Spring sports, such as lacrosse and baseball, have a positive outlook for the 2012 season with the introduction of Green Days, which are new as of this year for Marshall and all other Virginia public schools.
According to boys lacrosse coach Andrew Freeman, the state instituted the pre-season work out days because they allow the players to practice with more freedom before the season and they help high school sports provide the flexibility that club sports offer.
The state also instituted Yellow Days, which are pre-season conditioning, and Red Days, which are hands-off days.
Girls lacrosse has seen the benefit of Green Days.
“I will say that Green Days are a huge benefit to the program so far. JV girls lacrosse is on its way to make school history with the most wins ever,” JV girls lacrosse coach Elizabeth Nguyen said.
Green Days are pre-season work out days that emphasize individual improvement. For example, lacrosse players can practice with a stick but without contact.
“They should get people back to using their stick and … building relationships before the season starts,” JV lacrosse player Stephen Schatz, sophomore, said.
“I feel confident that this year we will have a much more dedicated team than last year,” JV boys lacrosse player Nathan Kalbaugh, sophomore, said.
The general consensus regarding how Green Days will help spring sports is that they really help players work on individual improvement that they might not be able to work on during practice.
“I think that we will do a lot better this year because the Green Days give us extra training before the season and it also helps us get to know the coaches and players which helps the team bond better than in previous years,” JV lacrosse player Oliver Giguere, junior, said.
Green Days help players and coaches bond because they create a more flexible environment where players can work on individual improvement and let coaches see what players need to improve in.
“I think they will benefit coaches in understanding which players will help the team, and it will help players understand what they need to work on,” varsity baseball player Nick Nelson, junior, said.