Imagine that it’s game day, your heart is pounding, your legs are beginning to shake, and your nerves are overflowing in your body. The only thing that seems to have calmed you down is the time your team is spending in the locker room before the game.
The locker room is the place that has seen all your injuries, tears, smiles, and more. The one place that the whole team comes together before, during, and after the game.
The locker room can change nerves into laughs, half down at halftime into a comeback, and a tough loss into motivation to win next time. \
Here’s a look at what role our locker room plays in our Eagle Boys soccer team.
Before the game:
Nerves are high, and tension is building up. The boys’ soccer team is at its peak of adrenaline and ready to go out and fight for the win.
Athletes are finalizing and preparing everything physically. The team comes together to prepare mentally.
Keegan Jones (‘28) said, “Before the game in the locker room, we all come together and usually pray and do a big team speech.”
Additionally, Brandon Hastings (‘26) said, “Before games, we say a chant as a team; this gets the boys hyped and creates a fire environment.”
Being able to spend that time with teammates, hyping each other up, makes athletes forget about their nerves and causes them to have an immediate high of dopamine.
During the Game:
It’s halftime now, and the teams are tied 0-0. Athletes are frustrated and stressed about what’s to come. They are playing an easy team and know that they should be winning. They know that they are capable of more and are confused about what’s happening on the field.
However, this is not a time to get down; more than ever, they have to keep their heads up and prepare to work harder.
Once again, the locker room brings athletes together to discuss what’s happening. Mr.Lay, assistant boys’ soccer coach, said, “During halftime, we as coaches typically focus on two main areas: tactics and team mentality. Tactical discussions may involve adjusting formation, player positions, or exploiting the opponent’s weaknesses. When the team is underperforming, coaches might address the team’s mentality to understand why they are not ahead and how to improve.”
After the team discusses these details, the boys are ready to go back on the field.
End of the game:
Eagles are ecstatic. During the second half, they came back and are now up by a goal. The score has been finalized, and the game is over.
The boys are radiating with joy and energy, and the coaches are proud and are ready for what’s to come.
The boys make their way back to the locker room. Owen Griswold (‘27) said, “After the game we all celebrate with each other. Our coaches will talk to us about what we need to work on for the next week to start advancing throughout the seasons. Then as a team we all plan where we are going to go out and get food.”
Everything makes its way back to the locker room one way or another.
The locker room creates an environment where everyone can come together and get along. For our boys soccer team, it’s a place that consists of communication, reflection, strategies, and more.
The locker room looks different for every sport, but it’s undeniable that it does play a beneficial role for each and everyone of our teams.
