Transitioning from High School to College Athletics
So you think you’ve got what it takes to play D1 athletics. You’ve got the size, the speed and the talent. But is that enough? Take it from this former D1 Strength and Conditioning Coach: College coaches are scrutinizing their prospective and existing athletes like never before because of the sheer number of prospects and the information available through the media and scouting combines. They’re looking at performance, sure, but there are several other factors that weigh in as well. Here are some of the obvious:
- Speed
- Strength
- Size
- Performance
Let’s look at these factors in more detail…
Speed: The game is faster, the athletes are faster, and the speed at which you must react is much faster at the D1 level… so you must be faster, physically and mentally on Day 1!
Strength: Yes, you’ve got to be stronger to “move” guys around. Honestly… strength is the easiest part of the whole equation. You’ll just need to show up and you’ll get stronger. Key, though, is developing the proper technique that ensures you get there in the fastest and most efficient manner possible.
Size: You’ve got to have size to “cushion the blow” and maintain leverage over your opponent, but, at the same time, you’ve got to be able to move with that size!
There’s More…
One of the great things about D1 athletics is there’s an entire network of professionals whose main goals include helping you succeed. I got in touch with a few of those coaches and asked them what they look for in a recruit. Here’s what they had to say:
Mark Paulsen (Strength Coach, Men’s Basketball University of New Mexico)
The number one trait we look for is: Intensity – Can you bring it? You have to… in order to grow physically, athletically and mentally. It always helps having an athlete that comes from a quality program where intensity is part of the training philosophy.
Vernon Banks (Strength and Conditioning Coach, Texas A&M)
We look for high school athletes who have the potential to develop their talent over the course of the four years they’ll be with our program. This includes the ability to adapt themselves to our program’s philosophy as well as develop physically in the weight room and on the field and, overall, to contribute to the program’s success.
Mike Barela (Former Tight Ends Coach, Texas State University)
Pay attention to the weak points, i.e. position needs, in any program you’re interested in joining. Depending upon those needs coaches may look for speed, explosiveness off the ball, hip flexibility, the ability to maintain a base and even hand speed. These traits tell coaches you can attack drills aggressively.
Steve Michael (Sports Performance Coach, Iowa)
What we look for is the innate desire to be successful. You can’t coach it. It has to come from within an athlete and be a burning desire. Those athletes, the ones who make it to the next level, come with it. We’re looking for the guys who study the playbook a little longer, who want to run the play one more time and the ones who are the first in the weight room and the last to leave.
From my perspective, college programs are looking for:
Mental toughness: Will you crack under pressure… can you handle being a freshman?
Linkage: Can you explode/accelerate at multiple angles effectively while maintaining posture?
Work ethic & coachability: Be the first one there and the last one to leave. Can your coaches count on you to accept their criticisms and draw from their experiences?
Agility: Are you quick on your feet? What’s your reaction time from the snap of the ball to the point when your feet move and oh, by the way, are they moving in the right direction?
Getting There
I made the decision to leave college athletics eleven years ago and, since that time, have worked to bring a D1 collegiate mentality and training atmosphere to athletes of all ages and abilities. At the EDGE, we train our athletes with an emphasis on technique and function. There is no “one program fits all.” Our training methods include an evaluation of your strengths and weaknesses as well as the development of a customized program that gets you the results you need in the shortest amount of time possible.
You may not be at the D1 level yet, but you still have a team of professional coaches available and dedicated to helping you succeed. At the EDGE, we know what the coaches are looking for and, together, we can help make sure you get noticed!
Coach B.