Whether we are discussing competitive sports or artistic pursuits (e.g. ballet and circus), the off-season represents a challenge for most athletes. They have worked hard all season and earned the right for some downtime. But if you want to avoid detraining during the off-season, complete rest is also not the answer. Everyone – from sports medicine, performance, and coaching staff – and the athlete themselves, can play a role in ensuring athletes are prepared for Day 1 of pre-season.
Here’s a few simple tips to ensure you’re on the front foot once pre-season rolls around:
1. Maintain an adequate training load during the off-season;
2. Identify the demands of the sport or activity, and ensure training loads are adequate to meet these demands;
3. Assess individual differences in training tolerance between athletes;
4. Prepare for the most demanding passages of play.
