Before the sun rises, the Hunt Family Stadium is already filled with commotion. Lacrosse coaches shout orders at rotating defenders. Rowers blast music through speakers while erging in unison. Baseball players laugh as they head towards the fieldhouse for batting practice. While most students sleep, spring athletes are already hard at work.
Lacrosse’s early morning practices developed out of necessity. During the preseason, when in-season sports have priority over the fields in the afternoon, the team sometimes had to practice before school or after all other sports were done. For senior lacrosse captain Rocco Renda, the morning practices changed his entire schedule.
“It’s a totally different feeling to the week,” Renda said. “It changes when I go to bed, when I wake up. I’m happy about it because it gives me more time to do work during the evening.”
The baseball team often utilizes the new Ralph B. Rogers Fieldhouse in the morning. Since Ruff Field doesn’t have lights, players were unable to do batting practice before school. With the new retractable batting cages, baseball players have been able to maximize their potential.
“Coach (Dennis) Kelly has been up there every morning helping guys get whatever work they need,” captain Jake DeBoever said. “It’s been huge for team morale and individual development during the offseason.”
One of the main benefits to morning workouts is the energy boost it gives to students during morning classes. The physical benefits are debated by scientists because early workouts are also associated with less sleep time; however, athletes have enjoyed the psychological effects of work outs.
“It makes you feel better to start the day, you don’t feel so draggy in first period,” DeBoever said. “But sometimes towards the latter half of the day you feel it because you lost an hour of sleep.”
A common gripe about afternoon practice is how late students get home. Because in-season high school practices go until 6:30 p.m., many athletes have to stay up late to finish their work. With early practices, players get home one to two hours earlier than they normally would.
“Going home at 3:30 is the best feeling,” Renda said. “Being able to start my homework at 3:45 and then have the rest of the night off and go to bed early is a great feeling.”
While morning workouts have received mixed reviews, players agree that there is something special about these practices.
“It’s more rewarding,” Renda said. “Especially when we have time to shower and go get breakfast as a team. I did something productive before my day even started.”
