It’s go time for athletes

By: centraljersey.com
The middle of August means time to get back to work for area high school athletes.
Actually, the middle of August means time to ‘officially’ get back to work for area high school athletes.
While Monday marks to official start date for high school practices for the fall season, many athletes have been working since the end of the school year in June to prepare for the start of the new season.
Whether it was going to camps, getting together with teammates for unofficial practices, or just working out on their own, athletes have been getting ready for the start practice next week.
Of course, that marks a huge change from the way high school sports were 15 or 20 years ago. There was a time when starting practice on August 16th meant just that, starting practice. You would use that time to get ready for a season that started just after Labor Day each year.
Now, athletes are expected to come to the first practice of a season in shape and ready to go.
On the football field, there are camps all summer, passing leagues and informal gatherings so that by the time the team gets together on Monday, the first practice will have the feel of a second or third week of practice.
Soccer and field hockey players have been getting together for weeks to be ready for the start of the season. Cross country runners have been on the roads and trails for weeks, so that when they begin practice on Monday they are already in mid-season form.
For some, the new way is a better way. After all, it leads to a much better chance of success in September and October if athletes come to practice ready to go on that first day. Coaches don’t have to spend a lot of time making sure their players are in shape for the season because they arrive ready to go from the first day.
But there may also be something to be said for being able to spend the summer away from school and away from your sport for a while. In a way, give yourself a chance to charge your batteries.
It’s an interesting argument that could go either way. Take too much time away from your sport and perhaps you don’t ever make it back.
A cross country runner who gets started in late August is way behind a runner who decides to start running in late August. But maybe that runner who starts in late August is less likely to get worn down by late October.
A football quarterback who spends weeknights in the summer throwing to his potential receivers has his timing down that much quicker than if he just started throwing to those same receivers in late August.
Does a tennis player who spends the whole summer playing in tournaments and going to camps get so worn down that by the time the high school season starts they need a rest. Or does that same player make huge strides in her game because she spent the summer playing in tournaments and going to camps?
Which way is best? That’s probably up to the individuals.
Some athletes need the time to recharge. Some can’t help but want to work as much as possible at getting better. For many young athletes, it is the time they put in during the summer months where they show the greatest improvement. And that improvement shows up on the playing field in September and October.
In the end, hopefully both segments come together and make a team that can have a successful season come September and October.