Hell Week

The sound of the coaches' voice echoes through the air and shoes squeak on the gym floor as athletes begin their season. With the start of basketball season comes the most intense weeks of the season, also known as ‘Hell Week.’

Preseason can be a difficult time for many players. One of the biggest struggles athletes face when coming back to a sport is the feeling of being unprepared. This can mean being out of shape or not knowing what to expect for the season. Some students do their best to avoid this issue.

“I make sure I’m not unprepared because I’m continuing to practice during preseason and summer in order to be ready,” said freshman athlete Allison Proctor. 

While preseason practices and games can be strenuous on players, especially after not playing for long periods of time, they are vital for a successful season. These early practices allow athletes to refine fine motor skills that may have been lost.

“It’s important to get more practice with the team that you're going to play with, and improve technical skills,” expressed sophomore Micheal Wilson. 

Conditioning for basketball includes running for long periods of time, doing passing and shooting drills, and working on team building. This can be extremely tedious for some players.

“Hell week is hard because it is back to back running and you just keep getting more worn out and slower as the practice goes on,” junior Holly Hartmann explained. “I think it is definitely hard because you have not run that much since the last season.”

The nerves and excitement of the regular season permeate the air as these athletes continue to grow in their training. These moments before the season are vital for creating a strong team that will work well together in the regular season. 

“I think it's important to get to know my teammates and coaches,” stated Proctor. “I’m looking forward to the conditioning aspects because it’s something that I already know I am good at so the stakes are much lower.” 

Certain athletes who have already endured the rough conditioning know what to anticipate for these harsh training weeks. Sophomore Finneas Slavin has played basketball for over seven years and is prepared for what's to come. 

“[Hell Week is] not that bad,” Slavin expressed. “It’s kind of hyped up. It's just a lot of running and getting ready for the season.”

As players at Jefferson Academy await the start of a new season, athletes are training more, not just physically but also mentally. Setting goals for the season is something that coaches focus on in the preseason. These goals help athletes to have more confidence going into regular season games and practices. 

“I set goals to just get better in all aspects of the game,”  Slavin stated

As the preseason progresses and the regular season begins, players will continue to improve their skills. Preseason can be a difficult time for many athletes. However, it is a crucial component for a successful basketball season.

“I'm glad that there was basketball preseason because it got me prepared for the real season,” expressed freshman Finley Fredricey, after joining the high school team. “I hadn't played in a while so it was a little challenging to get back into it, but I eventually did.”