Sophomore Nick Nguyen wakes up one summer day and goes to practice in the afternoon, ready to improve his football skills. Instead of spending time with family and friends, cheerleaders and football players begin their summer training.
Football is a no cut sport while cheerleading has a more competitive try-out process that makes positions more coveted. These two sports are unique from others as their training occurs largely over the course of summer break, bringing along its own unique challenges and limitations.
“I wasn’t able to go to all the hangouts that I wanted because it was in the middle of the day, and I had to take time off of things I wanted to do over the summer like summer classes and stuff,” Nguyen said.
Training for the football team follows a similar schedule to other after school programs, with late afternoon practices spanning about two hours. Although participating in summer practices is not required for players, it is encouraged. Nguyen shared that not going to practices, such as the summer before his freshman year due to not knowing about them, can affect all aspects of a player’s season.
“I was definitely a lot less prepared than the other freshman players who had had the training,” Nguyen said. “Going into the summer training is worth it because it definitely prepares you for the season.”
Summer cheer practices have a different schedule, only practicing two days a week. Junior Mariama Diallo noted that having a limited number of practice days for a memory-heavy sport does not mean less workload.
“I think it takes a lot of dedication and at-home training because we only meet two times a week, so you have to practice at home a lot to remember everything for performances that are months ahead,” Diallo said.
Training during the summer can have disadvantages that other sports do not have to consider. Junior Allison Hurley recalled the combination of exercise and additional heat that comes with these practices.
“You’re in the sun, and you’re conditioning, running around. Obviously, you’re gonna get overheated,” Hurley said. “The water breaks are short because we have stuff to do, and it’s only two hours twice a week.”
The cheer coaches, however, have found solutions to the complications training in the heat brings.
“The heat sometimes affected us so much that we had to move our practices to times after the sunset,” Diallo said.
Due to the teamwork aspect of cheer, it can be essential that all players are present at practices and put in equal work.
“You can go on vacation, but you have to let them (the coaches) know two weeks in advance. Every person is needed ‘cause it’s group work, so if one person isn’t there, it affects all of us, so that’s why you need approval and need to let them know,” Diallo said.
Being tardy or missing a practice without being excused can lead to a cheerleader being taken out of the routine. Diallo, however, feels that the consequences could upset the whole routine due to athletes having to adjust to new formations with less people.
“We could do so much better with everyone there, and it sucks that people get punished for things like sick days or smaller things,” Diallo said. “Sometimes punishments affect all of us because if one person misses a practice, it affects all of us because we have to change the whole thing.”
Whether summer practices are required for a team, many athletes feel any training time a player can get affects their season. Nguyen understands that he would not be the player he is today without the extra training.
“I would recommend people do it (summer training) because you should play the sport to do your best, and you could definitely improve with the extra summer training,” Nguyen said. “Not only does it make you better as a player, but it also helps with your bond with your coaches and other players.”