Getting the Most Out of Your Off-Season

Getting the Most Out of Your Off-Season

So you've come to the end of your long season and now your looking at 2 months off and your wondering what you might do. Some people continue to play throughout their off-season, some people take a complete break. Is there a right or wrong thing to do? It depends, if your looking for recommendations on what you can do to fill in the gaps or to get the most out of your break then this is the space for you.

1. Attempt to Remove Yourself From Structured Sport

This first one may come as a shock to some people but when you think about it, it makes perfect sense. You've spent the best part of 6-8 months training intensely and playing in a competitive sport and nows your chance to get a break. Don't try to remove yourself from the sport completely which some people may find difficult to do. But, rather engage in recreational activity within your own sport. By eliminating coaches, structure, the pressures of competing and all those things that come along with sport, just play for the love of the game and regain some of that freshness and enjoyment that you may have lost throughout the year. 

2. Try Something New

2 to 3 months is a long time to go without playing some sort of sport or being involved in activity so the off-season is the perfect chance to engage in something different. There are many benefits, both physical and psychological, to playing a different sport. For example, goalkeepers in soccer may benefit from playing outfield in Gaelic football to improve their fielding of a high ball. You can reap the physical benefits of swimming without the physical stress of repeated running (swimming ain't easy either!). There is something to take from every sport/activity, it's just about finding one you enjoy.

3. Champions are Made in the Off-Season

It's no surprise that champions are made in the off-season. We hear this quote repeatedly every single year, but why? Because it's true. The off-season give you the perfect opportunity to work on the things that need the most attention, whether that's a technical skill or a physical attribute. Without competitive games during the week you no longer have the worry of trying to rest and prepare in time for a game every week. When it comes to physical conditioning, more specifically strength training, the off-season is the perfect time to get yourself into the gym and start to get yourself ready for the new season. I know some people are probably reading this thinking it's a bit contradictory to number 1, but for those who are a little older or those that don't like to take a complete break then this is the perfect alternative.

4. Enjoy the Rest

Enjoy the rest. Undoubtedly the most important component of any off-season is the rest. Over a season you accumulate a lot of fatigue and the regular train/recover cycle may not give you time to fully recover 100%. While you may feel fresh, there will always be some level of fatigue. The off-season is the perfect chance to let the fatigue dissipate and allow you to come back even stronger in the next season. This also gives you the time to let any little niggles you have picked up to subside. As mentioned in our previous article of stress, it's the recovery phase that produces the improves in physical qualities not just the training itself so pay attention to the amount of rest your getting.

5. Diet Break

During the season, we tend to restrict ourselves a lot in terms of the foods we can eat. These foods are usually those higher in sugar and fat and extremely hyper-palatable foods. the off-season is a great chance to allow yourself to re-introduce these foods back into your lifestyle, in a way that suits your overall calorie intake. It doesn't give you an excuse to binge on these foods, but it does let you be a little less strict when it comes to tasty treats some times.

So there you have it, 5 useful tips for you during the off-season if you're struggling to think what's the best use of your time. If you want to know how we can help you realise your full potential and are interested in enrolling in one of our programmes or starting 1 to 1 coaching with us then make sure you check out the services page of our website. If you want to stay up to date with all the goings on with Elite Performance Coaching then make sure you sign up to our newsletter. This is where you will receive all the info about new blog post, programmes and other offers throughout the year. You won't be spammed with email, but at least you know if you do get one, it's going to be good!