As Granite Bay High School fall sports get underway, it is easy to get swept up in their successes and forget about the other set of sports and athletes coming in the spring.
   Don’t be fooled though; just because it’s not spring yet doesn’t mean these athletes aren’t already preparing for their seasons.
   From softball to lacrosse, athletes involved in spring sports have found alternative ways to train: they’ve found off-season leagues.
   These leagues allow student athletes the chance to condition and play while their sport is on hiatus. Like any other sports league, the teams compete and have regular practices.
   Such leagues offer players the chance to develop their skills before the start of the official season, and correct any pre-standing habits that could prevent them from performing to the best of their abilities.
   One such league is the Grizzlies, an off-season softball team compiled of GBHS softball players. However, per the league’s restrictions, the team is not school sponsored and does not bear Granite Bay’s name.
   The team participates in games with other local teams and holds a weekly practice where players can get extra help from the coach and work on their skills.
   “It teaches me new techniques that help improve my game,” said GBHS junior Kendall Roth, a player on the Grizzlies.
   One of the biggest advantages of participating in an off-season league is the extra hands-on practice. The experience gained from working with coaches in an off-season league can prove invaluable during the coming season.
      “It gets you one on one time with the coach,” GBHS sophomore player Katie Mitchell said. “She gets to know you before the season actually (begins).”
   Off-season leagues help to improve the team both on and off the field. Though it may be the greater goal of the programs to work on skill and game play, the added practices help to develop a feeling of unity among the players and form bonds of friendship.
   “(It) help(s) the team get more tight-knit and get to know each other on the field better.” GBHS junior and Grizzlies player Jovita Engwer said.
   Out on the field, the connections made during these preseason practices will only enhance the team’s skills. After all, it all comes down to the players and how they interact with one another on the field.
   “(We learn to) trust each other and get back into the swing of things,” Roth said.
   The trust and bonds attained through these practices help the team to function cohesively and drive them towards success in the coming season.
   Many teams are also preparing for the upcoming season by holding preseason conditioning. Like the leagues, these programs give athletes early training experience and extra time working with the coaches.
   The ultimate goal of all of these programs is to enhance GBHS’ teams and ensure that the coming season is a great one.
   “It’s important for (athletes) to participate,” Roth said. “It keeps them at the top of their game all the time and (ensures) they don’t forget anything or pick up bad habits.”