In today’s world, sports have become an extremely competitive environment for people of all ages. It is very difficult to go out and perform well against top competition while only executing the bare minimum. The best players put time and dedication into their sport by conditioning, playing on teams outside of school and making time to practice on their own. To ensure a successful school season, many teams at Spartanburg High School have found different ways to prepare in the preseason.
Girls basketball has soared through preseason with the introduction of a new staff to the program. New coaches have brought fresh drills and techniques to the court to improve the team’s skills and stamina. Along with their arrival, they have created “The Sisterhood” which is the idea that the team is a family that provides a supportive and caring environment for players. Through preseason, they have participated in the Upward League where JV and varsity faced local teams. All their efforts in the preseason have led to team development in their performance and chemistry.
Leslie Boyd, head coach of the girls basketball team, believes that team bonding activities in the preseason helped strengthen friendships across the team.
“We did a few team bonding activities that helped us become closer as sisters,” Boyd said. “One of our favorites was outdoor movie night. We were able to eat good food, popcorn and candy while we watched ‘Parent Trap’ on the driveway. We laughed together and had a fun night creating memories together for our Sisterhood.”
Baseball has been training for the upcoming school season through their fall league, Diamond Prospects. Diamond Prospects has given the baseball team the opportunity to practice during the fall as a team and it brings awareness to what aspects of the game they need to work on. They had a very impressive season only losing one game while playing in the league this year.
States Farr (10) has committed to play baseball at the University of South Carolina while playing for the Vikings and believes that Diamond Prospects has helped him refine his game.
“I feel this year’s Diamond Prospect season did improve me as a player,” Farr said. “It taught me where I need to better my game and how I can be better teammate to create a positive environment.”
Preseason is also a great time to learn a sport for the first time. It provides the opportunity to practice and learn the fundamentals of the game without the pressures of executing good results consistently. The girls lacrosse program has opened its arms to many girls who want to play lacrosse but lack experience. Through conditioning, offseason practices, travel teams and clinics, the program has helped new and veteran players excel in their craft.
Rod Camp is the assistant girls varsity lacrosse coach at Spartanburg High and believes that preseason is very important to the outcome of the school season.
“Just like in any sport, the preseason is very important in lacrosse to have a successful program,” Camp said. We give our girls a lot of conditioning and lacrosse opportunities all year round. All their hard work in the off-season/preseason really pays off during the regular season.”
