With the end of this school year quickly approaching, many are looking forward to next fall. In preparation for the next fall sports season, students and sports teams alike are utilizing their time to train over the summer.
With a large variety of different sports in the fall season, summer training regimens vary from person to person; everyone is attempting to improve themselves in different aspects of their sport. Some students have more rigorous workouts while others focus on training with specific skills.
There are a variety of ways in which students prepare for the season. Most students head towards dumbbells and kettlebells to use during their athletic training workouts. These workouts are used to improve one’s strength, flexibility or aerobic ability. On top of this, most athletes will choose to do skill-based workouts to enhance their technique.
“I’m going to run every day and I’m also going to try and lift a lot,” cross country runner Xavier Tubio ‘27 said. “I want to try and bring my 5k time to around 20 minutes.”
Athletes also prepare by participating in summer clubs, tournaments and even camps so they can better their in-game performance.
“I swim in a club,” swimmer Amelia Gibson ‘27 said. “I’ll have practices six times a week and most of the days are doubles.”
Some students train with their teams over the summer. For example, the GA football team holds summer workouts every week, from Monday through Thursday, all throughout the summer. In these workouts, students participate in speed, agility, and strength workouts with the help of their coaches.
These workouts are a key component in getting ready for the season and getting athletes into a condition ready to compete once the season starts.
“We really believe that summer training is the foundation,” Mr. Kyle Donahue, GA’s head football coach, said. “The fall is fast and hectic and crazy, and the work we do in June and July sets the foundation for how we communicate and how we practice.”
Training with a team also helps nurture strong bonds within the team prior to the season. For example, coaches, especially new ones, can learn about their players, which can benefit them as their season approaches. Teammates’ relationships with one another will become stronger as well, leading to more cohesion within the team.
“Players remember [summer training] more than some of the practice and some of the playing,” Coach Donahue said. “Those moments, I think, are really important because we are going to need to communicate and trust each other in the fall.”
Even though summer training is not mandatory for students, many students take part in it. Students have a variety of different motivations to do this.
“I want to excel at the sport,” Gibson said. “ I also want to swim throughout high school and into college.”
Some students want to train with specific goals in mind on how they want to improve, such as getting onto varsity or hitting a personal best during the season. Other students participate in summer training because they find it enjoyable and want to spend time with their friends.
Summer training gives students a head start to the season and a competitive edge against other teams, allowing them to perform better during the regular season.