I went to the New Balance Track & Field Center at The Armory, to meet up with Derrick. It is located on: 216 Fort Washington Avenue
New York, NY 10032
Derrick's role within the Armory is a Prep Counselor and Track & Field Consultant. The Education's Center focus is to work with those youth who run track & field at their high schools, they register at the Armory for additional assistance. The assistance they receive is placing them at the right College or University for their best interests as an athlete, the areas where the schools Guidance Counselors are not knowledgeable.
After arriving at the center, I was introduced to the Administration that manage and work at the Armory. Everyone there is very welcoming and is willing to assist me. Derrick's focus is to assist the youth who run track and field at there schools, into reputable schools that will provide them a scholarship or some assistance towards school. If not able to get a scholarship, then the staff advises them to attend schools where they will be coached and mentored while going to college.
My time spent at Education Center, was very enlightening and exciting. Derrick and I were talking while we were discussing some additional projects for me to do. One thing he thought about was attending a Public School Athlete League (PSAL) Coaching Clinic from the side lines. The clinic is specifically for public school track and field coaches, who will receive training in the specific areas such as shot putting, hurdles and etc. I will have to say that this experience will be enjoyable for two reasons, I used to run at this facility years ago when I was in high school and secondly, being able to get back to the sport where I began in high school.
Another, is students and their coaches come to the facility to practice in the afternoons. He stated, it will be interesting to see many schools come to the facility to practice all at one time. The logistics for the schools to practice there is they pay $900 a year to use the facility, paid by the schools Principles/Administration/Athletic Director. They have to submit rosters and the students receive ID cards to enter into the building. An average number of students on a schools roster can range from 30-100. The Track & Field season begins Mid-November to Mid-March, and the season beginning in April because it is warmer for the outdoor meets.
During our discussion, I was also assigned some other projects where I have to Research the NYC Marathon Situation that happened in New York and write a paper on my findings. Another, which is connected with the Marathon, learning more about Mary Whittenburg, CEO of Road Runners. The last one is educating myself with the Dr. Norbert Sanders, the Executive Director of The Armory Foundation.
I witnessed Derrick, mentoring a youth who I will call Kim B, who holds on of the top records for a 220 meter race. The discussion entailed the schools for her to apply for, but the focus was Lincoln University, in Jefferson City, Missouri. He was educating her on this particular school being a public school versus private. The distinction he made with her was that it is a public school for those who are residents of the state of Missouri. It is considered to be an Out-of-State school for her. They are also working on her receiving a full scholarship. The other schools will be State University's of New York (SUNY) schools, who have good track & field programs and those who they have developed relationships with. Within the SUNY schools there are three of them that are safe schools for her.
Before ending my time, at The Armory today I received a small lesson about the NCAA educational requirements for the athletes. These requirements are for the NCAA clearing house, during this time you are able to see the areas where the students are missing. Then you can guide them or speak with the school in order for them to qualify.
New York, NY 10032
Derrick's role within the Armory is a Prep Counselor and Track & Field Consultant. The Education's Center focus is to work with those youth who run track & field at their high schools, they register at the Armory for additional assistance. The assistance they receive is placing them at the right College or University for their best interests as an athlete, the areas where the schools Guidance Counselors are not knowledgeable.
After arriving at the center, I was introduced to the Administration that manage and work at the Armory. Everyone there is very welcoming and is willing to assist me. Derrick's focus is to assist the youth who run track and field at there schools, into reputable schools that will provide them a scholarship or some assistance towards school. If not able to get a scholarship, then the staff advises them to attend schools where they will be coached and mentored while going to college.
My time spent at Education Center, was very enlightening and exciting. Derrick and I were talking while we were discussing some additional projects for me to do. One thing he thought about was attending a Public School Athlete League (PSAL) Coaching Clinic from the side lines. The clinic is specifically for public school track and field coaches, who will receive training in the specific areas such as shot putting, hurdles and etc. I will have to say that this experience will be enjoyable for two reasons, I used to run at this facility years ago when I was in high school and secondly, being able to get back to the sport where I began in high school.
Another, is students and their coaches come to the facility to practice in the afternoons. He stated, it will be interesting to see many schools come to the facility to practice all at one time. The logistics for the schools to practice there is they pay $900 a year to use the facility, paid by the schools Principles/Administration/Athletic Director. They have to submit rosters and the students receive ID cards to enter into the building. An average number of students on a schools roster can range from 30-100. The Track & Field season begins Mid-November to Mid-March, and the season beginning in April because it is warmer for the outdoor meets.
During our discussion, I was also assigned some other projects where I have to Research the NYC Marathon Situation that happened in New York and write a paper on my findings. Another, which is connected with the Marathon, learning more about Mary Whittenburg, CEO of Road Runners. The last one is educating myself with the Dr. Norbert Sanders, the Executive Director of The Armory Foundation.
I witnessed Derrick, mentoring a youth who I will call Kim B, who holds on of the top records for a 220 meter race. The discussion entailed the schools for her to apply for, but the focus was Lincoln University, in Jefferson City, Missouri. He was educating her on this particular school being a public school versus private. The distinction he made with her was that it is a public school for those who are residents of the state of Missouri. It is considered to be an Out-of-State school for her. They are also working on her receiving a full scholarship. The other schools will be State University's of New York (SUNY) schools, who have good track & field programs and those who they have developed relationships with. Within the SUNY schools there are three of them that are safe schools for her.
Before ending my time, at The Armory today I received a small lesson about the NCAA educational requirements for the athletes. These requirements are for the NCAA clearing house, during this time you are able to see the areas where the students are missing. Then you can guide them or speak with the school in order for them to qualify.
