There are even differences between teams in the same division, and even teams in the same conference. One of the things I’m happy about is that my daughter plays in Florida, and plays a sping sport. Spring is not the same in every location. Last year, her team played 16 games: 10 were at home, 3 were out of state, and the other 4 (conference) were all within three hours of her campus. Very few school days away from campus. All the northern teams want to come to the sunshine state in February and March because they don’t know if their fields will be playable in mid-February. Come on down!
Those three travel weekends were very hard on the students, both in missed academics and just in exhaustion.
When investigating options and considering different schools another thing that comes into play for track is the big variation of travel time and potential classes missed based on the school’s schedule and its location. Based on what we see, most DIII programs stay pretty local except for a handful that are ranked. However, it is not uncommon in track to see athletes from all divisions at the same meets. If you compete all three seasons where and how the team travels can make a big difference.
Take a look at schedules and find out if the whole team goes to all events listed or if just a handful of elite kids go to certain events. A key way to tell is if the schedule has multiple events listed on the same weekend. One squad travels, the rest stay local. Depending on where you fit in, you will either be away every weekend or back and forth on a bus Saturdays.
Also inquire if the men’s and women’s teams travel together – the difference is typically a big nice bus with a bathroom and power outlets or the dreaded “church“ van. Harder to stay up on your reading or get in some nap time crammed into the van!
Ask the other athletes what is the range the team uses a bus vs. fly. Cross country at my sons school fly to events >3 hrs. away. That means less impact on classes. When the entire M & W track team travels in the spring they take a bus to anything > 6 hours away due to the numbers traveling and the equipment they need to haul (javelins, vaulting poles, throwing implements…) The team also typically leaves on Thurs. together regardless of when your individual event is and they will stay in a hotel the night before the meet for anything >2 hrs. away.
All things to consider and ask about on a visit when comparing choices and the commitment you are willing to make.