I NEED TO WORK.
There is a desire among many high school athletes to work that wasn't there 20 years ago. Kids want stuff, parents don't want (nor should they be obligated) to pay for those things. Teens may have to pay for car payments, car insurance, and cell phone monthly use. In addition, Post Secondary Education is expensive and many kids will work to help pay for that. We have some flexibility and your bosses may be willing to work with your track and field schedule, If you don't ask, the answer is always no. We're here to say that it doesn't have to be an all or nothing thing.
I NEED TO BE IN THE WEIGHT ROOM FOR MY FALL SPORT.
- We will be in the weight room regularly and will provide multiple opportunities for you to increase your strength. There is also the off season of summer for you to prep for your fall sport.
- Many college coaches would agree that multi-sport athletes are less prone to injury than single sport athletes, and when recruiting, they look for those athletes that play more than one sport.
- We will be flexible with the lifts you want to do, and can include those things you would be doing in the weight room on your own to prep for your fall sport.
- Time and time again, athletes don't do a spring sport in order to spend time in the weight room. Then spring happens, it's nice outside, and other influences distract away from the original intent to work in the weight room. Track and Field would help to provide structure and opportunity.
TRACK AND FIELD IS HARD.
Sorry, no counter point here. It is hard. It's challenging and we acknowledge that. It's not a place for you if you're not willing to move outside your comfort zone.
WE'RE NOT GOING TO BE ANY GOOD THIS YEAR.
This is perhaps the most troublesome reason to NOT choose track and field this spring. Instead of giving up before we even begin, think of it as an opportunity. Maybe the one to achieve at a high level, like those who graduated last year, is YOU! If you had told us last year, after losing two 40+ foot triple jumpers, that would would be able to get to that same level the next year, we would have thought you were a bit crazy. Then, at State True Team, along comes an 8th grader and a 10th grader to jump 40+ feet in the Triple Jump! How bad do you want it?! It could be YOU! What an opportunity to continue the legacy that was started by those who believed. Six of the last seven years we've been competing at True Team State. The team has obviously not stayed the same each year, and yet somehow, we've managed to make it back there. Twenty out of twenty-one years coaching, Pine Island Boys have had representation at the MSHSL State meet. That doesn't happen by accident. It happens because kids catch the dream and the vision and do the work to make it happen.
I DON'T HAVE TIME.
Actually, segmenting your time helps you to be more focused and productive, not less. Having times when you know you won't be able to do homework or study forces you to use your other times more wisely.
I WANT TO PLAY SPRING BALL (AAU, JO, ETC.)
Your body may need a break from your other sports. But if not, we'd be happy to work with your schedules. We have proven that to others in the past. However, we still firmly believe that your IN SEASON sport should take precedence, so that if there's a track meet and a tourney on the same day, the track commitment comes first. If you feel differently, we'll gladly discuss that with you and your parents. There are consequences to not participating in your season competitions, including not earning a letter, or giving up your relay spot to some who is committed to Track and field each day.
I DON'T LOVE IT.
That's okay. You don't have to love it. We don't love it every day either. But, it's kind of like any commitment you make in every day life. Everything that has value in doing, isn't loved all the time. It's what we can do when we don't love something, that can provide the most gain or pride later.
As your coaches, we love track and field, but more than that, we love hanging out with athletes and building relationships that are significant and will last beyond your time on the team. We love trying to be good role models and help you learn life lessons along the way. It is our passion and our calling to help you move out of your comfort zones, push you beyond what you thought you could do, and help you to believe in yourself as much as we believe in you.
Mostly, we don't want you to regret NOT going out. We've never heard someone say, "I wish I'd never gone out for track and field." But, time and again, we've heard from kids who are now adults say, "I wish I would have stuck it out and gone out for track and field. If I knew then what I know now, I would have sucked it up and done it." You can't go back. Give us a try, we are confident you won't regret it.
