Sports consume the lives of many students during the school year, but for some, that’s not enough. These students pick up their cleats, sticks and helmets to play their sport during the summer.

From practices and camps to full games, playing a sport in the summer can be time intensive with very little downtime. Many cannot go on vacation or miss practices because of it. In fact, most of the time students travel with the team to other states to play in tournaments.

In a poll of 100 West Essex students, 41 percent of students play summer sports. Clearly, many students find it to be a fun way to spend their time in the summer doing something they love.

“Those that go to camps and are part of club team usually turn out better than other players who don’t, but with every athlete it’s a different journey,” said Mr. Schwindel, assistant boys lacrosse coach and director of personnel for Trilogy lacrosse. “Just playing in the summer from a camp to a clinic is very helpful for getting to that next level.”

There are many positives to playing a summer sport. One is being able to keep active during the summer, which is a main reason why students at West Essex play. Those that don’t play can often find themselves sitting at home playing video games or watching Netflix. By playing in the summer, you stay in shape and have fun in the process.

“Getting to meet new people and travel to different states for tournaments is the best part about playing in the summer, it also is very good to prepare you for your season during the school year,” said freshman Mac Farrell, a varsity soccer player.

Many students use club teams, camps and showcases as a way to get recruited by a college. Showcases and camps happen during the summer and are known to be some of the best ways to get noticed by a college. This is a major key in the recruiting process for students at West Essex and around the country.

Students also commented that even though sports during the summer can be fun, they can be annoying at times.

“I have to wake up very early and have a lot of practices and meets on the weekends which can cut into my time with friends,” said sophomore Emma Bossaert, a swimmer.

Sports can start to cut into time off from school. Many of these sports have practice at least three times a week and have games or tournaments on the weekends.

“If you really love that sport, it will make you become a better player,” sophomore Thomas Fabiano said. “The only negative is that it takes up time to relax in the summer.”

Playing these sports doesn’t come cheap. It can cost $1,000 to just be a part of the team, not including additional travel prices or equipment. Many students still pay to better enhance their abilities and get better for their seasons that are coming up during the school year.

The main summer sports are soccer, field hockey, lacrosse, baseball and softball. However, there are many other interesting sports to play in the summer, such as horseback riding, swimming and golf. Clearly, there are many options to choose from that can be a fit for anyone who wants to stay active during the summer.

“If it is something you enjoy and something you can get better at,” said sophomore Alex Franchi, “there is no reason not to do it.”