It really only amounts to a week's difference. Son was done with school last year at the the beginning of December so not a big difference. Mine was told in his fall meeting with the coach that with the number of players they have this spring it will be up to him to keep doing what he is doing or supposed to be doing so that when he walks back in this January he is ready to go. The numbers should be pure motivation for the ones who want to compete. When you have 40 guys fighting for playing time, the ones who really want to play will be the ones who are doing the right things this December. For mine as a pitcher, this is partly his down time pitching so he that is part of the solution.