Rest vs rust; it’s a classic sports debate. When there is a break in the game schedule, should teams take time off or keep practicing hard? For teams that are struggling in the standings and dealing with injuries, the answer may seem obvious; going on a break is a good thing. For teams that are playing well, the answer might not be as clear. Perhaps those teams don’t want a break, they want to keep their rhythm intact.
Some coaches might argue that if their team is playing exceptionally well, they deserve the time off. Or if the recent schedule has been packed with lots of games, then perhaps even a winning team just simply needs a rest?
With those thoughts in mind, the Voice thought it a good time for a round table response from some of the local coaches. Did the break come at a good time or bad time? Are they taking the whole week off or just a couple days?
“The break came at the perfect time for our team,” remarked Wilcox Softball Head Coach John Butler. “We have been dealing with injuries. It is healthy to have the break at some point midseason to be able to step back a bit and regroup before the final stretch.”
“Spring break came at a good time for us,” echoed Wilcox Baseball Head Coach Matt Huth. “We had a slow start in league play, but had a make or break week with four games in four days. With a four-game sweep putting us back in the playoff picture, a light practice was needed. We’re going to take off the back half of spring break, focusing on mental and physical recovery before getting back into things.”
For the red-hot Santa Clara Bruins baseball team, though, the players decided that too much time off poses too high a risk of falling out of rhythm.
“The team decided on Saturday that they didn’t want more than two days off,” noted Bruins Manager Pedro Martinez. “This team is special, man. Teams in the past would have said nothing and gotten rusty.”
Despite being an extremely young team, the MacDonald Condors echoed the Bruins’ attitude towards maintaining momentum. For MacDonald, a program still building its initial foundation, the reasoning lies more in skill development rather than being worried about rust.
“We wanted to try and stay the course, being a younger team, we find it more beneficial to keep getting reps,” chimed MacDonald Condors Manager Robert Maes. “We have two non-league games this week and three practices scheduled. The great thing about non-league games is that it gives us an opportunity to shake up the lineup. Our guys are already benefiting from the extra work being put in.”
Conversely, a similarly young Fremont Firebirds softball squad welcomed the break.
“The break can definitely help a team like ours that is still looking for an identity,” acknowledged Fremont Manager Hector Zuno. “In our case, development of players and healing injuries from previous sports has been very helpful.”
This wide variance in opinions gives a strong indication that the debate will likely go on forever. There is no undisputed right or wrong answer. It’s up to the teams themselves to figure out what is best for them.
