As the sound of basketballs and whistles echoed in gyms throughout Mississippi this week, the state’s soccer fields were strangely silent.

No players, no coaches, no games. Hardly even any practices.

While other sports take advantage of holiday breaks to play in tournaments and cram in several extra games during the week, soccer takes a holiday at Christmas. For nearly two weeks, the sport shuts down in Mississippi.

It’s a practice that’s as welcome as it is loathed, and a mystery even to coaches.

&#8220I don’t know,” Vicksburg High boys coach Jason Bennett said when asked the reasons for the holiday break. &#8220Ever since I took over, that’s the way it’s been. Even when I played in high school, we didn’t play.”

The shutdown even extends across state lines. St. Aloysius girls coach Karen Carroll said she tried to find a game or two with some Louisiana schools, but the only thing she came up with was a boys’ tournament in Monroe.

&#8220I usually try to schedule something, but I couldn’t find anything this year,” Carroll said.

There are several valid reasons for the break. The week before Christmas, the schedule is light because of final exams, and the week after many players go on family vacations. The trips often leave teams short-handed, making it difficult to compete if they wanted to. Even arranging practices can be a chore.

&#8220It’s almost impossible to even practice. I have two practices scheduled over the break,” Warren Central girls coach Kristin Gough said. &#8220I make a workout, almost like a summer workout they send you over the break, and have the kids follow it.”

The Christmas break is the second time in less than two months that the soccer schedule grinds to a halt. It also slows for about a week around Thanksgiving, making the three-month season a series of starts and stops.

&#8220It’s almost like starting over three times,” Gough said.

When they return from the break, getting back in the flow of the game can take some work. A team that plays well and gets on a winning streak before Christmas may return from the break out of sync. The disruption of momentum can be a big factor in January, when the bulk of the division schedule is played and the playoffs loom.

&#8220Maybe they’re a little bit rusty in the small things of the game. They might have to get back in the swing of things. But I’ve never really had a problem with it,” Bennett said. &#8220It just depends what the kids do when they come back. I haven’t experienced where it’s really bad.”

While there are plenty of negatives to taking two weeks off, Gough said there are also plenty of positives.

The year-round demands on many players and coaches make a week’s vacation a rare treat. A lot of high school players and coaches also compete with select and club teams, wearing them down mentally and physically.

&#8220Once the season starts, there’s no break. You suck it up and play through the pain. It’s kind of a welcome break right now,” she said. &#8220It’s a time to let some nagging injuries heal. If you have a sprained ankle or a pulled hamstring or whatever, you can take care of that and step back on the field after the holidays.”