With­out food or water from dawn until sunset, Muslim athletes through­out Justice High School perse­vere in order to play a sport during the holy month of Ramadan. Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic calen­dar, which is prac­ticed and observed by muslims worldwide. 

Ramadan lasts for about one month each year. This year, Ramadan started on March 22^nd, 2023 and will end on April 21^st, 2023. Ramadan stretches greatly over the spring sport season, which began in late Feb. and ends in mid-May. 

Fast­ing while play­ing sports can be extremely diffi­cult and exhaust­ing, but simul­ta­ne­ously can be reward­ing to many athletes. Those who fast while play­ing sports described it as a way to estab­lish disci­pline and have even said it helped to improve their energy levels, intake, and enhance their perfor­mance in later seasons. 

Justice sopho­more Dali Abdulla, who partic­i­pated in fast­ing during the 21–22 girls lacrosse season, describes the effects of fast­ing on athletic abil­ity. “Fast­ing did not directly affect my perfor­mance, but it made play­ing certain posi­tions harder,” said Abdulla.

Coaches also play a vital role in giving Muslim athletes adequate accom­mo­da­tions through­out Ramadan. The junior varsity girls lacrosse coach, Caro­line England, shares how she provides for athletes prac­tic­ing Islam. “Allow­ing athletes who feel fatigued to sit out of certain exer­cises is impor­tant,” said England. Further, junior varsity boys soccer Coach Chris Gian­nasi says that he “will check up on any athletes who fast, ask them if they need a break, and see what they’re comfort­able doing.”

Another sopho­more student athlete, Wehbe El-Hadj-Sidi, says “I feel my accom­mo­da­tions are being met by my coaches and they under­stand I wouldn’t be able to run at my best perfor­mance,” said El-Hadj-Sidi. “They person­al­ized my work­outs to accom­mo­date me, and my fellow Muslim athletes.” Addi­tion­ally,  El-Hadj-Sidi also expresses how Ramadan assists her as an athlete. “Even though it’s hard, fast­ing helps me for the next winter season, as it condi­tions me to work under hard circumstances.”