By Sammy Joseph
Schools out, now what?
Do I hang out with my friends? Should I stay in and play that new video game or watch some TV?
The summer is here and more free time at our hands. The summer off season is where most of our biggest gains can come. However, if your time is not spent well then you can also lose out to your competition.
Creating a schedule and specific goals is a great way to stay on top of your training. Do you want to get stronger and faster? Do you want to be better at your specific sport or position? Whatever your goals are make sure you demand more from yourself. Remember the real work happens when nobody is watching.
Don’t allow your excuses to influence your decision to train and stay active. I am always telling young athletes to get creative with their training. Find a park or running trails nearby. Hill running can boost our lower body explosiveness and speed. Get off the track and hit the trails. The benefits of trail running include physical, mental and emotional areas of life. This will take off a lot of the stress placed on the body by running on hard surfaces. Try out a flat trail and progress to more challenging landscapes.
Are you traveling this summer for your sport? Most hotels will have a weight room you can use to get some work done. Perform a workout and then hit the pool for some laps. Swimming has many benefits that will improve your athletics performance for any sport.
The biggest thing to remember is to stay active and find creative ways to have fun. Don’t allow yourself to be satisfied where you are now. Don’t count the days until the next school year, but make each day count!
Photo by jamalliggin.com
