Drew Aggus
Special to the Citizen
Outdoor sports teams in the Northland now have indoor training options thanks to former NFL player and Platte County resident Jeff Marriott.
In January, Marriott opened an indoor sports facility known as Competitive Edge. The 17,000-square-foot facility offers local teams the chance to perfect their skills no matter the forecast.
“I want to provide a place for kids to reach their potential,” Marriott said. “If there are people around who need a place to come have practices or work out, we’re open.”
The facility, which has 15,000 square feet of turf, houses baseball, football, softball, soccer, lacrosse and speed and agility training. Marriott has brought in outside coaches to make sure that his athletes get the best training possible.
“[The kids] are excited. They set goals, and they’re able to come in here and reach them,” Marriott said. “Every athlete’s potential is different, and if I can provide them a place to come in and reach that potential — whatever that might be — I’m happy.”
The facility hosts numerous club teams, along with some practices and tryouts for local school-affiliated teams. In the winter alone, 32 different teams used the facility.
CODY THORN/Citizen photo
Competitive Edge opened up at 10850 Highway 92, east of Platte City. The indoor facility provides 15,000 square feet to host a number of games and training activities.
While the facility is useful for local teams, it is also available for public use.
“If you want to come in and rent cages, you’re free to do that,” Marriott said.
Marriott intends for Competitive Edge to become a staple of the community, eventually reaching school districts that are farther away, such as St. Joseph, North Platte and Kearney.
Competitive Edge has 25 acres of land on which to expand. The parking lot had to be expanded almost immediately in order to accommodate for the heavier-than-expected attendance. On the rest of the land, Marriott will take his time expanding, ensuring that every facet of his facility is top-notch before focusing on expansion.
After coaching local youth sports for a number years, Marriott has enjoyed the opportunity to help his athletes.
“The kids that I coach, I want to build it for them,” Marriott said, who was drafted by the Patriots in the 5th round in 2000 and had stints with Jacksonville, St. Louis and Carolina. “It’s fun to be able to sit here and watch the kids improve.”
Competitive Edge is located at 10850 Highway 92, just east of Platte City. In addition, reservations for cages, one-on-one training, or speed and agility sessions can be made online at ceathlete.com.