The balance between two sports in different seasons

From athletes who participate in cross country in the fall to those who swim in the spring, some students are balancing sports with little natural overlap, managing conflicting physical and mental demands throughout the year.

Competing in two sports can mean adjusting not only to different physical demands but also to different team structures. While team sports rely on communication and coordination, other sports focus on individual performance. For senior Coco Chen, who competes in water polo and track and field, adjusting to these contrasting expectations requires a shift in mindset in each season.

“Water polo is primarily a team sport that allows each player to engage, and while track is also a team sport, you’re scored individually in how you place,” Chen said. “I think the dynamic is what was really different for me. I was very used to playing and communicating with my teammates in and out of the water in water polo, but in track, it’s very different, since they are separate events.”

Other than differences in team structure, athletes who play multiple sports also deal with the overlap in season schedules. 

“Time management is probably the biggest challenge,” Chen said. “With two sports, multiple [Advanced Placement] classes and a job, there’s not much flexibility. Sometimes I have to sacrifice sleep to finish homework or make it to morning practices.” 

Another perspective on playing multiple sports comes from freshman Ty Su, who sees sports as a mental reset. For Su, who competes in football and wrestling, sports serve as both motivation and stress relief. 

“Doing a sport means I have to do well in my classes if I want to keep playing,” Su said. “It motivates me to get better grades and [works as] entertainment. If I only focused on studying, that wouldn’t be good for my mental health.”

Motivations for playing multiple sports vary from athlete to athlete. Junior Darren Hsu, who competes in water polo and previously in tennis, believes doing two sports is simply a matter of interest. 

“I kind of just wanted to do both,” Hsu said. “I’ve always been interested in swimming, so I chose water polo, and I played tennis in the spring to continue staying fit. It was fun to be able to compete in two sports that I have always been interested in.”