Fall conditioning: Is it worth it?

By: Kiley Langford

Winter and Spring sports began conditioning this week and the fall sports seasons have yet to begin.

By this time, in a normal school year, fall sports would be over and winter sports would be right in the middle of their season. Spring sports would have started pre-season conditioning and competitions by now also.

However, 2020 was anything but normal. And now that has begun to bleed into 2021 as well.

But athletes are holding onto the hope of living a normal life, and soon. 

Since mid-October, fall sport athletes have been “conditioning” for their sport. But really how much conditioning does an athlete actually need?

In Water Polo and Football, two of the most physical sports, conditioning can only do so much. 

As a water polo player, physical contact is a key part of the game. Not only do I have this belief but former water polo player Jersey Hays ‘21 says, “considering that water polo is full contact there is little to no room to alter the sport to where it could be social distanced.”

Changes to practices also have been made to encourage social distancing. Water polo practices now look more like swim practices than the regular water polo season practices.

The most bizarre COVID-19 influenced change is the shooting guideline players must follow. Polo players can only shoot the water polo ball into the cage with a goalie for 14 minutes at a time.

The COVID-19 guidelines for water polo make it extremely hard to get better at the game. Swimming laps will help players, but only so much. Polo players cannot possibly learn how to defend someone without contact. They cannot learn how to be a good offensive player without contact.

This goes for any sport that requires contact. So what is the point of conditioning?

Considering all of the new rules and guidelines athletes have to follow in their daily lives due to COVID-19, is it even likely sports will happen anytime soon? 

The current circumstances have pushed Hays to make a hard decision. She says, “Making the decision to withdraw my commitment to water polo was not an easy choice. Throughout the 6 years, I’ve devoted to this sport, the skill set I gained was only a byproduct of the relationships I built and the trials I was able to experience. Water polo had become my escape from my problems, a way to express my energy in a healthy way.”

Hays, unfortunately, had to make a choice she had not foreseen. Had it been a regular year, she could have continued to play her 4th season of water polo as a senior.

She continues to say, “Since polo is a full-contact sport and we live in a very high case region, I had to prioritize the things that would help prepare me for my next chapter in life.”

“When I started conditioning with the team in October, I really did think we were going to be able to start scrimmaging by December. However, when I got the message that we were back to square one after winter break and I took a look at my work schedule on top of the new VUSD school hours, I had to look at the logistical side of my time management.”

Hays has really weighed her options and she believes it is in her best interest to let go of the sport and focus on her future and saving money from her job for college.

Another senior athlete, Lionel Inhphom ‘21, has chosen to quit cross country and focus his time and energy on the upcoming track and field season.

Had it been a normal year, Inhphom would have been able to run cross country and track. Although he has been preparing for his track season since summer, Inhphom missed out on his cross country senior season. 

However, he does believe “conditioning still is worth it because they announced that there will be some fall season sports continuing.” 

Despite this, Inhphom believes it is in his best interest to step away from cross country and completely transition into the track and field season. 

On the other hand…

Karson Everett, ‘22, is a varsity football player. He says “We have been conditioning as a team. We started a little after quarantine started.” 

The football season has yet to begin. Like water polo, the sport demands contact, something that we cannot engage in because of COVID-19. 

Despite this, Everett is remaining hopeful. Everett says, “ I think that it is worth it because we could end up having a season and we need to be ready if that happens.”

Everett is not only a football player but a wrestler and track and field athlete. Although he plays three separate sports, he will continue to focus on football for the time being.

“I am staying motivated by hoping that the season will start and knowing that the work that I am putting in will pay off.” Everett will continue to condition with the football team, remaining hopeful he can have the best of both worlds. 

Some athletes, such as Karson Everett, have chosen to remain hopeful and continue to condition to ensure they are ready for a fall season if it happens. Other athletes, like Lionel Inhphom, have chosen to focus their attention on the next sports seasons. And some athletes, like Jersey Hays, have chosen to walk away from all sports and focus on work and school.