Photo by Pinn Chirathivat/The Choate News
Playing one varsity sport at Choate can include many hours of training and practice in addition to the other rigors of being a Choate student. Some Choate students participate in multiple varsity sports, which brings even more difficulties in balancing commitments that Choate students have. However, Choate student-athletes who participate in multiple varsity sports say they have a better experience playing more than one sport compared to focusing only on one.
Time management at Choate can be difficult for everyone, but it is especially hard for Choate student-athletes who play more than one varsity sport. Balancing a two-hour sports commitment every day with homework and extracurriculars is simply not easy. Varsity hockey and baseball player Chris Guyette ’19 said, “For me, since my sports are in back-to-back seasons, I find myself having to use my Sundays during hockey seasons to prepare for the baseball season.”
He continued, “This takes time away from doing homework on Sundays and getting adequate rest for my body during the rigorous and physically intense hockey season.”
Being a multi-varsity athlete at Choate brings high expectations for these athletes and their teams. They are always expected to perform at the highest levels. Varsity field hockey, lacrosse, and hockey player Gina Driscoll ’20 said, “As a varsity athlete, you are expected to perform at a high level every practice and game, and always do everything necessary to prepare yourself appropriately.”
While playing multiple varsity sports is certainly a large time commitment and requires a high level of play, there are also many benefits to playing more than one varsity sport. If they play more than one varsity sport, Choate student-athletes can have different experiences with a more diverse community. Guyette explained, “For one, the diversity of one’s friend groups is expanded tremendously as being a part of a team at Choate instills friendships that last a lifetime.”
He added, “I have friends who play baseball, friends who play hockey, friends who play both, and friends who are friends of those who play either sport. Therefore, you open yourself up to new students and faculty members of the respective teams that you would never have maybe met beforehand.”
Varsity football and tennis player Will Powers ’19 said, “I also have a lot of great friends on both teams that I may not have had from only playing one sport.”
Playing another sport in addition to a Choate student-athlete’s main sport allows Choate student-athletes to improve as an athlete overall. Different sports require different skills and attributes specific to that sport, and Choate student-athletes can become better athletes by participating in more than one sport. Driscoll said, “Playing different sports with different strategies has enabled me to understand my other sports better. I’m able to apply the concepts I have learned from one sport to help me better understand different plays and strategies in another sport.”
Guyette also said, “There is nothing more beneficial for an athlete than playing multiple sports because each sport uses different muscles and different techniques that combine to create an all-around great athlete.” He continued, “From skating on ice to running around the outfield, there is a drastic change in physical ability to do both task successfully, and by pursuing perfection in both areas, I, in turn, better myself all around as an athlete.”
Photo courtesy of Will Powers
Although there are many positives in playing multiple varsity sports at Choate, it can also be beneficial to focus only on one varsity sport. At Choate, spending only one term participating in a varsity sport allows student-athletes to have more time during the other two terms to focus on schoolwork. Guyette explained, “You only have one term in which you are actively participating in a varsity sport. Therefore, your other two terms have more downtime, and you can focus on school and socializing with fellow students.”
Choate student-athletes can improve their ability in one sport by participating in only that varsity sport at Choate. Powers said, “The benefit of playing one sport is that an increased focus would definitely make one stronger for that sport. If I devoted all my time to tennis or to football, I would probably be much better at that sport.”
Guyette agreed, “Focusing on one sport forces you to put all of your ability into that one sport, and, in turn, makes it more likely for you to reach your physical ability in that sport because you are not distracted.”
Only focusing on one varsity sport, however, can cause Choate student-athletes to become bored or tired of playing that sport. Driscoll said, “Focusing all your time and energy into one sport may make you a great player of that sport, but the best players are those that are great athletes.” She added, “Having skill in one type of sport is great, but you may want to try trying your hand at other sports and gaining the skills needed for those sports, which can only make you better at your main sport.”
Guyette said of focusing on one sport, “However, a downside would be that many people who focus on one sport in high school find themselves bored with doing the same sport every day and lose motivation.”
Choate student-athletes that play multiple varsity sports can avoid overuse injuries. Driscoll commented, “Playing just one sport for an extended period of time can wear on your muscles, which can lead to a whole array of medical problems possibly prohibiting you from playing your main sport.” Other sports also required different muscles which can be beneficial for a different varsity sport. Driscoll added, “Additionally, playing different sports can work different muscles than those you would normally use for your main sport. These new gains could help you perform better during your main sport.”
Overall, at Choate, playing more than one varsity sport is clearly more advantageous than only participating in one varsity sport. The benefits of improving as an athlete and having a wider variety of experiences in outweigh the difficulties of time management. Driscoll said, “Time away from your main sport matters, and playing multiple sports at Choate gives students the opportunity to do just that.”
