March 26, 2008
Student-athletes: Preparing for Their Second Year
Cheyenne Luzynski
Assistant Athletic Director and Head Volleyball Coach
Congratulations on your freshmen completing their first year of NCAA intercollegiate athletics. Whether your student was a major contributor or in the stages of development, there are always improvements to be made and goals to be achieved. Before your student leaves campus, be sure she or he sits down with their coach to discuss expectations and goals for the next season. This helps direct their efforts in preparation and provide a clear vision of what needs to improve.
Parents can be a positive source of encouragement to their son or daughter throughout the summer. That extra motivation and push may encourage your student-athlete to do their part for the team and themselves. In that vein, I have provided some advice to student-athletes who are going into their sophomore year.
The summer months are a great time for student athletes to start or even continue their training for the 2008-09 athletics seasons. Here are a few tips to for them to follow:
- Find a routine and stick to it. Running or working out in the morning guarantees that it gets done.
- Stay active throughout the day and don’t let your job drain you. Lift or jog on your lunch break.
- Save the TV watching for after dark. Use the sunny days for activity.
- Know the weight room schedule at your local high school; no membership fees!
- Get a workout partner. Encourage your family, friends or significant other to join you.
- Play in a summer sports league i.e. softball, basketball, soccer, tennis, volleyball, golf etc. Take advantage of the opportunity to play and have fun while working hard.
- Continue to bond and meet up with your teammates. Hold each other accountable.
- Eat healthy, drink lots of water, sleep well and take care of your body.
These are just a few ideas that will help student athletes stay active and in shape. Their teams depend on them, and with one year of experience under their belts the potential is theirs. I would encourage them to use their time well, set goals and be competitive with others and themselves.
Best wishes for a healthy and active summer.
