Competing with Teammates

Sports are something many people love because it allows them to be extremely competitive and show off their skills. Sometimes this competitiveness can get very heated though. If you are on a team where you are not the best at your position it can get very frustrating. You go to practice every day and can't seem to do anything better than them. The coach seems to favor that person more than you. Sometimes you give all your effort and try so hard, but it doesn't work out. There are many ways you can be competitive with your teammates in a way that will affect the team in a positive way.

While you are on a team to become a better athlete, the people surrounding you should also be your friends. If you don't get along it is just going to start drama and nothing good comes of that. With that being said, it is also possible for you to be friendly towards someone you do not particularly like. Being friends with your teammates on and off the court is something truly great though. This builds chemistry on the team and can truly, I believe, affect the way you play. A little friendly competition never hurt anybody.

Sometimes you are not always going to be in the position you would like to be in. You aren't always going to be the best at what you do and that is super frustrating. If you give it your all and are a dedicated athlete who will do anything it takes, there is nothing more you can do about it unfortunately. There is always going to be someone better than you, but don't let this get inside your head. You can be the best to your ability and that is all that matters. It is much more fulfilling to get yourself to the highest level of play possible for yourself as an individual than to simply get yourself on a great team. You could play on a team that is extremely good, but still not reach your highest potential. It is all about what you can do and the things you will do to reach your goals.

While it is not always a favorable situation to be in, it is good to be surrounded by people better than you. This will push you to reach higher and truly see what you are capable of. Athletes can do some pretty great things with a little competitiveness and encouragement. 

ACT and Athletes

Most athletes that want to play sports in college seem to always focus on their skill level and if they are good enough to make a team. They worry about the facilities, coaches, teammates, ranking, and their playing time. Athletes seem to be blind to the fact, sometimes, that their grades actually matter too. In order to get into college there are some requirements you must meet, no matter how good you are at sports. One of the things that might be necessary is a high ACT score. 

There are many opportunities students have to take the ACT throughout junior and senior year. There is a test date almost every month, or every other month. A student can take the ACT up to as many times as they want, but of course it is going to cost you a lot of money. This is why it is better to just do well on your first or second time taking it.

As it is important to do well on this test, because it will ultimately affect the college you choose, there are many ways you can prepare yourself. The people in charge of the ACT provide students with the option to order a book, or take online practice tests. This will help students see what they need help on and give them an idea of what the test will be like.

Preparing for the ACT can be extremely stressful, and athletes might not always have the time to prepare. This is why many students, like myself, study lightly for the first test to see what they need to work on. If my scores for the math section are low, while the science scores are high, I then know that I need to work on math a lot more than science. This will take some stress of you for the first time, but later on you will really need to dig in if you don't do well the first time. 

Always remember that it is not always about if you are physically fit for the sports team at your college, but your grades need to be in tact as well. Some people even have to commit to other places simply because their grades weren't good enough for the college's criteria. School is very important and most athletes in college aren’t going to become professionals. You are going to college to get an education and it just so happens you get to play the sport you love as well. Unless you are seriously focused on going pro, focus on the academics.

The Most Important Meal of the Day

As probably all of you know, the most important meal of the day is breakfast. Over the years I have struggled to etch this in my mind. I am not a morning person and I usually wake up around lunchtime on the weekends. If you are like me, you usually don't eat breakfast. So why am I telling you that eating breakfast is important? There are many reasons you and I should comply with peer pressure and start eating breakfast.

By eating breakfast you are not only providing your body with some early morning nutrition, but waking yourself up. On Consumer Reports they state that by eating breakfast it will take longer for you to get hungry. Eric Rimm says, as stated on consumerreports.org, you might not be hungry for up to 5 hours after you eat, because your blood sugar increases and it takes a while for your body to absorb it. 

While simply eating breakfast is very important, it is also critical that you choose something healthy to start your day off. I always seem to feel gross after eating an unhealthy breakfast. We all have those teachers that tell you to get a good night's sleep and healthy breakfast when there is an upcoming test, and they aren't joking. I know I always seem to feel more prepared when I actually do choose to eat breakfast. Eating breakfast is not a habit of mine, but with recent events I have decided it will benefit me a lot.

Another reason choosing to eat breakfast every day is great is because it forces you to wake up just a little earlier. This will get you ready for the day and make you feel more energized, or at least this is how I feel. Breakfast not only provides you with food to physically help you, but mentally prepare you for the events of the day.

I know waking up early is not always something teenagers, or anyone for that matter, looks forward to. While some athletes are morning people and others, like me, sleep in until the last possible moment, breakfast should be incorporated into your day. Yes, it seems like a lot of work and might take you a while to get used to, but I think it will truly help you in the long-run. Even if you just eat a bowl of fruit or some oatmeal, you are taking a step in the right direction. 

Packing for Long Trips

Being an athlete that participates in club also means traveling to tournaments out of state. When traveling far distances there are many things you are going to want to bring with you to keep you entertained and provide you with everything necessary during the trip. While some people like to bring minimal items, others seem to be planning for a weeklong trip. Here are some things you should keep in mind when packing.

