Sports communities and athletics are held together throughout the school year through practices, but how do athletes maintain their physique when summer hits?
Most fall sports have summer training to keep teams together over the break. Summer allows teams to break down their training and hone in on specific aspects of form and technical training.
““[During] the season, athletes are balancing preparing for meets while at the same time working on conditioning and technique work. These demands often limit the amount of conditioning work whereas, in summer we have months to build a strong base of conditioning. Summer also provides a great opportunity to devote to strengthening an area that needs improvement, such as specific technique work, speed or efficiency.” McRae said,” track and cross country coach Mike McRae said.
Maintaining a workout routine over the break can be difficult due to procrastination. There are many different ways athletes keep themselves accountable for their training outside of sports practice.
“I work out with my friend Justin and my little brother, and they keep me going. [They’ll tell me] ‘Why weren’t you here today’ or ‘Come on let’s go,’” junior James Lundell said.
Working out with others can help keep athletes accountable, although some find their motivation through long-term goals.
“Since I’ve been playing [softball] for so long, it’s kind of a dream for me to go play in college. That’s my main goal that I’m working [towards], [and]I know I have to do the work to get there,” sophomore Jamie Elkington said.
For some, the athletic aspect is simply a perk, instead the friendships built through sports is the major pull. Summer training serves as an introduction to a team for many athletes and can help maintain a tight community for others.
“[Community building] is one of the huge benefits for incoming freshmen. I’ve heard from so many parents that most kids have a bit of anxiety about [entering] high school. If they come out to summer conditioning, they’ve already got their support group established. In my experience, [cross country is] an incredibly supportive group. […]I think [summer training] just gives new incoming students a space where they feel safe and supported,” McRae said.
At the end of the season, athletes and coaches alike can reflect on the months of training together and the team it helped build.
“At the end of any season I ask athletes to reflect on the months of training we put in and how they feel about being a part of the track or cross country team. When the team puts in the hard work together, often in challenging weather conditions, the team members build a strong bond and a very supportive culture. And that is one of the most important aspects of being a part of any athletic team.” McRae said.