“With 949 men’s and 1,017 women’s outdoor programs financed by four-year and two-year universities, the college track is one of the most popular sports in the world. Indoor track and field and cross country are common at several of these schools, but the former is used less frequently than the latter. The college track and outdoor field season runs from March to June, with nearly weekly meets”. As an athlete at the juncture of your track career where you are being noticed by college scouts, you do not want to pick one with a bad reputation of not caring about their athlete’s health or academics or their general wellbeing as long as they can practice and win. Or are you scared of signing a bad deal that would affect you later in life? You just have to know the right questions. So let’s start with What Should I Ask College Track Coaches.
Transitioning into the college track from the high track can be both exciting and overwhelming. A lot of young athletes often fail to ask the right questions when picking a college track team to continue their career. College track coaches are expected to answer every question you ask because, let’s face it, you are the one who would suffer if you made a bad deal or do not like the sporting facilities they have or their health benefits. Here is a list of major questions you should ask college track coaches during the scouting process to ask the right questions that would eliminate all doubt, although questions you can ask are not renegaded to the following questions alone.
Questions You Should Ask College Track Coaches
Typically, you would not want it to seem like you are only interested in one aspect of the team, like how much is the scholarship money or how many times they have won. These questions can be easily seen online. You need to ask about everything. Therefore,the questions you can ask have been divided into four parts. The Team, Academics, Coaching Style, and the Scholarship so that you ask the right questions and not ask amiss. These questions should reflect on you, showing that you are serious about your career.
The Team
You are encouraged to ask questions you have always been curious about that aren’t common knowledge or have little knowledge about. Be careful not to ask questions that might annoy or irritate the coach, questions like, why didn’t you win your last track race when you were up against a weaker team? Questions like:
- What are your core team values?
- What skills do you expect your athletes to have? Do you think I fit into them?
- What are the team’s strengths and weaknesses?
- What does the schedule normally look like for an athlete during the season and off-season?
- Are all athletes who are on the team required to live in the same dormitory?
- Do freshmen compete in important races?
Coaching Style
Asking the coach questions about himself and his coaching styles would help give you an insight into how well he does his job and how much he cares about his team. You would want to have a coach whose coaching style is ok with you.
- What would you say your coaching style is?
- Do your athletes work well with your coaching styles?
- Do you think my skills go well with your coaching style?
- When does your contract expire?
- What sets your coaching apart from the rest of the division?
- How well do you get to know your athletes? Do you try to know them on a more personal level, or do you keep it professional?
Academics
To guarantee that you can achieve your maximum best while managing academics and athletics, you will want to have a solid notion of the help you will receive from the school. You do not want to end up at a school that does not help its athletes juggle sports and academics. Academics should have a major part in your questions.
- What types of academic assistance are available?
- Will my major conflict with my athletic commitments?
- What procedure do you follow if an athlete needs academic assistance? Are there any prerequisites for tutors, personnel, or study hall?
- Because of my competing schedule, will I be able to make up tests and classes?
- What are your procedures for missing practices or arriving late due to class obligations?
- How many players use your educational assistance?
Scholarships
Asking the right questions about their scholarship programs would help you know which school to pick
- Do you have any scholarships available for my class?
- What are the many types of academic scholarships available?
- Is it necessary for me to apply to your institution before you consider me for an academic scholarship?
- What costs are covered by financial aid and/or scholarships?
- If I get injured, what happens to my financial aid?
- What criteria do you use to decide whether or not a scholarship should be renewed annually?
Conclusion
Asking the right questions is only going to benefit you. Consider these aspects the next time you need to find the ideal option!
Frequently Asked Questions
- What colleges are the top 3 track teams in the US?
When trying to gauge what college has the best teams, there are usually several factors that often come into play, such as the number of times they have won nationals and how good their facilities are. The three schools that always stand out are Stanford University, the University of Pennsylvania, and South Carolina. All three schools are famous for their historical sign and also winning streaks. These are the top 3 schools to look at in picking the best teams.
- Does my GPA matter in getting a track scholarship?
Yes and No, if you are getting a partial scholarship, then a normal GPA of 2.5 would not affect you. If you want a full scholarship and also have a high GPA, you would have the advantage of picking from a better number of colleges with bigger opportunities.