At Archie Williams, students can participate in a wide range of sports. Student-athletes prepare and train for their sports, but off-season training for sports is often overlooked. Summer practices provide benefits that can go unnoticed, and these practices help athletes stay in shape and prepare for the season ahead.
Before athletes lace up their shoes, the athletic committee needs to complete a series of important tasks. Archie Williams Athletic Director Jett Russell witnesses the coordination, planning, and forethought every summer practice requires.
“Even though [my job is] a lot more hands-off during the summer, I still have to collect all of the information about every sport’s off-season, arrange facility use, and publicize any updates to our summer program information on our school website,” Jett Russell said.
Russell stays in contact with every coach before relinquishing control to let them plan and execute the practices.
“The summer is technically out of season, so anything coaches choose to do is on their own prerogative. It’s up to them,” Jett Russell said.
Coaches are not required to offer summer practice for Archie Williams athletes, so they show dedication and effort to their respective teams with this training. As a first-year girls cross country coach, Josiah Russell hosted optional summer practices for athletes of all grades.
“Optional [summer training] practice gives people the opportunity to get better in a less stressful environment. It allows you to get in shape before the season starts, which gives you an edge over many competitors. Most people use the first months to get back into shape, but if you worked hard in the summer, you can focus on becoming a better athlete,” Josiah Russell said.
Dedicated student-athletes utilize the summer training programs to improve their skills. They put in effort by showing up in the early mornings and late afternoons for intense training, even without school in session.
“There’s always a reason not to show up, so the type of athlete that does is a committed one who is dedicated to their craft and wants to get better,” said boys varsity football coach Anthony Jackson.
Summer training sessions allow athletes to stay in shape over the summer while also forging meaningful friendships with teammates that last beyond the season. Junior and JV boys cross country team member Parker Krawitz believes that the benefits of practice extend farther than just getting into shape before the fall.
“Having a regime and schedule during the summer kept me productive and my social life active. Do I think it’s harder than your average after-school practice? Yes, it’s harder mentally, because you have to manage your own time, but I would do it again for all the benefits,” Parker said.
While summer training fosters a stronger sense of motivation for the upcoming season, it does not benefit everyone to the same degree. Year-round training presents the risk of serious injuries and burnout before the official season begins.
Some athletes choose to wait until the fall season instead of jumping right back into their sport in the summer to avoid burnout before the season starts. Additionally, the summer heat can negatively impact performance and lead to quicker fatigue.
“People say there’s a burnout factor. I, as a parent, don’t really see that. If you love a sport, you want to do it,” said Archie Williams Athletic Assistant Marla Murphy.
Archie Williams girls golf coach Andre Demian disagrees and emphasizes the importance of resting between seasons, and having a life outside of practice during the summer months. Demian understands that teenagers aren’t always going to prioritize sports when life creates outside stressors, and believes that a break from daily practice can improve a student’s relationship with their sport.
“A lot of my returning athletes have priorities outside of golf, and I want them to understand that sports should add to your life, not consume it,” Demian said.
Demian stresses the need for balancing rest and practice during the summer to maintain performance throughout the year. By finding this balance, athletes can avoid overtraining while still improving their skills. However, challenges like limited access to training areas can add challenges to coordinating summer practices.
Some students cannot attend summer training due to conflicting commitments, including club sports. Most club sports extend into the summer, leaving no opportunities for any other sports practices.
Girls water polo coach Todd Duplanty feels that girls water polo doesn’t have time to participate in practices over the summer.
“Most of the girls play club water polo for one of the clubs in the area,” Duplanty said.
Duplanty sees importance in the skill of finding stability between sports and home life. He emphasizes this balance and doesn’t want sports to control student-athletes’ lives.
“I think it’s important for the girls to find balance, whether that’s finding balance with their family or other things that they enjoy doing,” Duplanty said.
Whether an athlete chooses to attend summer practices or not depends on personal priorities, goals, and availability during their off-season. Archie Williams coaches continue to work to provide students with the resources and support they need in order to have a successful season this fall.
