It is the most wonderful time of the year where student-athletes all over the country are balancing multiple sports to help their craft. I was a three-sport athlete in high school, participating in football, basketball, and track & field.

Being a multi-sport athlete helped me stay in shape throughout the year, and every sport helped me in certain areas to improve my craft. In football, I learned how to be remain mentally tough when things didn’t go my way. I also learned how to be a great teammate and motivator because we all need positive people around us to help achieve our goals.

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In basketball, I was able to gain some endurance and work on my footwork throughout the year because it is imperative for defensive backs to have great feet. My collegiate coach would always tell me the battles are won within the first five yards of the play. If you play with great technique and move your feet, you will always give yourself an opportunity to make a play.

I constantly made sure to have active feet on the court and shuffle to bring that same skill set to the gridiron. I was also able to improve my agility by participating in explosive jumping drills and other activities with my teammates.

In track & field, I worked on reaching my top speed and endurance by participating in the 400-meter dash. Being a quarter (mile) horse is something I took tremendous pride in and really shaped me into the competitor I am today.

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I vividly remember in college running within our winter conditioning program, and I was always able to be in the front of the pack because of what the quarter instilled in me. There is no better race in track, and that’s why the 4X400-meter relay is always last, because there is always an epic finish.

Food for thought

In the 2017 NFL Draft, 30 out of 32 first-round selections were multisport athletes. To me, that says if you have aspirations on going to the next level, you should definitely embrace more sports than just football.

By diversifying your sports portfolio, it will provide access and opportunity for you to unlock your dreams and goals.

Work hard. Be great.

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Ashton Henderson was a four-year letterman at defensive back for Michigan State University as well as an honor student and co-author with former teammate Travis Key of “Beyond The Gridiron: How to successfully transition into collegiate football,” a detailed account of what it takes to be an NCAA Division I college football player and successful in life. To learn more about their mission and purchase your copy today, visit: www.beyondthegridironllc.com