OFF-SEASON WORKOUTS

(Scroll down to explore our different off-season opportunities as well as our in-season philosophy)

 

As we approach the off-season, we see a unique opportunity for each of you to expand your skills and impact within our Stevens High School athletic community. By sharing your talents with other sports teams, you'll not only enhance your speed, strength, and fitness but also foster stronger bonds with teammates, coaches, and fans across various disciplines.

 

For those not participating in another sport, consider joining us for our summer, fall, and winter workouts. These off-season opportunities are completely FREE and designed to maximize your potential through dedicated effort and consistent training. Whether you're from Stevens, Southwest M.S., or West M.S., all student-athletes are welcome and encouraged to participate.

 

Let's make this off-season a time of growth, camaraderie, and relentless pursuit of excellence. Together, we can achieve more than we ever imagined.

 

 

SUMMER OFF-SEASON TRAINING

Our philosophy for summer workouts is to focus on getting outdoors and enjoying what the Black Hills has to offer. Do something every day such as hiking, backpacking, biking, kayaking, swimming, camping and more. These are just a few examples of some leisure activities for you. If you are in a fall or winter sport you can also focus on getting ready for that sport with their summer workouts.

 

For those of you who are more serious and want to see big improvements next year, the summer is the best time to get stronger. There are a variety of strength training programs around town and at Stevens H.S. that can help you get stronger during the summer. If you choose to do your own strength training workouts at the YMCA or other facilities around town, I will highly recommend using the Volt Athletics app that you can download to your phone for a monthly subscription that can be cancelled at any time. This app will create a program just for you and can be sport-specific if you choose. It also has videos of each exercise in case you are not sure how to do a certain exercise.

 

If you want to attend some summer track & field camps or you want to do track specific workouts or technical event work, some of our coaches will have some opportunities for you in the summer as well. Contact them for more information. I will send out any college track and field camp information I get through sportsYou and post them on our calendar/schedule page on our website when I receive them.

 

As of now, we will not host any speed workouts in the summer, but the Sioux Park track is available for you to get 2-3 speed workouts in on your own if you want to maintain or increase your speed. Contact Coach Hendry for what to do for these speed workouts.

 

FALL OFF-SEASON TRAINING

For those student-athletes who are not in a fall sport- we have some optional workouts you can do to prepare yourself for winter sports or the upcoming track & field season. We usually start in early September, finishing in late October or early November.

 

We will have weight training workouts before school and/or after school with Physio. We will also offer our "Get Fast" speed workouts either at Stevens or Sioux Park depending on the weather. We will post the schedule on our website and send it out electronically when it’s ready.

 

WINTER OFF-SEASON TRAINING

For those student-athletes who are not in a winter sport- we have some optional workouts you can do to prepare yourself for the upcoming track & field season. We always start on the Monday after Thanksgiving and go until the track & field season begins.

 

We may have a few days available for training over Christmas break as well. We will post those dates and times later.

 

If you are not in a weight training class at Stevens, we have upper body weight training workouts after school on Tuesdays & Thursdays from 3:30pm - 4:30pm. On Mondays and Wednesdays, we have some lower body strength and explosive power training after our "Get Fast" speed workouts from 3:30pm - 4:30pm.

 

Included on these days will be some "Open Track" time for you to work on some skills on your own. You will be able to work on starting blocks, hurdles, jumps and throws under our supervision. We cannot coach you but there will be coaches there making sure you are doing things safely.

 

Distance runners can contact Coach Coy for your “open road” opportunities. (jesse.coy@k12.sd.us) 

 

INDOOR TRACK MEETS

If you are interested in running some indoor track meets- there are some opportunities available for you, but you will have to register and compete on your own (unattached) and not as Stevens High School since we do not have a sanctioned indoor season.

 

Our outdoor season does not start until late February or late March so once that start date comes and you officially join the team; you will not be allowed to compete in these indoor meets anymore.

 

There will be some indoor meets and registration information listed on the calendar on our website, but you can always check out the colleges’ websites for more information and dates too.

 

The following colleges have offered indoor meets in the past, Black Hills State University, Chadron State College, Dakota Wesleyan, Mount Marty, the University of South Dakota, South Dakota State University and Northern State.

 

Many of their meets will offer high school events but many may just offer college events. You can compete with college athletes in their events and many of you will do just fine against them so don’t let that deter you from competing.

 

If you are not sure about what events to do, how many events to do, what meets are good to attend, and how to register, visit with your coaches.

 

IN-SEASON TRAINING

Embracing Excellence: Our In-Season Philosophy

 

As we embark on another exciting track and field season, it's crucial to align our focus and efforts to maximize your potential and performance. While we celebrate your passion for multiple sports and varied training opportunities, we must emphasize the importance of mindful commitment during our competitive season.

 

Why Focus Matters

Each of you possesses incredible talent and potential, not only as track and field athletes but also as individuals pursuing diverse interests. However, during our in-season period, we kindly request that you either eliminate or significantly reduce your participation in other sports and training programs. Here’s why:

 

1. Avoiding Overtraining and Injury

Overtraining is a real concern that can lead to fatigue, injury, and hindered performance. By focusing on track and field during our competitive season, you minimize the risk of burnout and maximize your ability to perform at your peak.

 

2. Achieving Peak Performance

The state meet and championship events are our opportunities to shine. We've seen firsthand how distractions from multiple activities (other sports and training programs) can detract from your performance when it matters most. Let's prioritize excellence by focusing on one sport along with our training program during this critical time.

 

3. Building Effective Communication

If you choose to continue other activities, we ask for open communication. It’s vital that we, as your coaches, stay informed about your commitments. This ensures we can support you effectively and tailor our training to complement your overall development.

 

4. Pursuing Collegiate Opportunities

Contrary to popular belief, college coaches highly value multi-sport athletes. They recognize the well-rounded skills, dedication, and versatility you gain from diverse experiences. By focusing on track during the season and resting adequately from these other sports, you actually enhance your chances of securing scholarships and performing well in collegiate sports.

 

Your Success is Our Priority

Ultimately, our goal is to see each of you excel not just in track and field, but in life. We believe in holistic development, and part of that is learning to balance commitments effectively. Together, let's commit to this season with unwavering dedication, knowing that by focusing now, you pave the way for even greater achievements in the future.

 

Let's make this season our best yet!