Team Chemistry

With the track and field sport, team chemistry can be a quite difficult task because of its individuality among competing. The average track and field team consist of a huge amount of individuals. Within the program I competed in the team was composed of almost one hundred members. Of those one hundred members they were divided up among the different events (throwers, jumpers, and runners). Even within those specific events they were divided up even more. In track and field you can throw, jump, run, or even a combination of the three but within that specific category you have a specific area which you focus on. Within the throwing events you can throw discus, javelin, shot, or hammer. In the jumping events you can compete in the high jump, long jump, or triple jump. And with the running events you can either be a short sprinter, long sprinter, or a distant runner. With all these taking into consideration you have to wonder how do teammates and coaches find a way to connect with one another as a whole if groups are so divided? Well the answer is not so simple. Seeing that many of the individuals on the team only deal with those who are specifically in their same events the coaches and athletes have to find things to do as a team collectively. Every now and again the coaches would make sure they took the time out to do team building exercises where all the athletes of different events would interact with others outside of their specific events to learn more about each other. We also would attend team dinners and we would sometimes be paired up with different team members when traveling and staying overnight in hotels. For overall successful team chemistry every one needs to work cross-functionally together. The team cannot succeed if everyone a part of the mission does not have the same common goal.

Track Traveling Team

Being a part of an athletic team requires great time management and dedication to your sport as well as to your studies. As a former member of the track and field program there was a lot of traveling which meant that many classes may have been missed due to competition. Most of the time, professors were very understanding but every once in a while you would have those few individual instructors who showed no leniency towards athletes after a certain amount of class periods were missed, whether they were excused by competition involvement or not. Being an athlete you have to learn to adapt and stay ahead when it comes to managing your studies. The instructor needs to be informed of competition days just in case you need to do an assignment earlier or if there needs to be a date scheduled for make-up exams etc.  Missing classes to compete is not a good enough excuse for one to not be successful in the classroom. Athletes are expected to exude excellency not only in their physical abilities but also within the world of academics.

I can remember the long bus rides, the sleepless nights in hotel rooms, and the traditional continental breakfast that was served at just about every hotel we committed to. After a while though, traveling every weekend can get a little old, and sooner than later it starts to become and undesirable reoccurring event. My advice to all who have yet to know the feeling is to be prepared and know before anything should come studying. Any spare time you have, whether it be on the bus ride to the destination or downtime in the hotel, make sure you find the time to get some work done. Utilizing your time appropriately will be very wise and beneficial to your success in the classroom.

Athlete/Coach Relationship

School athletics can be very helpful beyond just keeping you fit and offering you something to put on resumes and applications. Having a good relationship with your coach helps you get the most out of your sport. Many of the individuals that are in coaching positions have completed courses in athletics themselves and can offer advice through their own experiences. Being that they have already been down the path that you are now on, or will soon enter onto, they will be able to guide you along the way. Coaches have insight on techniques, formations, and solutions that will work and those that don't seeing that they have dealt with lots of players and seen situations already played out before.

The relationship with your coach can be different from relationships you have with your parents or teachers. A coach is usually closer to your level, working equally with you toward a common goal. You might feel more comfortable opening up to a coach about different sorts of things, from problems at home to difficulties in school. Ideally, a relationship between a coach and an athlete is based on mutual respect and trust. Communication is crucial so both athlete and coach knows what the other wants to achieve.

As an athlete I made sure I chose a school that had a coach who I felt comfortable talking with and being around seeing that I would be spending a tremendous amount of time with on a daily basis. I made sure we shared some of the same values. I spent four years at this college and my coach became like a father away from home to me (elvis forde). So when choosing an institution make sure you have a coach who you will be willing to build a great relationship with because in the long run it benefits you, the coach, as well as the team.

Giving Back to Track

Growing up as a young kid to an adult, I have learned along the way, that it is very important to give back to the community and those who have helped you get to where you are today. I believe as athletes, we are looked up to by many individuals who aspire to be something of greatness whether in athletics, or life in general, and by being a role model we are obliged to carry ourselves in a way that exudes excellence and greatness.

I come from a low-income neighborhood where the statistics of a kid making it through high school and on to college is very low. But I beat the odds. I was blessed and fortunate enough to have individuals and mentors who have been down my path and they were successful in inspiring me to want more out of my life and because of that I feel that it is my duty and responsibility to do the same thing for someone who has yet to begin the journey.

So how can you give back while being an athlete or even after your athletic career is over? There are a variety of ways to give back while in high school or in college. Here are a few; JustRead, Recess Buddies, Panel Discussions (Questions and Answers Session), Volunteer Camps etc. Once you are done competing you could always give donations as an alumni or just by simply supporting the sport community by attending games and meets.

Giving back is a vital part of a full and rewarding life. By donating money or your time is beneficial to all parties involved. By giving you help others and yourself by making the world a better and more friendly place.

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The Mindset of a Sprinter

Does all runners run with the same strategy and mindset?
And the answer is NO. Runners have one common goal which is to win but when it comes to competing within different categories, such as sprints, middle distance, and long distance, the strategy of the race becomes a little different respectively. From experience with being a versatile sprinter I can honestly say that every race for me is ran different as far as my approach to competing. When it comes to the mindsets of all runners no matter the event, every athlete has a certain strategy they operate by to finish the race. For example, I competed in the 60 meter dash, the 100 meter dash, the 200 meter dash, and the 400 meter dash and all of them I focused on different techniques that were more important and essential for me to succeed in that specific event. In the 60 meter dash the main focus is on your block start. It was essential to push, drive, and be explosive out of the blocks because the race is over so fast. The 400 meter dash, on the other hand, takes on a whole different approach. Running is almost all mental and a small portion physical.

