Images

By Andy McKernan on December 1, 2016

Every athlete knows the pressure of a ticking clock.

For swimmers, runners, rowers and others — it’s in your blood. Every second is a second closer to a win, to a PR.

But no matter our sport, we all know the clock is ticking: for a shot, for a snap, to get a shot on goal. To line up under the pop fly to make the catch.

It can get your heart racing.

That’s what I love about this short video about Usain Bolt, the reigning Olympic sprinter and world record holder in the 100m and 200m dash. His world record in the 100m — which this video plays with — is an incredible 9.58 seconds.

Watch just how fast Usain Bolt’s 100m time is

Check it out in the video below:

Look, even if you love to sling dumbbells in the weight room and put on mass, you can’t tell me you are feeling anything except a strong desire to go sprint around the block a few times, now.

What student-athletes can learn from Usain Bolt

It can be strange or maybe even a little disheartening to look at the way world-class athletes perform. I know I hear the thought in my head: Yeah, Usain can run that fast… but I never will.

Or to watch Steph’s shooting form and worry you’ll never have as effective a jump shot. Or to get caught up in comparing yourself to a professional, or a current college athlete, or an older sibling.

But that’s not the right lesson to take. That’s not the right attitude to bring to your next practice, or your next game, or to the next interaction you have with a college coach.

College coaches are looking for your potential as an athlete.

It’s not just about what kind of athlete you are now, but about what kind of athlete you could become by the time you’re ready to join a college roster.

And it’s not just about how fast you are now, but about how persistent you are, and about what kind of understanding of your sport you demonstrate when you’re under pressure.

Are you proving that you’re putting in that hustle? Are you demonstrating that you’ve put the work in before the game so you’re on point when it counts? In any given play, are you present and aware, when you only have a split second to react?

In less than 10 seconds, you can change the entire course of a game. How will you spend your next 9.58?

Article originally published by NCSA Sports

Whether it’s how to put your head down and grind out the next set of hill repeats, or how to get your information in front of the most college coaches, we’ve got you covered. The best way to get started is with a recruiting profile.