Students are happy to go on break and get out of school, so happy that they count down the days until summer. Some get to go straight into summer but for others, that is just the beginning of the next school year.

Athletes are just starting their training. Whether they are on the field, track or in the pool, the work doesn’t just stop. It takes many things to prepare for the actual season.

“Number one it helps us go into preseason and we don’t have to concentrate as much on fitness so we can incorporate our fitness into drills,” said soccer coach Greg Clippinger. “The intensity is up and the participation builds a better culture […] it helps athletes train for a purpose and create a goal together.”

This training does not just occur during a particular part of the summer; it’s the whole summer and the coaches usually hold these trainings all the way up to until preseason.

During these trainings, coaches typically cover many areas regarding specific areas that the team needs to work on. Many areas that coaches tend to cover are the conditioning, lifting, and drills for a game. Depending on what the team needs the amount of time varies for each area of work.

“Over the summer the coaches knew that I was working hard  and they push me to do things that I didn’t know I could do and this helps during the season […],”  said Lyra Carlton a CHS Freshman. “[Summer training] has me use the skills I have learned to help lead the team to a victory.”

Some athletic coaches have chosen to do other activities during the summer not only for the physicality of the athlete but the mental part too. Coaches do other activities regarding team bonding and preseason scrimmages.

“Over the summer the field hockey team is doing two camps and we are doing weekly workouts which focus on keeping us in shape,” said Delaney Crim. “We are doing many team bonding activities and these activities help create a strong dynamic and the team becomes closer to each other. These trainings gives us an edge during the season because not only are we gonna be in shape and ready for the season, we are ready to take on the challenge.”

This constant training takes time and effort. Athletes are devoting their sweat and summer into making the season great. These athletes are trading in their summer so that their upcoming fall season is something special.