Let's cut straight to the point: Young student-athletes are not in the adequate shape they need to be in order to produce optimal results in their desired sport? If you see this in sports, do you agree?
On my end, I see this in ice hockey, especially at the high school level. Players compete for two teams, play at least 50 to 60 games per year. Sometimes, the total number of games can fall around 80 games if a young player plays for a AAA level program (20 high school, 60 travel).
Ridiculous?
It is a lot. I remember playing roughly 60 games my senior year of high school for my travel team. If you do the math, starting around Labor Day, that is two games per weekend until the end of February. If a player plays high school in addition to travel, then he or she may have one or two high school games per week from mid-October to February. We're up to three to four games per week. Of course, some weeks are different than others in which only a total of two games may be played.
What about practices?
Practices may vary. The travel practice schedule is most likely altered by weather cancellation. High school practices, on the other hand, face weather and games. See, if you have practice on a Monday at 4pm, you will not have practice at 4pm if a game is scheduled. Travel tends to practice once per week and high school...once to twice a week.
Remember the possible overlaps in scheduling for the high school team. A player can have a week that resembles the following:
Monday - high school practice
Tuesday - travel practice
Wednesday - high school game
Thursday- travel practice
Friday - travel game
Saturday - two travel games
Sunday -travel game
Process It
Eight times on the ice with maybe one or two off-ice sessions during the week. However, those off-ice sessions come at the understanding that many players did not enter the season in shape. So, during the season, teams are spending time getting players in shape for a rigorous schedule that calls for everyone...to be in shape from the start!
Get on the ball, student-athletes, and take advantage of your season!
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