With women’s basketball preseason in full swing, the team is preparing for the fast-approaching season. Unlike regular-season practices, which focus primarily on studying game strategy and opponents, preseason training offers opportunities for players to work on their personal skills, build up team cohesion and mentally prepare themselves for what will be expected of them during the season.

For many players, like forward and junior Jacobi Warren, the drills during preseason training focus on core skills for harder plays later in the season. 

“In preseason, there’s a lot of drill work,” Warren said. “We do a lot more skill development than in-season, where we work on plays and scouting other teams.” 

According to Warren, preseason allows players to focus on the basic building blocks of the game: ball handling, shooting, and defense. This way, Warren said, they go into the regular season as well-rounded athletes.

Training during preseason goes well past just physical skills. She said the preseason practices provided more time for the team to connect, both on and off the court. 

“It just gives us more time working together and trying to gel, communicating with each other when doing things and trying to get better,” she said. 

Warren said this communication and bonding, especially early in the season, is important to integrate new players into the team. She said preseason practices help players, especially the freshmen, become accustomed to the speed and pace expected in high school basketball, without the immediate pressure attached to competing.

Sydney Bonds, small forward and junior, talked about the development and conditioning aspect of varsity girls preseason training. 

“Preseason is a little more relaxed. Instead of really focusing on offenses as much, we kind of focus more on developing skills and conditioning,” Bonds said. 

Conditioning before the season officially begins allows for more emphasis on improving individually and getting physically fit, which becomes important as the season gets more intense. 

“We condition a lot more,” Bonds said, explaining the importance of building stamina and strength for the coming months.

Bonds said team bonding and communication are a big part of the preseason as well. She said preseason is slightly more laid-back than the actual season, encouraging learning from mistakes and developing skills.  

“(The coaches) still push us to work hard and they want us to get ready for the season, but it’s not as strict as once we’re in the actual season,” she said. “We have games and stuff, because they want us to be focused on our next coming game or opponents.It’s not completely chill, but it’s okay.”

Head coach Rick Risinger said preseason training is where the foundation to a successful season is laid out. 

“Preseason is where we focus on fundamentals like defense, ball handling, and shooting, but it’s also about creating a team identity,” Risinger said. 

Risinger said the team uses this time to bond and learn how to work as a unit. He explained that good team chemistry pays off when in the heat of a game.

Risinger also talked about the mental preparation leading up to the preseason. 

“We put a lot of emphasis on communication, particularly on defense, Risinger said. “That’s where teams often break down, so we make sure everyone is on the same page coming in.”

Both Warren and Bonds said preseason is also an opportunity to get a leg up before tryouts. They said preseason workouts allow players to show work ethic and improvement factors that a coach can then use to determine final rosters. 

“If you come to preseason workouts, I think you’re definitely more likely to make the high school team,” Warren said.

While preseason requires immense physical and mental effort, players like Warren and Bonds said this toil now will make a huge difference later on. 

“It’s not just about getting ready for the season,” Warren said. “It’s about becoming a better player and a better teammate.”