First off you will obviously need to pack all your clothes and equipment necessary for the sport you're playing. This includes jerseys, headbands, shoes, socks, sports bras if you're a girl, warm-ups, and whatever items are specific to your sport. For example if you play volleyball you will need knee pads, volleyball shoes, spandex, all of your jerseys, sometimes a headband, warm-ups, pumped up volleyball, and your team's custom bag if you have one. Other sports like softball might need bats, gloves, etc.

The next thing to keep in mind when packing is food. Always make sure you are going to have enough to eat, or plan ahead to buy food somewhere. You are going to need throughout the day and concessions can get pretty expensive. It is also usually better to bring your own food, because concessions are not always healthy even if it is at a tournament.

Another thing you might want to think about is the clothes you will be wearing when you're not playing. This can include swimsuits for your free time at the end of the day, or formalwear for team dinners. Almost every club volleyball tournament I have been to my team has had one team dinner over the weekend where all the girls dress up. You might also want to bring sweats or something comfortable to lounge around in after your tiring day.

The last thing to consider when packing that is not always necessary is something that will provide you with entertainment on your long car ride. Some people like to bring books, while others bring movies or play on their phone. I like to use my time wisely and take a much needed nap. I also bring homework with to get my studies out of the way and have a stress free weekend.

There are lots of items athletes could bring when traveling long distances. It is okay to go a little overboard, but make sure you have all the necessities first. Remember you are traveling for sports, not for a small vacation, though it may seem like that's what it is. Traveling has to be one of my favorite parts of playing club sports, because it brings memories that can never be forgotten.

College Visits

If you are an athlete that is planning on playing in college you are probably going to go on some college visits. If you are not planning on visiting colleges, athlete or non-athlete, you should seriously consider it. College visits are extremely important when choosing the best fit for you. Pictures can be deceiving and you don't get to experience the everyday life of college students. Meeting your future coach or teachers might ease your mind at the thought of going off to college. College can be scary for some people and visits are a way to make you feel more comfortable.

In order to go on a college visit you must sign up online or be personally invited by a coach or staff member. It is very easy to get a general tour of the campus, but if you're looking for something that provides you with a more in depth explanation about sports complexes or practice schedules you will want to meet with a coach. They are not always going to want to visit with you though, depending on their schedule and your skill level.

When it comes to choosing a college you don't want to decide mainly because you fit in with their sports team, but their academics as well. You should choose a school that has a major you are looking to pursue as well and accommodates your housing needs. Every school is different and might not have the same opportunities as others. It is extremely important to make sure you like all, or most, aspects of the school’s education and athletic program. After all how many people end up playing professionally after college?

I would say the best time to visit colleges is during your junior year in high school, because that is when you truly start thinking about what you want to do when you get older and people start committing midway through the year. Most college athletes I know were recruited during their junior year. It is always good to get a head start and see what you might be getting yourself into. With this being said, it is not too late to look into colleges during your senior year either. I am sure there are plenty of colleges that would love to have you, but sports is a different story. If the team already has a set roster, you are out of luck. 

Holiday Training Tips

Staying in shape can already be tough to do with a normal schedule, but how do you stay fit over the holidays? This can be extremely difficult for athletes to do, because it is essentially a break from sports. Most teams will have a few practices over break, but most of the time is spent however you choose to use it. When deciding between working out and staying home to watch some television, most of us are going to like the idea of sitting at home better. There are many ways to motivate yourself to work out during the couple of weeks you're off.

If you are a high school athlete you might struggle to motivate yourself throughout break, but as a college athlete this is not acceptable. College athletes are in charge of making themselves follow a strict workout schedule that must be done or they will suffer the consequences. I have learned from my cousin, who attends a Division 1 school that working out is extremely important and that they have to weigh in to prove they have stayed in shape. It is a lot easier to find yourself skipping workouts when you are in college, because the breaks last up to a month. Your fitness can decrease a ton in this amount of time.

One way you can find some motivation to workout is by going to sleep early so that you are able to wake up early. Instead of going to bed at 12:00am you can go to bed at 10:00pm. This will allow you to wake up around 8:00 with no problem and let you start your day off early. Waking up early always seems to help me get tasks done throughout the day. If I wake up at 11:00am I usually don't start doing anything until around 12:30pm, because I need to eat lunch. Starting your day off early could help you get the motivation you need.

Another way you could gain some motivation is by getting a membership to a gym. This will put pressure on you to actually go since you are paying for it. No one wants their money to go to waste. Seeing other people around you putting in hard work might push you to work a little harder as well. It is always nice to get a little encouragement every now and then as well.

Finding motivation can be very difficult and it's a whole lot easier to just sit on the couch and play on your phone. Think about all the time you spend on your phone compared to how much time you spend working out during break. If more time is spent on your phone and you are an athlete you are doing something wrong. Think of the consequences not working out will have on your body. Lifting weights is extremely beneficial in sports and is something I believe all athletes should do.