At any given moment, our school’s field is a whirlwind of activity. Whether it be sprinters exploding off the starting line or soccer players lining up for the perfect shot, every corner of the field is bound to collide at least once. With two high-energy sports sharing the same space, smooth sailing isn’t always guaranteed.

Both the track and soccer teams require the field for training, which can often lead to an annoying overlap, especially during after-school practices, causing soccer players to stop their drills and track athletes to keep an eye out for any flying balls.

“It’s tough because we don’t want to stop our drills, but we also don’t want to interfere with track practice. The field isn’t big enough for both of us to do everything we need to at the same time,” says defensive midfielder Cash Reese. Reese acknowledges that, despite some improvements, the situation remains frustrating. “It can be annoying when we kick soccer balls onto the track,” he says. “We’ve learned to share by putting up a goal to reduce accidents. However, sharing the space during the same season can still be challenging.” As team captain, Reese has taken the initiative to ease tensions. “After a track athlete was hit by a soccer ball during practice, I spoke with their coach, and we agreed to set up a goal to keep it from happening again,” he explains. “I just try to work with both soccer and track coaches to keep accidents to a minimum.” Fellow soccer player Alexis Muniz has a balanced view on sharing the field. “It’s not a bad experience,” he says. “We do our best to manage the space, and when they’re on the field, we try to avoid hitting them with the ball.” He believes focusing despite distractions is beneficial. “Large crowds are a part of the game we play, so we try to imagine that they’re fans and practice ignoring them,” he explains.

“Accidents happen, and sometimes the ball lands near them, but it’s unintentional,” says Muniz.

Now on the track team’s side, they face their own fair share of struggles with the arrangement. Soccer balls rolling onto the track can disrupt workouts and pose a safety hazard. “Nothing is worse than being mid-sprint and suddenly having to dodge a ball,” says sprinter Kennedy Wiggins. “It can throw off your focus, and if you’re going full speed, it can be a real safety issue,” says Wiggins. Along with being a safety issue, like soccer, it can waste valuable training time. Sprinter Bailey Hashmi, on the other hand, has a much stronger opinion. “Honestly, it helps me run faster because I don’t want to risk getting hit, so when we share the field with soccer every time I’m running, it pushes me to be a better athlete,” says Hashmi. Jack McGuire shares a similar perspective. “It’s really not too bad. Occasionally, you’ll have a run-in with a soccer ball or something, but I don’t mind it too much.” To keep practices running as smoothly as possible, both teams have made efforts to stay alert and be mindful of one another’s space.

“As someone active in both of these sports, I would say that although they have to share an area and still perform their best, both teams do a good job,” says junior MJ Rutherford. Despite the occasional issues, both teams have respect for each other. While sharing a field comes with challenges, it has also created a mutual respect and support for one another. Some run toward the finish line, others toward the goal, but at the end of the day, they all share the same passion for putting in the legwork.