What Does Winter Break Look Like for HPU Athletes?

What Does Winter Break Look Like for HPU Athletes? 

    Winter break for HPU athletes looks like everyone else's… well minus the down time. With all HPU fall sports now having their seasons moved to the spring, the break is not a time to relax, but rather a time to get in shape.

    It is a true test to the players to see just how motivated they are. A winter break can make or break a spring team's chances of a strong start to the season.

    A coaches biggest worry with a month long winter break is that the players wont come back in shape, but that is the same worry for the players. If you don't do your part over the break as a player it just means more running for the team when you get back.

    As a member of the HPU men's lacrosse team I can attest to this. I have had years where we come back and kids fail the run test... not fun.

    It is a motivation for the players to come back in shape because it makes the transition into the spring a lot more enjoyable. Rather than worrying about conditioning, the team gets to focus on playing their respective sport. This makes it not only more fun, but also sets the team up nicely heading into the season.

    So what does the winter break really look like for these athletes? A workout and conditioning packet given to every athlete from their strength coach. While the workouts will vary from team to team, the difficulty remains the same.

    Conditioning plans four days a week, and lifts the other three. Though you can easily cheat the system, it wont be hard for the rest of the team to figure that out.

    Though that might not sound like the most ideal situation for some, for HPU athletes that is why they are here. One does not chose to be a Division I athlete if they are not committed to their respective sport and willing to make sacrifices.

    So, while it may not seem like an ideal situation for some, it it what these athletes do on a regular basis and why HPU sports are going to kick butt come the spring. 

Tyler Stinson