Fitness Is Key to Recruitment
- Oct 15, 2024
- 2 min read
If there's one thing every coach wants on their team, it's a FIT player. This is great news for student-athletes because they can work on this all the time, on their own or with their team.
Often, players tell me, "Sure, I work out. " When asked, they go on to explain they maybe run a mile or two around their home, go to the gym, and lift some weights, but there is no true "plan" or goal to this fitness endeavor. If you don't have a plan, I would strongly encourage you to speak with your coach and get one in place.
Another thing to add is a way to measure your improvement. Some standard fitness tests that are used on the national and international stage include the Beep Test (a 20-meter shuttle test) a Yo-Yo test (a variation of the Beep Test), or a Bronco test. If you're just starting a new fitness plan, start with getting a benchmark score so that you have something for comparison as you continue to increase your fitness. Here are links to instructions for these tests:
Beep Test (International 7s players run Level 14+)
Yo Yo Test (International 7s players run Level 18+)
Bronco Test (International players run this in less than 5:00 min)
If you have these test scores handy, I suggest including them on your Rugby Resume to give coaches a sense of your fitness level. The fitter you are, the better your chances are of being recruited and successful at the college level. Remember—this is not a "one-and-done" test! Plan to re-take these every couple of months to check your fitness level and update your rugby resume.
Comments