With spring right around the corner, students are shedding off the winter months and gearing  up for upcoming sports.

According to Lou Marinelli, a coach and physical education teacher from Connecticut, “The most important thing that athletes can do now to prepare for spring sports is to begin a developmental conditioning program, including both cardiovascular and strength training, to raise their general physical fitness.”

Zach Daron  is a part of track & field, and junior Sydney Anderson is a softball player. While their sports are seasonal, both players agree that staying fit and healthy all year long is they best way to prepare for the grueling spring training schedule.

“I prepare myself by working out daily and taking one day off within a 7 day week,” said Daron.

Anderson added, “I prepare myself by going to the conditionings they have and going to the gym in my spare time.”

Like many other sports, softball has been conducting conditioning throughout the off-season to prepare for their upcoming games in March. Track & Field begin their season at the end or March.

Being in shape helps prevent injuries, which is important if you want to spend any time in the game. Daron said he prevents injuries by being cautious on how hard he works and takes care of his muscles when feeling sore.

Anderson prevents injury by not pushing herself super hard but hard enough to stay in shape.

Being physically fit is only a piece of the puzzle though. Being mentally string plays a big part in an athletes game, too.

Anderson said, “I mentally prepare myself by putting myself on a schedule and getting a lot of sleep. I also keep in my mind to know what to expect with the little time I’ll have to get things done.”

Some players might quarrel about which is more important to an athlete, flexibility or power. For Anderson, it’s power because “flexibility and power are both important, but with my sport, softball, I would have to say power because you have to have a strong arm for a powerful throw and a lot of power to hit the ball and to run to the bases to avoid getting out.”

Daron says that it’s both. “Both are extremely important. Sports require many vigorous activities and both will come in handy in a game or practice or even tryouts.”

So when you are cheering for your favorite school team or player, it’s great to enjoy the game and cheer them on, but remember all the training they put in not just during spring training but all year round to make game day special.