What to do in your sport’s off-season?

Most team sports have their own specific season. Indeed, field hockey is played in winter and soccer or baseball in summer. What happens, however, when the season ends and the competitions come to a close? Do we need to take a break? What can we expect?

Every coach or manager has his or her own way of looking at things. What’s more, the program prescribed for the off-season often changes according to the level of the athletes. Here’s what your team’s coach can offer you as your active season draws to a close.

All coaches recommend one or two breaks during the year, to recover from the season that has just ended. This annual break allows you to heal any minor injuries and rest up for the next few months of training.

Obviously, the type and duration of the break vary according to the athlete’s level. Some coaches recommend a complete two-week break, followed by a gradual resumption of training. Others prefer to reduce the volume of training to a minimum, so that their athletes can retain all their gains while reducing the stress caused by intense physical activity.

Although some players are reluctant to take a rest for fear of suffering the effects of de-training, it’s still important to take a break. “It’s often one step back for two steps forward,” says Antoine, trampoline coach at Impulsion in Saint-Basile-le-Grand. Indeed, allowing the body to recover properly is essential for a strong comeback at the start of the season.

Many sports clubs have a complementary training program during the off-season. The end-of-season review is often an opportunity to take stock of the team’s weaknesses and decide which training programs would be most useful for the following season. These can be indoor weight training programs, or indoor or outdoor activities that are excellent complements to your favourite sport. These activities will help you maintain your stamina and muscular strength, and prepare you adequately for the coming season.

Cycling and triathlon clubs, for example, offer spinning classes to help athletes maintain their fitness levels when it’s time to put their bikes away for the winter.

Some soccer coaches also advise their players to run regularly to maintain their endurance levels throughout the year.

This can be a costly option, but it can also be indispensable for top-level athletes who need to keep training at all costs. Many sports clubs organize training camps for these athletes, enabling them to train in optimal conditions, whatever the season.

What’s more, it can be attractive to train in a different region or country. Why not combine tourism and physical activity?

Some sports clubs offer indoor training during the cold season. So you can keep practicing your favorite sport without having to travel far. Indoor soccer fields and swimming pools are perfect substitutes for grass fields in municipal parks or outdoor swimming pools.

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