IN THIS EVER-CHANGING WORLD WE LIVE IN, TECHNOLOGICAL ADVANCEMENTS HAVE BECOME PARAMOUNT, AND ATHLETIC PROGRAMS, LIKE SECOND BAPTIST SCHOOL, ARE GOING ALL IN.
Earlier this school year, Second Baptist School athletics invested in PUSH technology for the weight room and is looking to add SportsRecruits and Varsity HYPE programs for next year.
"That's really the cutting edge of athletic administration; just like in any business or industry, you've got to stay current," Walker said. "I try to network with the schools out there we have areas in common with -- private school, successful athletics programs, and a faith-based Christian environment for athletics. Technology is what's next."
The move to PUSH in the weight room was fueled by Director of Athletic Performance Nick Mascioli. It is a program that utilizes real-time velocity-based training to motivate athletes and create a complete performance picture, not solely relying on how much weight they can lift.
"Most importantly, we are not training weightlifters, we're training athletes," Mascioli said. "What's really important about strength and conditioning, especially enhancing their performance on the field, is power. PUSH technology helps us measure that."
Every rack in the SBS weight room has an iPad on it that tracks their stats – their power output – on every rep, and there is even a leaderboard.
"This is a technology that puts an emphasis on the competition aspect," Walker said. "It also puts focus on the power and explosion, which that's what being an athlete is all about. Nick has really sold the science behind the PUSH program, and our kids love it."
Another area is getting a technology upgrade. When it comes to recruiting, there is a lot to understand. From live and dead recruiting periods, contacting coaches, and getting video out there for recruiters to see. The SportsRecruits technology platform does all of that to help athletes get to the next level.
"We really didn't have a platform for storing video or helping high school kids communicate with college coaches," Walker said. "So, the SportsRecruits platform fills that gap. Every varsity athlete will have a profile page, resources for communicating with college coaches and instant notifications for recruiting updates.
"It might open their world a little bit to what other options are out there for college athletics," asserts Walker.
Both the athletes and coaches will receive real-time notifications when athletes are contacted by colleges or even when schools view their videos.
Second Baptist School is also investing in Varsity Hype, a web and mobile solution that claims that the perfect video, content, and analytics platform should be uncomplicated, accessible, and affordable.
This new technology will allow all Eagles sports from middle school volleyball to high school tennis to have a platform to store their video.
"I wanted to be able to offer it to every level of every team," Walker said. "Every athlete and coach should have a platform to store video and have the option to break it down."
"My job is to help coaches lead and give our students every opportunity to be successful."
So as the 2021-2022 athletic seasons arrive, Second Baptist School continues its commitment to excellence, investing in PUSH, SportsRecruits and Varsity HYPE to open up even more opportunities for athletes donning the blue and gold.
