The off-season period is the free time athletes have when they are not competing. However, simply because the competing season has ended doesn’t mean that you should take a break and abandon your training sessions.
Instead, you should take this time to improve yourself and ensure that you are stronger and ready to win by the time the next season is kicking in. Additionally, if you don’t practice during the offseason, you are more likely to get injured when the season kicks in because your muscles have become stiff.
Why should you train during the offseason, and what else can you do in preparation for the new season?
1. Physical And Mental Rest
When the season is over, most athletes are drained physically and mentally, and thus the first thing you should do is take a well-deserved break. Apart from tiredness, you can also be injured, and thus, in the first days of the offseason, it is crucial to focus on ensuring your injuries heal.
However, instead of fully resting, physiotherapy experts recommend active rest and sports massage in Singapore, which is a balance between recovery and fitness. Therefore don’t just stay in bed, instead find simple exercises that can involve your injured muscle groups for effective injury rehabilitation.
2. Improve General Strength
No matter which sport you participate in, you need strength, and the offseason period is the best time to focus on your weak areas. Therefore, during the competing period, the underperforming areas and work on improving them once the season is over.
Don’t rush because you have the time; focus on bringing the underperforming part to an optimal level and improving your overall body stamina.
3. Strengthen Aerobic energy
In aerobic systems, energy is generated from oxygen, and a strong aerobic system means your body will operate more efficiently and burn calories faster. A physiotherapist can help you with aerobic exercises that are perfect for your physical condition and the sporting activity you do.
Here are the benefits of aerobic fitness;
- Improves cardiovascular function
- Improves blood pH balance which improves systemic trigger points
- Boosts capacity and energy output
4. Improve Coordination
Coordination and balance are crucial for athletes as well as in day-to-day activities. Coordination skills include eye-hand coordination and controlled body movements. During the offseason, ensure you do exercises that help improve coordination, such as jumping rope, playing catch, squats, and leg lifts.
5. Prevent Injuries
During the offseason, ensure you take time and ensure your injuries heal properly. If an injury is not appropriately rehabilitated, you can reinjure yourself when the competitions resume. Your physical therapist can help you ensure your injuries heal faster and prevent future injuries.
Additionally, you can get a sports massage in Singapore to help relax the tense muscle and remove knots that cause injuries if not taken care of before the new season.
Conclusion
Staying in shape is very important if you want to remain at the top of your game as an athlete. Therefore after resting and giving your injuries time to heal during the offseason, it is crucial to resume training in preparation for when the new season kicks in.
So talk to your physiotherapist about getting better and thus start the new season stronger and remain so till the end.