Just to review, collegiate track and field is a team sport. How the athlete fits into each team dynamic is critical in the recruiting process. Being a state qualifier or even a state champion means nothing if the athlete can’t contribute to collegiate team scoring immediately.Therefore, choosing a program that is a good fit for the athlete’s success is more important than choosing a program that is fitting for the ego. Success is always better than failure in the long-run.
Now that we talked on how to enhance your “stock” as a track athlete, we can now talk about how funding for your stock is awarded in scholarships.
Collegiate track and field is certainly not an individual sport. Team titles are the primary objective for any program, whether that title is gained at the national level or just the conference level, athletes are expected to score for the team. Knowing the program that is the right fit will help an athlete not only get recruited, but also maintain a successful collegiate career.
Fall training is well underway for many sports, so it would be a good time to speak on the importance of building a base during your preseason training. Like building a house, the base level or foundation must be appropriate and reflect the house that it will eventually endure.
It’s very simple in thought, if you cannot perform the basics, an attempt at the advanced stages is practically unfathomable. However, it seems to be common thought that the more difficult a given task appears, the better it should be in performance training. Or, the basics are reviewed, but adequate time is not spent so that it becomes properly solidified. It is not enough to perform a movement of high-quality with intention. Coaches or trainers want to add difficulty so that they seem innovative or more advanced in their coaching skills, when in fact, the best coaches are those that can teach the basics appropriately.
NFL rookie Christian McCaffrey is the recent model for what all Colorado prep athletes are looking to become. Raised in the Colorado altitude, McCaffrey went on to become a highly scouted NFL prospect, landing a position in Carolina with Cam Newton. For those who remembers McCaffrey’s high school career, he was not just a football star, but also known to run down sprinters on the track field and fly pass defenders on the basketball court. He was a threat and asset in any sport he played. So, it makes sense for a born athlete like himself to go on a say that it is important for young athletes to “venture off and do multiple (sports).” But how true is that statement in terms of breeding better talent and decreasing injury?
Every sport is different. What is beneficial in one sport, may not be necessary in another. The ability to properly throw a baseball does not necessarily translate to the throw of a javelin. Although the qualities of the movement may be similar, the complete action requires a little more work when moving in between sports. However, if there is any type of work that can translate across all sports, it is the training of speed.
