Summer vs Sports: Every SLOHS athlete’s dilemma.  Graphic Courtesy of freshman Sophia Chaves.

  With Summer coming up, SLOHS students are getting ready for the long summer practices for their fall sports. Are SLOHS athletes ready for these practices? And are our coaches excited about using their time off to coach? 

  A New York University review found that 45% of youth athletes quit due to psychological burnout. Some students believe that summer practices can cause these burnouts before their sport even starts.

  “Summer practices suck you have to get up early during the summer. I can’t do anything, I’m like stuck at the pool. I go to the pool, then leave and then go back to the pool,” said sophomore water polo player Jackson Gillett. 

  Although summer practices tend to burn out a majority of student athletes, they can also be very beneficial to those athletes that attend. 

“They help me prepare for fall cheer or stunt, we learn a lot of routines and all of the counts, and different cheers,” said cheer freshman Jillian Davis.

  Some summer practices help athletes feel prepared for the upcoming season, and can overall help athletes become ready for the season, but some SLOHS athletes feel it can be mentally exhausting, and it takes up their free time during the summer. 

  “I feel sometimes summer practices can really take over the time that I want for social events, it really sucks that sometimes you have to sacrifice your time during the summer to be at school for sports that end up exhausting me,” said cross country freshman Sophia Chaves.

  Sports can be awesome to help athletes that really care and love their sport, but some athletes really feel that summer should be a break from all things to do with school and relax. Most athletes believe that coaches should have conversations with athletes about what their summer schedule will look like so it’s fair, fun, and exciting for all. Now athletes, get pumped for this summer season!

Sources: www.fsfreepressonline.com