Attending the workouts after school, the girls soccer team participates in a variety of workouts in order to be prepared for the start of the season in March.

The girls soccer team began their workouts on Jan. 5 and will continue until the spring tryouts. They are held after school from 2:30-4:00 p.m. on Monday, Wednesday and Thursday.

“The workouts are designed to help the team get into shape for the season by including speed and agility drills, cardio training, fitness, ab work, arms and legs, core strength, basic conditioning and ball work at open gyms,” Coach Annie Wayland said.

The workouts are designed to cut back on the time spent during the season to get the team into shape.

“The workouts are a little more disciplined and focused the past few years. If the girls come into the season fit and strong, we do not have to use the first one to two weeks getting fit. Therefore, we can jump right into working on the game, enhancing ball skills and getting into the tactical and technical part of the game,” Wayland said.

Each day has a specific workout designed for the team. On Mondays and Wednesdays it’s cardio and weight training and Thursdays are open gyms.

“Monday’s workout is a lot harder because you just came back from the weekend,” sophomore Rachel Griffard said.

The workouts are mainly focused on improving strength.

“During workouts we hope to target arms and core because it helps for protecting the ball and fitness. Also, by targeting legs it helps with striking the ball and to prevent injury,” Wayland said.

The team also has the opportunity to play soccer before the season starts.

“Although it is mostly weight training, once a week, on Thursdays, we can kick a ball around at the open gyms,” Griffard said.

Even though they are challenging, Griffard and 20 other girls regularly attend the workouts.

“I really like attending the workouts because afterwards they make you feel extremely strong, even though they are super hard during,” Griffard said.

Junior Jordan Beveridge also attended the workouts to prepare for the season.

“If you attend, you get more in shape, and if you don’t run it’s hard to keep up. The running and exercises increase your fitness levels and increase your competitiveness by competing against your team and people who are trying out for your position too,” Beveridge said.

Beveridge’s favorite part of the workouts is how the team cooperates.

“Since the workouts are challenging, the team works together and encourages each other to get through it especially during the ab workouts,” Beveridge said.

The workouts are designed to become progressively harder –  a change that helps the girls realize difference in their performance.

“We try to make the workouts as fun as possible, and the girls definitely enjoy seeing progress in their numbers going up from the beginning of winter workouts to the end such as the number of push-ups, sit-ups and mile times,” Wayland said.

Griffard’s personal goal for the season is to push herself as hard as she can.

“I would like to improve greatly in all aspects of the game from the physical to the mental to the teamwork parts of soccer,” Griffard said.

Beveridge also has a goal for the team for this upcoming season.

“I want to start on Varsity this year and I hope the team goes to State and ends with a winning record,” Beveridge said.

Tryouts begin on March 2.

“Since we will be in a new district this year it’s important we prepare ourselves throughout the season for post-season play. We strive to consistently compete in an 80 minute game with no breakdowns, respond to adversity whenever faced, to bond as a team and family, to grow as individuals and a team and to remain positive throughout the season,” Wayland said.