Rising to the Top: What I’ve Noticed About Division 1 Athletes
Rising to the Top: What I’ve Noticed About Division 1 Athletes
This summer, I’ve had the opportunity to work with six Division 1 athletes and commits. As I reflect on our sessions, five key characteristics stood out—qualities that I believe played a major role in helping them rise to the top.
Whether you're aiming for the next level or just looking to elevate your training, these traits are worth developing.
1. They Have a Schedule and Stick to It
Once an athlete arrives at college, their life becomes extremely structured—training, practice, film review, and classes are all tightly scheduled.
The D1 athletes I’ve worked with already operated this way before stepping foot on campus. They knew when they were training each week, and made it a priority—even while juggling club teams, practices, and summer tournaments.
2. They Have a Plan
Each athlete had a clear plan of attack. We assessed their needs, identified areas to develop, and followed a structured progression to get them ready for the demands of college athletics.
Our focus in the gym wasn’t random—it was specific to what they’d be expected to do in a college weight room. This kind of preparation made all the difference.
3. Consistency Over the Long Haul
Once the schedule and plan were in place, these athletes stuck with it. Many trained consistently for several years—season after season.
In college, development doesn’t stop. Training continues year-round, including in-season. Even if it’s just once a week, maintaining the habit is key. As strength coaches, it’s our responsibility to adjust volume and intensity so athletes can keep progressing without compromising performance.
4. They Train with Intent
These athletes know how to flip the switch. During sessions, there’s plenty of conversation, laughter, and connection—but once it’s time to sprint, jump, or lift, their focus is all in.
They bring full intent to each rep, each movement. That mental switch—the ability to focus deeply in the moment—is a difference-maker.
5. They’ve Put in the Time
On average, the athletes who reached the D1 level started training with us as sophomores—and didn’t stop until they graduated.
They kept coming back during school breaks and holidays. By the time they left for college, they had banked hundreds of training sessions.
Just like skill work in their sport, you don’t get to the next level by training for a few months before graduation. Strength, movement quality, and durability must be built over years.
These Qualities Aren’t Just for D1 Athletes
We see these same traits in many of our high school and college athletes who are on the rise. The earlier they begin developing them, the better prepared they’ll be when opportunities come.
Ready to Get Started?
Our Fall Block of Training kicks off this September. Spots are limited, and we want to work with athletes who are ready to put in the work and level up.
📩 Message us to reserve your spot and help your athlete build the habits, mindset, and physical preparation they need for long-term success.