With state championships wrapping up this week, the offseason is officially here for football athletes across the state. First off, we’d like to say congratulations to the teams who won this year, as well as all the players who left everything on the field every single week. But now it’s time to focus on next season. 

The offseason is a great opportunity for every athlete to improve in every aspect of the game. From a physical standpoint to a fundamental standpoint and even a mental standpoint, the offseason is where good players become great. As you begin your offseason, here are some things to keep in mind to make it great in every aspect. 

Evaluate the previous season

The start of every offseason is a great time for athletes to evaluate their performance over the past season. What were you doing right? What challenges did you face? What do you need to improve on? Asking yourself these types of questions can foster a better understanding of where you stand in your sport, which can in turn help determine areas you can work to improve on as you move through the offseason. 

Set goals

Once you evaluate the areas that you need to focus and improve on, it’s time to set goals. Maybe you need to get stronger. Maybe you need to get faster. Maybe you need to improve on certain techniques, fundamentals and skills. Whatever you are looking to improve on, creating goals is a great way to motivate yourself to achieve them. 

Create a plan

Once you set clear goals on what you want to accomplish, then it’s time to create a plan. How are you going to achieve the goals you made? Are you going to weight lift a certain number of times per week? Are you going to play 7v7 Omaha football in the offseason? Are you going to work on speed training? Whatever goals you set, you need to come up with a plan that will help you get where you want to go. 

Focus on your mentality

The offseason is a long and enduring time for athletes, especially those who only play a fall sport. Staying mentally focused should be a priority for athletes, as it will allow you to stay motivated and continue to strive towards your goals all offseason long. 

Make wellness a priority

Lastly, during the offseason, all athletes should focus on their health and wellness, both physically and mentally. This includes understanding what to fuel your body with before and after workouts, how many hours of sleep you should be getting every night and other ways to not only stay healthy and well physically, but mentally as well. 

As the offseason starts up for many athletes, it’s important to go into your training with a plan, specific goals in place and ultimately focus on your personal growth and health. 

If you are looking for an offseason training program, check out our website to learn more about our programs! We offer a variety of offseason training programs throughout the winter and spring that focus on athlete development in a number of different athletic areas!