CCHS boys volleyball team cheer on their teammates from the bench in a game against Chaminade-Madonna College Preparatory School. Photo Credit: BEATRICE DUPUY
BY KAYLA LOKEINSKY
There are many aspects of sporting events that fans remember, the game winning play, the all-star player, and the sheer excitement of it all. However, what about the part of the game beyond the court, taking place on the bench, with the players who aren’t able to get in the game? Every team has them, but they go unnoticed as the excitement of the game unfolds. Their skills may go unrecognized, but their spirit is forever present as they watch their teammates from the sidelines. Bench players are a vital part of every sports team, cheering and encouraging, waiting for their time to shine.
A bench player, by definition, is a member of a sports team who essentially sits on the bench for a majority of the season. They are the ones who are sent to fill up the team’s water bottles, who remain sweat-free at the end of a match, and their voices are the ones that ring clearly from the sidelines. Even though being a bench player isn’t the most glamorous job in the world, somebody has to do it, but in the end it’s the bench players who improve the most throughout the season.
“Being on the bench helps me see what players to look out for if I get the chance to go in,” sophomore water polo player Avery Benavides said. “I actually learn more from sitting on the bench.”
The players who sit on the bench are the ones who benefit from the game the most. Sure, they may not be boosting their stats, but they are learning by example, slowly but surely improving with each game. Just because a player is on the bench doesn’t mean that they’re bad at the sport. They may just be inexperienced, or maybe there is someone else on the team who is a better player. As the season goes on, they will learn that being a bench player just means that their moment in the spotlight has yet to come.
“I knew absolutely nothing when I started playing volleyball,” junior Rebecca Baker said. “But my team helped me, and I started playing club volleyball. Then the next year I came back and I became a starter for the JV team, as well as the captain.”
Even though some may be discouraged by sitting on the bench, most players take it as an opportunity to improve. By being on the bench, it allows them to view the game in a totally different light. Gaining this different perspective, players who sit the bench won’t be sitting the bench for long.
“Sitting on the bench is the most beneficial thing for a new player,” volleyball coach Warren Denise said.
Players don’t go from sitting on the sidelines to starting every game overnight. It can take weeks or even months of training before they get their chance to show their skills on the court or the field. However, with no where to go but up, bench players can work their way up to starting-player status, with a little practice and dedication.
“Last season I sat on the bench,” junior water polo player Emily Aron said. “But I came to practice every day and I worked hard. Now I’m a starter and a vital part of my team.”
However, perhaps the most important job for a bench player is encouraging their fellow teammates, and cheering them on to victory. Most than likely, the loudest cheers that ring out through the gym or across the field are those from the players who aren’t in the game. By encouraging their teammates, bench players unify themselves with the other players, earning their respect and recognition.
“The most important part of being on the bench is cheering and motivating your team,” Aron said. “ Even though it may not be recognized all the time. Bench players just want to be appreciated.”
Being a bench player doesn’t mean anything more then these players haven’t reached their highest potential just yet. Their dedication to their team and their perseverance towards greatness is what makes them such an essential part of the sports world. By practicing hard and doing their best, these bench players will soon have their time to shine.
