SPORTS
GIRLS VARSITY VOLLEYBALL Being on the girls volleyball team since the beginning of high school, Sona Kashyap, a junior, has loved being part of the team and has made so many memories because of volleyball. One of the bonding activities for the girls’ varsity volleyball team is called the “Compliment Circle”. After each volleyball game and most practices, all the players form a circle and each player takes a turn complementing one another player on something they did during that practice or game. Kashyap says, “This activity has been a game-changer for our team. As an athlete, we often base our self worth and attitude based on personal performance, and getting out of our own heads and getting appreciated and supported by teammates leaves us something more positive to think about, regardless of our own view of our performance.” Regardless of the game resulting in a win or a loss, the team activity helps all players feel good about their individual performance and appreciate other teammates. Something that came as a surprise to Kashyap when participating in this exercise was how her teammates would remember the small details of her performances, showing how the team really cared for one another. This exercise changed the attitudes and the mindsets of many players, as well as increased their motivation, because all the players get to leave practices and matches on a more positive note. Said Kashyap, “Personally, when I feel super tired and upset at myself based off of my performance at the end of a game or practice, and I have a teammate compliment me and acknowledge my efforts and hard work, I internalize those positive things that were said to me and use them as motivation to work harder.”
24 | DESIGNED BY ARUSHI ARORA
VARSITY FOOTBALL Since football is one of the most recognized sports at CHS, there is a lot of pressure on the football team to perform to everyone’s expectations. But without team chemistry, there are no wins, which is why the football team promises to bond and enhance the team atmosphere. Jayden Hall, a junior and quarterback for the CHS varsity football team, says, “Team bonding has changed the team a lot and allowed for us to have better chemistry on the field. It’s also allowed us to have more fun playing football because everyone on the team has a connection with all of the players. The team runs really smoothly because of this and overall is a really good environment.” The team has gone to the beach to practice team plays and play video games, Madden, to add in some fun to their season. These team bondings can help lighten the practice environment because players are comfortable with each other and can collaborate better. Hall has personally been impacted by these bondings and he now feels more comfortable with all his teammates. Hall says, “....giving me friends that I know have my back that I wouldn’t have met without football.” These team bondings have helped lift the pressures off of football and lightened stressful conditions that football brings.
