Spring break.
It’s a term dozens of Colorado’s high school sports teams take literally.
A couple of days into spring and they break away.
Musically, Lennon and McCartney gave us “Day Tripper.” Dr. John (the former Mac Rebennack) was the “Night Tripper.”
Athletically, Coloradans must be spring trippers.
The third of three annual sports seasons in the in-state school year is unusual in so many ways, arguably led by the fact spring begins with, well, a break. Call it a spring training of sorts that actually counts in the standings, here and nationally.
Spring contains bling.
Ah, to be in your teens and know there’s no more pencils, books, CSAPs or teachers’ dirty looks for a week or so, but plenty of competition, excitement of being away from home, team gatherings and potential for long-term memories, not to mention prime opportunities to experience the harsh realization of not enough clean towels.
The state organization doesn’t say its sports are offered through an educational background for nothing.
It’s all out there for Coloradans and they get out there.
Among the season’s team sports, baseballers like the Western swing. Starting nines (10 with a designated hitter) number almost as many states that are visited over spring break. Arizona, California, Nevada and Utah are popular this time of year, and so is Florida. Don’t forget, they all have more green grass on their softer fields at the moment than we do, always a plus in baseball (hint, hint).
Soccer teams get around the pitch, too, and lacrosse players have been known to take their sticks to the East Coast, where the game most thrives.
Locals in the individual sports of golf, swimming, tennis, and track and field generally don’t do as much traveling in team groups, but competitors have frequented out-of-state tournaments and meets or simply take the time to work on their games.
Springtime for prep sports in the Rocky Mountains is precious as well as urgent – including preseason practice in the 2006-07 school year, fall sports touched 16 weeks, from mid-August to early December; winter 18, which began in mid-November and finished March 10; and spring will evolve over 14, having begun Feb. 20 and to be completed by May 22.
Compared to participants in fall, when football dominates with a long weekend for an out-of-state game, and those in winter, when a handful of locals head to other states’ holiday tournaments – we’re handicapped by a no-play rule before Christmas until after New Year’s Day – the thing for players in spring is to take a fling.
It’s a trip, but spring break is more than high jinks and pushing limits that Hollywood has glorified in a never-ending series of why-did-they-make-those? movies.
Colorado spring-sporters seem to be willing to risk the good for the bad.
Tales of a traveling show range from competing against, say, the third cousin of an out-of-stater whose stepsister’s second of two foster fathers was related (distantly) to Gary Gait, Mia Hamm, Ryan Howard, Marion Jones, Michael Phelps, Michelle Wie or the Williams sisters to someone they never heard of, yet traveled upward of 1,000 miles to dominate.
The allure of non-Colorado weather in early spring is enticing with strong probabilities of sun, warmth and dry conditions with little if any wind. However, there are rainouts and snowouts elsewhere, too, and chartering a plane, flying commercial or loading up the school vehicles doesn’t ensure avoiding them.
Opportunities for team bonding before returning home (winning helps) to squeeze in league play in April can prove astronomical in terms of moral and attitude, but be careful – the promoting of cliques is ripe, and alienating and dismissing others can become magnified.
Sights to see aren’t limited to Colorado, but at times a change of scenery seems like the same-old in a different place, just another dump.
Bring cash. Fill-in-the-blank fundraisers can cover most considerable costs (do the math on 15 to 20 athletes, two to three coaches, a trainer and administrator or two) and competitors are responsible for their “spending money.”
Compound question: Where can I get a uniform and to whom do I send my check?
