

AC: Classes are currently available Wednesday evenings and Sunday afternoons. Will there be extra opportunities during summer break?

SF: Yes, our clinic currently operates on these days at our west side location. We intend to have additional clinics at our east side location shortly. Additionally, we will provide team training and individual training per the schedules of our customers. Finally, we will plan camps around school holidays and summer break.

AC: Is registration limited to city residents or is the program open to anyone in the area?

SF: Although our location is in the greater Monroe County area, anyone within the upstate New York region is welcome to participate in our programs.

AC: Where can people go for more information?

SF: Additional information can be found at www.HouseofSpeed.com or by contacting Scott Frutchey at Scott.Frutchey@HouseofSpeed.com or (585) 764-2894.

AC: Thank you so much for your time, and good luck in your ventures!