A recent study in the Journal of Strength and Conditioning published a survey on the opinions of university strength and conditioning coaches and the preparedness of freshman athletes entering collegiate athletics. Below is an excerpt:
HOW PREPARED ARE COLLEGE FRESHMEN ATHLETES FOR THE RIGORS OF
COLLEGE STRENGTH AND CONDITIONING? A SURVEY OF COLLEGE
STRENGTH AND CONDITIONING COACHESÂ
Wade, Susan; Pope, Zachary C.; Simonson, Shawn R.
There are a variety of areas identified where freshman are falling short.
…SCC (strength & conditioning coaches) stated incoming college freshman athletes lack lower extremity strength, overall flexibility, and core strength as well as proper Olympic lifting technique. SCC also stated that athletes lacked the mental toughness to endure collegiate sport training in addition to claiming incoming athletes lacked knowledge of correct nutrition and recovery principles. These results suggest a lack of collegiate training/sport preparedness of high school athletes. High school strength and conditioning specialist’s goal is to produce better athletes and doing so requires the strength and conditioning coach/trainer to have knowledge of how to train high school athletes….
Gamespeed’s College Ready Program was devised at the onset of its existence twenty years ago. Taking from my own experiences as an athlete and college coach I saw the importance of  being prepared for “ALL” transitions including: middle  to high school, high school to college and college to professional athletics. Athletes must realize there is a jump at each level both physically and mentally. No matter how talented, the majority are not ready.
Nice to know that Gamespeed athletes are not in that majority.  I am always proud to post on our site and sing the praises of  the GS trained athlete in college. The majority of GS trained athletes play as college freshmen. Why? because these athletes prepare for the next level before they even arrive at their new campus. GS athletes illustrate the poise, knowledge, conditioning and work ethic that makes coaches take notice. The success of these athletes illustrates the importance of  properly “managed training” and its effect on how far you can go. Search “college ready” on this site to see a few examples.
Our off-season “College Ready Program” is specifically designed to keep you from being a statistic. Being good enough to get recruited is short-sighted, you want to be good enough to play. Â Waiting until your on campus may be too late.
Components of the Program include:
- College intensity level conditioning.
- Learning the Olympic lifts.
- Recovery & regeneration techniques.
- Training management & Planning.
- Incoming test preparation.( Lifts, Shuttles, Time trials etc).
- Mental toughness.
- Body awareness and monitoring. (Over & Under training).
The College Ready program is not just for incoming freshmen. Our collegiate athletes come back during summer and winter breaks also to stay on top of their game.
Call or email today to find out how we can put together your athletes customized “College Ready Program”. Take an honest look, are they really ready?
Contact: aaron@gamespeed.net or 925 513-8676
