In high school sports, the off-season is so important. It is what can set both teams and individuals apart from the rest of the competition. However, the off-season is not the most fun part about being an athlete. It involves a lot of hard work, early mornings and late nights.
With that being said, sometimes the off-season can seem like it lasts forever. It’s especially easy for athletes to “take a break” which can include taking days or weeks off of training during this time. This is why staying alert, motivated and hungry all off-season long will help you keep yourself ahead of the rest of the competition.
Set Goals
One of the best things, and the first thing you should be doing during your off-season is setting goals. How much do you want to weigh by the end of the off-season? How fast do you want to be able to run your 40? How much are you trying to max out on bench, squats, cleans, etc. These are some questions you should be asking yourself at the beginning of your off-season, as they give you something to work for; they give you something to hold yourself accountable to.
Team goals are another way to stay motivated as a group during the off-season. Team goals should include goals that the team decides on, for the season as well as team training. An example of this would be each player lifting/conditioning a certain amount of day during the off-season / days during each week, etc.
Lastly, you should be SMART when setting your goals. You want to set goals that are: Specific, measurable, achievable, relevant and time-bound, in order to be effective.
Incorporate fun into your offseason
Yes, the off-season can be boring; but it’s all what you make of it. Doing the same exercises during the same days each and every week is good when it comes to following a set plan, however, it never hurts to mix it up every once in awhile. There are a number of ways that you incorporate “fun” into your off-season.
One of the best ways to have fun and still work hard at the same time is competitions. Off-season competitions not only bring a sense of enjoyment to athletes and teams, but also helps hold them accountable in working hard, going to team lifting and conditioning and help enhance the athlete’s competitive mindset.
Other ways you can have fun during the off-season is by trying something new. Doing everything the same way each and every day can get mentally exhausting, so, change it up! Incorporating activities like yoga, ultimate frisbee\ and swimming workouts are ways you can still work towards your goals. The off-season is not just limited to the weight room!
Workout with teammates
Lastly, one of the best things you can do during the off-season is workout and train with your teammates. Team training not only helps the off-season go by easier, but helps push you and your teammates to get better each day. Also, it helps you build trust with your teammates, as you are able to see how hard they worked in the off-season and vice versa.
The off-season is not the most fun part about sports. Obviously, no one really enjoys their season ending. However, the off-season is a great time to rest, recover, get stronger, get faster and get ahead of the competition.
Warren Academy offers many sports performance programs that help athletes achieve their off-season goals. For information about our team training program, or any of our sport performance programs, visit our website.
