Participating in two high-school or college sports is possible, but it requires planning and a lot of hard work, according to athlete David Bennett Galloway III.
CHAPIN, SOUTH CAROLINA — Competing on the first string in any
high school or college sport can be a grueling experience for a student-athlete like David Bennett Galloway III.
Focusing on studies to excel in academics and staying on top of training to
perform on the field is a lot when involved in one sport.
But what about two?
Participation in two or more sports at a high level could be
overwhelming without proper consideration for training needs and time
management. By approaching training strategically all year, it will be easier
to stay on top of time management during the competitive season.
Tips for multi-sport management
Choose sports that work
together
While personal passions may be for two specific sports,
Galloway says it's important to be realistic. It is impossible to be in two
places at once, and if you are a solid member of the team, it's unfair to skip
games in one sport for another. This means avoiding sports with seasons that
overlap. Based on where an athlete attends school and the season structure,
football and basketball at the same time may be out. However, a combination like David Bennett Galloway III chose
— football and track — can work.
Related to training, it's essential to pick an activity that
doesn't require drastic body shifts from one sport to another. For example,
switching from a linebacker role on the football team to running for track
would be a bit extreme. Moving from a running back position to track running,
as Galloway did, is a more natural transition, requiring the same basic
physique and muscular training. A linebacker interested in track and field
sports may find that shot put or a similar event is a good option.
Stay in shape year-round
When switching from sport to sport, there is often little time
to amp up a training program in preparation for the season. One ends. There may
be a short break, and then training starts all over. In the off-season, it's
not necessary to strain, but it's good to stay focused on general conditioning
with a standard weight-lifting routine and cardio. As the season approaches,
use team resources to develop a program suited to a position on the field.
Sharpen skills
Depending on the sport, physical training may only be half the
battle. For example, basketball requires a lot of skill development. In the
ramp-up to a season, it would be necessary to start working on dribbling
patterns and defensive techniques several weeks before a season starts. The
same holds true for other sports. Baseball would need hitting and catching
practice; track events would require general technique refinements. David Bennett Galloway III advises
it is necessary to sharpen the physical and mental skills while training the
body with more traditional techniques like strength training and conditioning
work.
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