Many parents have become concerned with their children’s lack of physical activity. South offers over 15 sports in different seasons to make every student connect with at least one. However, a problem arises when only a few facilities are available per season and many sports need to be practiced, leaving many teams to practice behind the bleachers or find other spaces. Many parents are frustrated with how their children practice in unsuitable areas that may not be designed for their sports. Max Canavari, the Junior Varsity B soccer team head coach, has to practice drills on the baseball field without efficient-sized soccer goals.
“It is unfortunate that not there is not enough space for all three soccer teams,” Canavari said. “Even though we only have a few games during the season compared to varsity, I think every team should be able to practice with the right equipment.”
Many players who have to play on surfaces different from their sport need help to improve their skills. One player is Andrew Strong ‘26, who is forced to join off-season travel soccer teams to improve because of the lack of training during the regular season.
“I appreciate my coach trying to help us train however he could,” Strong said. “I don’t think we improved as much as we were able to, especially because in some practices we wouldn’t even have goals to shoot on.”
Soccer isn’t the only sport having trouble with training space. When winter comes around a lot of spring sports like to use the gym equipment in the weight room. With so much demand for the weight room, many teams are having to share or not practice. Will Scott ’27, an off-season football player often has to train with many different teams.
“The football team used to always have the gym to ourselves from 3:15 to 4:15 after school,” Scott said. “But now other teams and players are working out with us which makes the weight room almost crammed and jam-packed.”
South staff and athletic directors are aware of the lack of training space. As a result, they try to use both gyms from 4 to 8 p.m. and it still leaves teams sharing the gym. Canavari has had a lot of questions about off-season soccer programs and had to practice at Eastside Tennis and Fitness, a ten-minute drive from South.
“I just want all of the teams to improve and mainly make the kids have fun,” Canvari said. “I hope that South can figure out a way to fit all the teams into the building especially when it’s about to start snowing outside.”
