LACE Up is a nonprofit organization (501 c(3) pending) designed to empower student athletes with tools needed to pursue their goal of becoming a collegiate athlete during the COVID-19 pandemic. While all sports are being affected, we find that track and field as a sport and the students involved in the sport have been greatly impacted. Both the outdoor season for 2019 and 2020 fall season were eliminated.

COVID-19 has increased the awareness of inequities faced by student athletes. It has created challenges for all families; however, children who live in areas of limited resources will be disproportionately affected. Oftentimes minority children use athleticism as a way to enter into higher education. If sports such as track and field are not available given the current climate or when the sport is allowed to return and student athletes are unable to participate due to internal or external reasons the nation will see further divide in the amount of minority children who are able to access college.

During this unprecedented time our goals are to identify rising seniors across the DMV area who need support as they pursue their dream of being a student athlete. The identified students will be encouraged through mentorship provided by collegiate athletes and coaches. Participants will have access to current information about the metrics needed to be recruited. Additionally, they will gain assistance in finding creative ways to meet coaches who are also in need of avenues to meet outstanding athletes.LACE Up will seek to be a recognizable organization that students join to enhance their academic and athletic skills and college coaches can feel comfortable identifying students that are highly motivated and qualified to move on to their program.

LACE Up will seek to be a recognizable organization that students join to enhance their academic and athletic skills and college coaches can feel comfortable identifying students that are highly motivated and qualified to move on to their program.