Setting Early Alarms for Sunrise Swim
Morning practices allow boys’ water polo to improve their performance
By Hassan Bhatti
Morning practices allow boys’ water polo to improve their performance
By Hassan Bhatti
At 5 a.m., boys’ varsity water polo rises bright and early for weight training while their peers enjoy an extra hour of sleep on a late-start Thursday.
As the team prepares for the season, being strong enough to compete in the Mt. Hamilton division becomes a serious issue with the new team. Unfortunately, finding a time that works well for both players and coaches is difficult and so the team is forced to compromise.
Even though waking up early is taxing on the players, captain Brendon Kurihara, 12, believes it is necessary for them to become stronger and advance in their league.
“We’ve got to put in more work to hang with some of these older teams,’’ said Kurihara. “We’re treading water the entire game.”
Strength training is an integral part of every sport, however, since water polo is an aquatic sport, dry land practice becomes that much more important in shaping a team that can compete for 32 minutes.
While players acknowledge the importance of hard work and how it is vital to their successful team, most would prefer other practice times. Anthony Giacinto, 12, sees and understands the difference in his personal performance depending on the practice time.
“I definitely have less motivation because it is so early in the morning,” Giacinto said, adding that students also need time to keep up with their homework and academics. “3:30-5:30 p.m. gives me a good balance of time before and after school.”
However, some prefer waking up earlier. Alex Lymberopoulos, 12, expanded on the importance of morning weightlifting and how it was personally easier for him.
“I’m a morning person, so I think morning practice is actually better for me because I’m super focused,” said Lymberopoulos, “I personally view it as necessary — it’s a way for us to bond through a kind of shared suffering.”
As the team prepares for the season, being strong enough to compete in the Mt. Hamilton division becomes a serious issue with the new team. Unfortunately, finding a time that works well for both players and coaches is difficult and so the team is forced to compromise.
Even though waking up early is taxing on the players, captain Brendon Kurihara, 12, believes it is necessary for them to become stronger and advance in their league.
“We’ve got to put in more work to hang with some of these older teams,’’ said Kurihara. “We’re treading water the entire game.”
Strength training is an integral part of every sport, however, since water polo is an aquatic sport, dry land practice becomes that much more important in shaping a team that can compete for 32 minutes.
While players acknowledge the importance of hard work and how it is vital to their successful team, most would prefer other practice times. Anthony Giacinto, 12, sees and understands the difference in his personal performance depending on the practice time.
“I definitely have less motivation because it is so early in the morning,” Giacinto said, adding that students also need time to keep up with their homework and academics. “3:30-5:30 p.m. gives me a good balance of time before and after school.”
However, some prefer waking up earlier. Alex Lymberopoulos, 12, expanded on the importance of morning weightlifting and how it was personally easier for him.
“I’m a morning person, so I think morning practice is actually better for me because I’m super focused,” said Lymberopoulos, “I personally view it as necessary — it’s a way for us to bond through a kind of shared suffering.”