Student athletes are always looking to challenge themselves no matter the season. Athletes must work to balance their time between scheduling drills and their social life.
Training as a student-athlete looks different in the summer compared to the school year. The free time allows for more devotion and prompts growth, better performance and skills. However, daily practices can lead to burn out over time.
Some sports offer training camps or other opportunities to stay involved in your sports off season. The extra time over summer makes it easy to spread the practices out.
“We have a little bit more breathing room,” Matt Fehrmann, the athletics director, said. “We want everybody to have some time off.”
Although, it is also important to not take too much time off. Taking breaks is important, but not too long of breaks. Balance is key.
“If you take the whole summer off you’re gonna find yourself in some trouble,” Fehrmann said. “It’s important that you stay involved as the competitive edge spreads.”
The football team hosts mock football scrimmages and practices to keep their athletes in shape.
One of the scrimmages was hosted with West Aurora as a combined football camp, in July. This camp was a way athletes could better themselves before the season starts.
“At first I wasn’t a very good player,” Senior Armel Jackson said. “But now I put in the work and I see progress. I’m getting more love for the game and instead of trying to play around, I actually love the team and I actually love the sport.”
As a multi-sport athlete, Junior Dylan Liner has more stress with stabilizing time.
“I’m always on the run, always doing something active,” Liner said. “So no matter what I’m doing, no matter what the sport is, I’m always preparing myself for the football season.”
Much like the football team, girls cross country also hosts a camp for their athletes, honing their skills over the summer for four days every week. A great number of student athletes attend the event, leading to many new experiences and training.
“It’s kept me accountable for what I’ve done. It’s kept me in shape during the summer” said sophomore Kendale, who joined the program last year.
Players are able to meet in small groups to stay active over the summer, and many have benefited from its schedule.
While meeting with your team may be rewarding, it is key to have a balance between personal life and sports.
“You’re committing to it, so if it affects your other things, you already made the commitment,” senior Bella Sieben said.
Overall to keep a balance with all the commitments in your life you can plan and make goals.
“Being organized and having a schedule is really good,” Sieben said.
