Athletes: Those Who Are and Those Who Aren’t

Spending hours of their day working on their craft, student-athletes are important to the school they play for. They represent the school and have very busy schedules.

Playing sports in school affects students in different ways. “It takes up most of my time,” said soccer player Marvin Alvarez. On a positive note, Jonathan Yong, a baseball player, said, “It gets me in shape and helps me release all my stress.”

Students who don’t play a sport have a different afterschool routine than student-athletes. “Afterschool I hang around with my friends,” said senior Gretna Landaverde. Sophomore Shantel Chavaria said, “I go home, watch TV, and basically do nothing.”

Afterschool when it is time to go home or do other things, students that play a sport stay and go to practice. After practice senior Kevin Reyes, who plays basketball, said, “I go home, do homework, eat, shower, sleep and repeat.” Another basketball player Junior Noro goes home after practice or goes to the park to play some more basketball.

During the weekends, students and student-athletes are more similar in their schedules. Junior Gamalier Garcia, a basketball player, tends to take the weekend for himself to relax and hang out with friends since he has practice Monday through Saturday. Another junior, Jose Sanchez, who is not an athlete, likes to ride his bike around Miami on the weekends or stay home.

Student-athletes have their own way on how to balance school and their sport.  “I coordinate time for both school and soccer,” said senior soccer player Anthony Amaya. “I don’t really know how I balance both school and baseball, but I just do it,” said baseball player Jonathan Yong.

On the other hand, for Kevin Reyes balancing it out doesn’t really matter. “School comes first, then the sport and other things,” he said.

Is it possible for athletes to spend too much time on their sport? Michelle Gutierrez, a junior, said, “It’s bad because of homework and maybe they end up too tired to do it.” On the other hand, sophomore Lazaro Hernandez said, “It’s good because they aren’t in the streets doing bad things.”

Coaches play a role in student-athletes’ lives. Baseball coach David Rivero keeps up with the players, grades by student portal, progress reports, and report cards.

”We send progress reports, and I follow up with teachers,” said girls basketball coach Samuel “Boozer” Baumgarten. He also asks to see student portals and helps the students by giving them study hall before practice.

How much time athletes should spend practicing on sports can be determined differently, depending on which coach you are asking. Coach Rivero for baseball thinks it depends on the player. “Some players need more than others, but every player should get 2 hours in every day,” he said. Girls basketball Coach Boozer says 20-25 hours per week is good for each player. “Only practice can get you better,” he said.