So the season is finished. What do you do now? Sit back, relax? Grab a bag of potato chips and the remote and cue up the latest MLS game? Maybe. If you did, you'd be pretty normal, thats what most of your competition is gonna do.
But you aren't your competition are you? You're a champion. You're going to dominate the pitch next year! You're gonna use these few precious months to gain the competitive edge on your competition huh? But what do you do? How often do you do it? What are you hoping to accomplish? These are all questions you've gotta ask yourself in order to make the most of the off season--because you know, Champions are made in the off season.
Are you a champion? I'll bet you are, if you weren't, you wouldn't be reading this...you'd be watching the latest episode of American Idol or Will Smith's latest action flick.
So why should you train in the off season? What exactly will you gain from giving up a few minutes of sleep or TV time?
Reduce the Risk of Injury
By training through the off season, you will greatly reduce your risk of injuring yourself when tryouts come around next year. Going from 0-100 in a brand new car is much harder on the engine than a gradual acceleration. Likewise your muscles will be much healthier if they are kept in shape, or slowly worked into shape rather than going from All-Star channel surfer to Starting Striker wannabe...
Be Ready for Tryouts
We've probably all been there. First week back to practice and we're sucking wind after running back to our bag to grab our water. If you're trying to get back into shape during those first few practices, you won't be able to focus on the drills as well, and consequently you won't perform at 100%. You'll have plenty of energy to accomplish all that the coaches ask of you.If you have been training throughout the off season you will be weeks ahead of that guy thats trying to beat you out for the starting spot! Your obvious off season work ethic will impress the coaches and show your commitment to being a first class player.
Gain the Competitive Edge
All the time you spend working on skills in the off season is bonus time. Its time that your competition is probably not spending. This will move you ahead of the other guys! Hard work trumps talent every single time. Going into the season knowing that you've busted your butt to hone your skills, develop new skills, and maintaining your fitness level will give you the confidence to take on anyone that lines up across from you on the pitch. You will know that you've done everything you could to become a stellar player, and that, more than likely, the person standing across from you didn't.
You get out what you put in. Put in the time during the off season and you will kill it in the regular season! Like I said, Champions are built in the off season. So get out there and make yourself a champion After Practice!
Question: What do you do in the off season to grow and develop as a player?
If you find benefit in these posts please share them on Facebook, Twitter, and Email with all your soccer mates!
Twitter: @Skropp2
Photo copyrighted: Linda Sieverkropp, All Rights Reserved.
No comments:
Post a Comment