Every athlete fears it. All know its name. No one dares to enter unprepared. It’s Preseason time.

For those of you who have never experienced preseason, consider yourselves lucky. Ignorance is bliss. You have never had to run on and on, around and around, never stopping to catch your breath for fear of being cut immediately. You have never been forced to do endless drills, footwork exercises and whatever else the seemingly relentless coach can think of. Even a brief mention of preseason can make an athlete shiver with fear. So, how are you going to make sure you’re not the first person on the ground or cut because of all this physical activity? The answer is: practice.

Practice, practice and practice some more. The only way to prepare is to practice. Practice sprints, long distance, abs, upper body, lower body—practice EVERYTHING. You can never go wrong at the gym. No matter what sport you are doing, being in a fit physical shape can only help. Of course, you also want to practice your respective sport. A summer camp focused on the sport is a great way to prepare. It is organized, intensive play where you can hone your skills and make new friends at the same time. For me, keeping a healthy diet is a nice compliment to my training. No soda has entered my system since February. I’m a big believer in the saying “little sacrifices come with big rewards.”  The only way to enter preseason comfortably is by feeling prepared. Working hard, eating healthy and interminable training keeps you on your toes and ready for preseason.

I’m an incoming sophomore who plays girls tennis. Our preseason is in August during the summer. I consider myself one of the lucky ones. Sure, I might have to play in the blistering heat with no time limits because there’s no school to interfere, and maybe my summer vacation is cut off a month early, but at least I don’t have to worry too much about time management.  One of the biggest issues for athletes is keeping school and sports steady. Get ready to manage your time and make sacrifices. No matter when, or for how long, you have preseason, it comes with its own ups and downs. The best way to deal with it is to be prepared. But, remember, all of the hard work is worth it in the end; however, to get to that finish line, first, you need to survive the preseason.