Notice that fewer and fewer high school athletes are “sleeping in” during the summer?  They have determination and a commitment to helping their high school’s team for the upcoming season and don’t mind the sacrifice.

Most athletes see that this type of dedication can provide a “special” dynamic and the workouts during the summer can bring a team to a different level.  All wanting to work harder than the year before in order to gain that top spot in the post season!

And it seems that the number of high school athletes that are participating in summer workouts has increased dramatically!  It used to be that you could get anywhere from 10 to 15 kids to show up a couple times a week for basic conditioning or weight lifting during the summer.  Now, you get whole teams, both Varsity and Junior Varsity showing up and they have to be “scheduled” so everyone can get the workout in!

Of course, the whole blueprint of high school athletics has changed and there is so much competition for the limited number of college athletic scholarships out there.  And it’s not just about football…. On any day during the summer, you’ll see players from other sports working out, including basketball, volleyball, cross country or track and cheerleaders.  Also, it’s not just for the guys, but many girls have committed their time to summer workouts in place of “hanging out” during the lazy days of summer.

Take a visit to any high school during the summer and it is amazing how many kids you will see on campus hitting the weights, working out on the track or in the gym running stairs, etc.  And it’s all day, as some will choose to get in there as early as 6:00 am or as late in the afternoon as 4:00 and a lot of times, both!  Of course, you also have some of these athletes that also participate in summer “club” leagues or AAU competitions.  These athletes are not only staying in great condition, but getting more competitive experience as well.  As they say, nothing replaces game time play!

There are some out there who comment that summer workouts can “over” work the young athletes and cause burnout or even serious injury.  This could be true, which is why coaches typically stay involved with monitoring these sessions.  Plan them so that the workouts are consistent, but not excessive.  Like anything, if done in moderation and with the right schedule, these summer workouts can provide the edge for an athlete or the whole team to get to that next level!  Not to mention, it is a great way to unite a roster of individuals and establish a much needed “team” comradery, which is just as important as having skilled players!

Just remember, work hard, work smart and stay properly hydrated!  Good Luck and have a great summer!

* For more High School athletics and college recruiting / scholarship assistance, visit:   http://www.ViewMySport.com/