The time in the Caribbean gives the swimmers less than a week to spend at home.

“A week at home is fine. It’s enough time to see family and friends,” Krna said. “Right now, everybody’s supposed to be dedicated to the team.”

The time spent together, free from classes, allows each team to concentrate solely on its sport.

“You’re getting away from all those other distractions,” Krna said. “It’s an escape.”

The men’s hockey team leaves at the same time as other students on break, but their destination is the fiercely competitive Dodge Holiday Classic in Minneapolis, Minn.

Tomorrow night Harvard begins by facing Northern Michigan, a squad that was just bumped from a top-15 ranking. The winner of that contest will face the winner of top-ranked Minnesota’s bout with Merrimack.

The men’s basketball team’s game schedule over break will span the East Coast, heading to New York and South Carolina for three games. The squad returns home before reading period to play Dartmouth Jan. 2.

The women’s team will play Binghamton in an away game Dec. 30 before opening the new year against Stony Brook at home Jan. 3.

A portion of the wrestling team will return to campus Dec. 26 before traveling to Evanston, Ill. for the Midlands Invitational.

“It’s one of the most difficult tournaments of the year,” Mankovich said.

Regardless of where the athletes are, it is uncertain how much of a break they could have at home. Those who aren’t kept on campus or brought to the tropics for winter training are expected to maintain physical condition on their own.

“They take Christmas Day off, usually, but train at home,” Morawski said.

—Crimson staff writer Samuel C. Scott can be reached at sscott@fas.harvard.edu.