So I worked at a certain university as an assistant professor for almost 2 1/2 years. Let me preface this with the university and the majority of the staff are outstanding. I think the vault conditions at this school are one of the top places in the country. Nothing but praise all around. Initially when I arrived, I came across so many road blocks to be able to jump and use the facilities here. So I got to know the coaching staff, volunteered to work meets, jumped in their home meets, got to know all the vaulters on the team, helped them out as much as possible, etc.
This past year the head coach let's me train with the team, they even issued me practice gear so I wouldn't stick out, made me a volunteer asst. coach and was allowed to use the weight room. So I had the dream situation--post-college athlete with a facility, coaching and training partners. Well I never used the school's athletic training room for anything more than the occasional ice bag or ice bath. I never asked nor wanted any treatment or help from any of the trainers. I probably was in their a dozen times within the last two semesters. I always asked whoever was working the desk if I could jump in the cold tub.
Well the head track trainer all of a sudden decides that I'm a liability and can't use the training room. Even though I vault 'with' the track team, I'm not associated with the university. I had to bite my tongue and let her do her little power trip. She let me finish out the 9 min I had left in the ice tub on Wednesday. I mean she watches the vaulters every time they jump and I'm there too vaulting right with them. Sitting in a cold tub in the training room makes me a liability yet I'm vaulting. There's several other post-college athletes training here but they are all university athletic alumni. I at least still worked at the university. All I want are my ice baths.
I just feel so erked b/c I was sitting in my giant cooler full of ice in my backyard after practice today and it wasn't the same. I think after 18 years of vaulting, this is probably my last year. Time to look into coaching and officiating more.
Anyway, the point of all this is if you continue after college it is possible to have the dream training situation. It's easier to stay where you graduated but don't let that screw up any career goals.
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