After a long, physically and mentally demanding season, it is important for athletes to get the rest and proper recovery necessary for their success. 

Over the course of the off-season, many athletes use this time to relax, hang out with friends, or do things that typically they don’t have the capacity to do during the sport’s season. 

I asked Miranda Infante and Gianna Gonzalez, both freshmen, what they do during the offseason to prepare for the upcoming season.

 Miranda told me, “ During the offseason this year, I am continuing to gain experience with lacrosse by playing for a recreational travel league in Parkland in addition to my team practices and training.”

Gianna told me, “I play multiple sports, so during my spring sports offseason, I am keeping busy by working towards my goals for all of my fall sports, such as swimming and cross country. While still maintaining a continuous presence at all of the offseason practices for my other spring and winter sports.”

Recovery plays one of the most vital roles in an athlete’s life. Taking the time to stretch and work on fundamental training is one of the best things that you can do as a player. Recovery is more than just a good night’s rest or a full day of proper nutrients. Recovery is time spent working on basic movements to heal and regenerate core muscle groups and continue to improve your physical functionality. 

But even taking this a step further, there is a mental aspect that also plays an essential role in the recovery process. Ensuring that you are taking the time to focus on your mindset and mental capabilities is another huge part of an athlete’s game. If you have ever played a sport for any amount of time, you know that the way you think is crucial to your success. 

Therefore, keeping all of this in mind, what are some things that sports teams as a whole focus on during the offseason? 

Well, many teams focus on some of these main aspects:

Recovery – both mental and physical recovery

Training – many trainings during the offseason may tend to be geared towards fundamental basic skills, footwork, and techniques that will benefit the athlete, come the actual season. 

Along with this, many main focuses may be shifted towards individual development. Meaning working one-on-one with athletes towards personal or position-specific goals to improve the overall athlete. 

Overall, the offseason is crucial for athletes to recover and improve in their respective sports. The off-season is when the athletes have time to wind down and focus on things other than their sports, 24/7. While still putting in work and improving every day.