School is out, but athletes are still working hard during the winter break
With the winter break coming up, athletes are preparing to continue to practice in their sport. Winter sport athletes have to make sacrifices; winter break is a time for athletes to improve. Trading comfort in training. The routine for student athletes does not cease during winter break—it only shifts.
Ayush Rathor (12) has been on the boys’ varsity soccer team for the past 4 years. Practices during break can have mixed reactions among the team, but Rathor sees benefits. “You feel more refreshed, and you can put more energy into practices,” Rathor said. “It’s nice not having school. Without academic stress, the players can focus on getting better,” he further explained.
He then mentioned how practices during break may differ from regular practices. “Practices during winter break are less structured when it comes to how they are run and what we focus on. We mostly play scrimmages and have fun. It is not as tactical as usual.”
It is difficult to balance a sport and family time. However, for boys’ soccer, Rathor stated, “Practices are in the morning during break, so you would still have time to be with friends and family. The morning practices allow players to have more time in their day without missing out on family time.”
Haylee Tigri (11) is on the girls’ varsity soccer team. Like Rathor, Tigri stated, “The practices depend on how many players are in town. A lot of people go on vacation, and our coach is okay with letting us have our own days.” Trigri continues to explain, “When we practice over the break, the intensity is reduced.”
On the girls’ varsity basketball team, Grace Song (10) has been playing basketball for four years and has been on our AHS team for two years. Being on varsity this year, she sees winter break practices as a “blurse” (a blessing and a curse). “Although it keeps you in shape for two weeks, it can be tiring—even though it’s a small part of the day,” Song said.
Going from competing in three games for the varsity team as a freshman to competing on the team all year, the winter break brings an adjustment to practices. Song mentioned, “Varsity players are expected not to travel during break and plan around basketball. Games are still going on during the break, so we have to stay in shape and be ready.”
The tension on the court of girls’ JV basketball was shown when a rebound was in play (Photo Credit: Tiffany Notice (12)).
Since school is out, Song states, “Having no academic stress makes practice feel lighter. We can focus on basketball without school being in the way.”
Holiday traditions have been part of basketball for years, Song states, “We do a Secret Santa [gift exchange] and then we have a holiday party.”
While the weather is getting colder, athletes at AHS continue to train over winter break instead of relaxing and spending their entire two weeks on family or vacation. This is a chance for student-athletes to just be athletes.
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