The hallways of Flathead, and many of the surrounding high schools, have been quiet this week.

It's spring break, and for students and teachers, that means a welcome reprieve from the grind of the past three months. No class, no studying, and most importantly, no tests.

But, for a select few, there’s still homework.

The Flathead track and softball teams host home contests today, and their respective seasons continue on around the state even as a good portion of competitors take time away from the daily grind of practice and games.

It may be spring break at school, but for coaches and athletes in spring sports around the Valley, competing against real opponents and the allure of free time is a perennial struggle.

As the calendar turns to April, the Flathead track teams have already had 18 practices and are competing in their second dual of the season at Legends Stadium today against Great Falls C.M. Russell.

The area’s softball teams kicked off their seasons just as the break began last weekend, with busses from Kalispell traveling not to Arizona or Las Vegas for rest and relaxation, but to Great Falls for a jamboree.

Tennis and golf, along with battling with the season’s intermittent precipitation, also are trying to get into the swing of things.

While spring break is not literally its first hurdle of the season, the Braves track team is staring down a major obstacle this week, competing with about half of its eligible athletes today and early next week for a time trials meet.

Only 42 of the more than 80 Braves that signed up for track this season will be at the meets, including just seven of 18 seniors. The rest missed team workouts this week, and in turn, will also miss their chance to compete for the Braves.

“I have to put relays together and I have to go with what I have at practice,” Flathead coach Dan Hodge said.

“You’ve got to be fair to the kids that spend the time and effort.”

Some track coaches also went away this week, since they don’t get paid for their time over the break, with a few hanging back to teach the few kids that hung around.

Even as the Braves transition back into the final quarter of the school year, they likely won’t be using a full roster right away.

After many athletes have taken more than 10 days away from the track they need to get back in form. With that in mind, if any athletes miss more than a day next week, perhaps to prolong their vacation, they’ll miss the prestigious Missoula County Invite next weekend, a meet in which the Braves would like to be at full speed.

Attrition has been nearly as bad for the Bravettes’ softball team, which is down four varsity starters as it prepares to play three games this week, beginning today against two-time defending Class A champions Frenchtown.

The Bravettes will need to promote a good chunk of their junior varsity team to field a full squad. Luckily, the already young team has a lot of girls that fill a utility role and can play multiple positions.

“I’ve talked to a lot of coaches who are dealing with the same thing,” Flathead softball coach Tasia Gates said.

“It’s been challenging but the girls know where we are. The JV kids are excited for the challenge.”

Spring break is the first of many distractions during the busy 12 weeks of the spring season. Many athletes will miss time in the next few months for music festivals, plays, field trips and other school-related activities.

It’s all a lot to handle as the school year winds towards its end.

But for the ones that stick with it, it pays off.

For many, that lure of increased playing time or the drive to keep improving, is worth surrendering their chance to find sunshine and warmth outside the Valley.

“They’re having fun and, of course, they’re getting better,” Hodge said.