A glimpse back to the 2022 summer season. Photo courtesy of @slohs_girlsbasketball on instagram.

  San Luis Obispo High School Girls Basketball is no joke. Offseason practices begin before the end of the school year and run throughout the summer until well into the fall.

  “It’s like a little pregame before the actual season, so you get the gist of it,” said junior Kamaile Abac. 

  Summer season competition is unofficial and optional. Practices usually happen twice a week starting after spring break. Once school is out the program runs for six days a week. 

  “Usually it consists of a summer league at Pioneer Valley during the week and on the weekends [we] try to play in tournaments,” said SLOHS Girls Basketball coach Daniel Monroe. “I try to get us exposure with better competition outside of the area.”

  This includes both out-of-town and local tournaments. Travel tournaments can last multiple days and often have the players stay together in hotels. 

  Offseason encourages the formation of bonds within the team as a whole. 

  “Summer basketball is [about] building chemistry and continuity and helps develop relationships as you head into the regular season,” said Monroe. 

  Summer practices place an emphasis on individual skillwork, such as ball handling and shooting. This means independent drills with lots of repetition. This workout structure can be extremely useful for those attempting to gain stronger basketball ability and knowledge. 

  “It’s just for you to get more experience and be more confident with the ball so then you’re not scared during a big game. It helps you get better and build endurance,” said Abac.

  Participants in this program range in experience from none to varsity. 2023 middle school graduates are welcome to attend the workouts as well and gain experience with the fast-paced intensity of high school sports.

  “I feel excited that I get to play with high schoolers and be more advanced,” said freshman Madison Willimek. 

  Summer season allows incoming freshmen to not only develop their playing at the high school level, but also familiarize themselves with the Tiger culture and athletes. 

  “It’s really crucial for the incoming freshmen. They’re able to develop relationships with older kids so when they step on campus for the first time in the fall… they have some familiar faces. They can be like ‘I know this senior, I played with them over the summer,’” said Monroe.

  Summer season has maintained popularity for numerous years and is recommended by many involved in the program.

  “I think you should try it out, it’s pretty fun,” said Abac. 

  For those with free time this summer, consider checking out the SLOHS Girls Basketball offseason program by visiting the official website. 

Source: sites.google.com