Link to "Truth About Quickness"
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Interesting Facts

In every aspect of life that has its own category it holds its own interesting facts. In the world of track and competing there are many interesting facts so I will post a few of them.

1) The 100 meter dash used to be called the 100 yard dash. All the races used to be measured in yards in the United States. So the same applies for the 200 meter dash it was 220 yard dash and the 400 meter dash was the 440 yard dash and so on.

2) The 400 meters used to be a middle distance but runner got so good and ran it so fast that it is now considered a sprint and the same for the 800 meter dash.

3) It takes thirteen seconds for oxygen to get to your muscles so technically a sprinter can hold their breath for the whole duration of the 60 meter dash, and the 100 meter dashes.

4) Twenty years ago runners footwear did not use to be spike equipped.

5) Listening to many marathoners speak about their experiences most of them state they have urinated while running.

I have been involved in the world of track for about fifteen plus years and there is so much that can be learned, interesting as well as informational. The things I stated above are only a few stats talked about. I feel like when individuals have more than average knowledge about certain fields they should want to share it with others.

History of Track & Field

Track and field is one of the few sports that is categorized as an individual sport with athletes challenging each other to decide a single champion. The sport consist of running, jumping, and throwing. Within the running events there are sprints, middle and long-distance events, relays, and hurdling. Regular jumping events include long jump, triple jump, high jump and pole vault and for throwing events there is the shot put, javelin, discus and hammer. Athletes who compete in a combination all of these events are called heptathlon and decathlon (six and ten events respectively).

Track and field events are among the oldest of all sporting competitions because the events are natural and universal forms of human physical expression. Athletic contests were often held in conjunction with religious festivals, as with the Olympic Games of ancient Greece. The first recorded Olympic Games occured in 776 BC in Olympia, Greece. For centuries after it was a sport for men only. The sport didn't begin to flourish until the 1860s and back then athletes received no financial compensation. In 1913 the International Amateur Athletic Federation (IAAF) was formed by representatives from sixteen countries. Its responsibility was establishing standard rules for the sport, approving world records, and ensuring that the amateur code was being followed; which it continues to carry out to this very day.

The participation of women in track and field is a relatively recent development. In 1921 representatives from six countries formed an athletic federation for women, which merged with the IAAF in 1936. Participation by women has grown rapidly in many countries in recent years, particularly in the United States, where many schools have added women's track and field to their athletic programs.

I chose to write about the history of track and field because I honestly believe that "one can''t know where they are going unless they know where they have been."

Finding Your Perfect Fit

                                          
Finding the  right college for you, academically and athletically, takes a lot of time and the right investigation. As a young adult this will be one of the biggest decisions of your lifetime and it is critical that the institution you choose fits all of your specific criteria as it will be the place you will be investing in for the next four to five years of your life. Does it meet your standards and expectations? Do you meet theirs? Is this school close enough to home or is it not as far away as you want it to be? Can you afford to be a full-time student there? All of these questions (plus more) are important and essential to know while you are going along your recruitment process. As a prospect student-athlete you should make sure you allow yourself to be able to visit as many schools as possible. Have a variety of schools because you never know exactly what you are looking for unless you can eliminate the things, or school attributes, that you don't like.

As this may be a bit overwhelming for those who are not quite ready to leave home, or branch off onto another leaf, remember to stay calm and know that there are plenty of others who have been where you are. So whatever you do, do not forget to ask questions. The more you know the more you become aware of things that may help you decide where it is that you would like to go. I can remember my whole process. It was scary and exciting at the same time. I ultimately chose a school that was the perfect fit for me. When I went to visit the school of my choice, it was my last college visit. I remember walking on the school's quad, and minutes into the walk I knew this is where I would build memories for the next four years. So it is essential that you get the whole experience of the school before you commit. Word of mouth isn't good enough because everyone likes different things.

Adrenaline on Competition Day

As I am called to my blocks I can hear my heart pounding. I feel anxious, nervous, and ready all at the same time. I try my hardest to control my breathing. I tell myself over and over and over again...."This is what you do. When the gun goes off.....push, pump, drive, accelerate. Nothing or No one else matters at this point. FOCUS, FIGHT, FINISH....WIN!" As an athlete adrenaline is a source we must use when we compete because if not our competitors has somewhat of an advantage.

Any individual can and probably have experienced the feeling of an adrenaline rush. It is a naturally produced hormone that is produced by the body. As an athlete I experience adrenaline rush all the time but I must say I believe you can't be a true competitor without knowing the feeling. Adrenaline effectively counters high-stress and physical situations. It enables us to process information, while at the same time, utilizing actions at a rapid rate. Every time I have competed on or off the track adrenaline increased my physical performance. As an athlete, you pray to get adrenaline on big competition days. It always seems to push your body's physical parameters when you yourself alone can't seem to do it. And it allows you to perform incredible feats of strength, facilitates numerous emergencies and calls to action. Whether you are an athlete or not adrenaline is a great thing to have and always comes in handy when needed in certain situations.


Sometimes adrenaline can work against you. Watch this video of the world's fastest man False Start