Softball players no longer have the opportunity to practice during seventh period this school year, meaning they have an additional class instead of the softball period they had in previous years.
With the upcoming school year, many sports like football and volleyball have already started their seasons. Before practice, they get an hour of practice or a warm-up because they have a 7th-period sport. Softball is a spring sport, like basketball, and players need the extra practice before the long three-hour practices in February begin.
The decision to remove seventh-period softball was made because the school did not have a coach available for the class. When a new coach was introduced, being a college student and softball player herself and was unable to make it to the school at the appropriate time.
When asked if this was a hard decision to make, Athletic Director Anthony Robinson said, “The decision to not have a 7th period softball class was hard to make, but we had to make that decision so that we could hire the right coach. It is not something that we won’t bring back, but we just had to put a hold on it for this year.”
One of the changes noticed by the players is the loss of time spent together as a team. The 7th period softball class gave the players additional time together during the school day, which helped to build connections among the team. The players go through the hardships of a mental game, while also being regular teenage girls. And when deprived of prime team bonding time, especially with the various ages between most of the players, the girls find a loss of connection.
“We have no team bonding, and a new coach coming in, so it’s more work to try to get the team together,” Senior Markayla Footman said.
Another issue regarding student-athletes is the workload between school, jobs and sports. The 7th period class offered time to catch up or get things done you usually wouldn’t have time for. For the athletes who no longer have this seventh period class, they had to pick up another class, whether it’s regular or AP.
“I have an extra class to worry about now, and I don’t have a seventh period study hall to do my homework,” sophomore Avery Lewis said.
This could become an issue toward the spring season, when there are at least three games a week and 3-hour practices every day. That leaves little time for the athletes to catch up on their studies.
Junior Ansley Hurst has been dealing with a head injury for over a year, yet continues to battle through it to work toward continuing her softball career. She has been in the seventh period class since freshman year and has been on the varsity roster since 8th grade.
Hurst said the loss of the seventh period class has affected her differently because she is not able to play travel ball.
“There’s still travel ball, and there’s always stuff to work on by ourselves, but right now, I’m not playing travel because of my head. So I’m not practicing with a team, but I’m still practicing by myself, but it’s kind of different.”
Although the seventh period softball class is not being offered this year, Robinson said he does not believe the change will negatively affect the future of the program.
“I don’t see this impacting the future of our program when it comes to having the right people in place. Also, during this off-season time, there are opportunities for kids to also get outside work, and to continue to build their brand and work on their game, and be ready for Florida High when the opportunity in that time is near.”
