Students’ schedules become increasingly busy when they participate in sports, whether it’s football, basketball, track, or other athletic activities. Athletes dedicate significant time and effort to their sport, often pushing their bodies and minds to the limit every time they compete. 

     During the sports season, their commitments add to an already demanding list of responsibilities. Imagine multiplying that dedication and time commitment— doubling or even tripling it. At West Albany High School (WAHS), where a wide range of athletic programs are offered, many students find it challenging to choose just one sport to focus on.

     “My free time definitely comes and goes. At sleepovers, I usually can’t spend the night because ‘Oh, I’ve got practice tomorrow.’ So it can take a little toll on some of those relationships,” sophomore Lily Hamblin, who plays volleyball, basketball, and does cheerleading, said.

     When Hamblin plays all three of her sports, she ends up hanging out with totally different groups each time. Every team has its own energy, and how people interact depends on the sport Hamblin is playing.

     “Doing all three of the sports is really paying off for me. I don’t know if it would necessarily pay off for someone else, [but it’s] definitely changed my perspective on how I am dealing with other people in school and with friendships,” Hamblin said.

     As Hamblin has learned to navigate the different social worlds that each sport brings, she’s also become increasingly aware of how meaningful those connections are to her. The bonds she forms with her teammates often guide her decisions, reminding her that the relationships built through athletics can be just as meaningful as the competition itself.

     “My jersey number in basketball last year was 14. I just did that one to be right next to my best friend,” Hamblin said.

     Balancing multiple sports not only tests athletes physically but also shapes their social lives and personal growth. Hamblin and senior Dallin Berg, who plays volleyball, cross country, and track and field, both juggling different teams, practices, and competitions, bring both challenges and rewards—from forming meaningful friendships to managing fatigue and the risk of injury.

     “I play multiple sports because it’s fun. I like being involved in something. I also just like doing stuff [and] don’t like sitting around at my house all day,” Berg said. While Berg participates in two sports that involve running, it isn’t as easy as it sounds. 

     “I love all three of the sports, but I would have to say my least favorite has to be cross country, just because it’s just a lot of running and running can be boring sometimes,” Berg said.

     Berg finds it challenging to choose more than one sport and to limit himself to just three sports. “I would, if I could, do more sports, honestly, but it’s impossible to fit it all.”

     While Berg is involved in three sports, including two in a single season, he still wants to participate in more, but has to limit himself to doing the three he is already involved in. Doing three sports is a substantial feat, but the fatigue from constant activity can strain the body and carry the risk of injury. 

     “Physically, it is tiring. You just get super sore sometimes, and then you’re just tired after. Last spring season, I think I was doing too much physical activity, and I was injured, [and] I could barely jump by the end of the year,” Berg said 

     As Berg deals with the exhaustion and injuries that come from constant activity, other multi-sport athletes have found that their most significant challenges come from team dynamics and leadership.

     “[Playing multiple sports] did change my perspective [on leadership] because… in dance leadership, it’s just the seniority, and with cheer, it wasn’t like that at all,” junior Letitica Sifuentez, who does cheerleading and previously danced, said.

     “We had a captain who was a junior and a captain who was a senior, so it balanced it out. I wouldn’t say any of them was better or worse. It was just way different,” Sifuentez said.

     Sifuentez’s experience juggling two demanding schedules sheds light on the challenges multi-sport athletes often face, especially when practices and competitions overlap or run back-to-back.

     “I honestly really sucked at [managing my schedule], but mainly their practice times were different, because cheer was in the afternoon and dance was in the morning, so I had Daily Doubles basically the whole year,” said Sifuentez. “Competition times were almost the same, so that was really hard. I didn’t really compete much, but when I did, the dance ones are usually way earlier than the cheer ones, or sometimes it was the opposite way around.”

     “I play multiple sports to have diversity in my everyday life, and it’s good to get around and do different things,” freshman Jocelyn Lasselle, who plays soccer and dances, said.

     Lasselle’s careful planning allows her to balance the demands of both sports without too much overlap, highlighting the key role time management plays for multi-sport athletes.

     “I normally plan out every weekend. Just think about what I’m going to be doing through the week, and then it’s lucky because dance team is in the morning and soccer is after school, so those don’t conflict too much,” Lasselle said.

     According to a 2023 study by the National Institutes of Health, 91% of high school athletes experience some level of sports-related stress, with a third reporting that this stress positively impacts their performance.

     An excessive amount of stress can be a catalyst for psychological effects, such as depression and anxiety. Athletes now often have trouble addressing their mental health difficulties. 18% of the athletes from the study believed that receiving help from professionals would not be beneficial for them.

     “It just takes a mental toll, trying to keep yourself going, even though it’s so much. Trying to keep myself positive too with the whole team aspect, because both of them are really team sports,” Lasselle said.

     Sophomore Reagan Southard is a guard on the basketball team and an infielder on the baseball team. He grew up in a household of sports enthusiasts, including his brother, senior Robert Southard. 

     “My brother is a really big basketball player. He loves basketball, and I think that I just started playing because he loved basketball so much. I [also play] baseball because both my parents [and uncle] are big baseball fans,” Southard said.

     Basketball and baseball are both team-based sports that require cooperation and communication, but there is a difference in how you work with your teammates. 

     “There’s a lot more time to talk your team through it in baseball; you can go into detail and help them out during baseball, because in between innings, you can talk them through it. Whereas basketball, you only have half time, which is the longest, and that’s not even that long,” Southard said.

     Coaches are a huge part of any sport; they set goals and help the team strategize. For Southard, his coaches are strong supporters and encourage him to continue his endeavors in multiple sports. 

     “[My coaches] always push me to be the best that I can without being too hard on me, but they always push me to that point where I can be the best that I can while still learning, and they’re always super supportive when I do something good,” Southard said.

     At WAHS, multi-sport athletes manage packed schedules, overlapping practices, and the physical and mental demands of constant competition. They describe challenges ranging from limited free time to injuries and stress. Yet across different sports and seasons, many find that the relationships formed through team play a central role in keeping them committed.