It can be tough to maintain a good off-season training schedule, even after filling your home gym with discounted equipment. But, if you don’t want to lose your fitness gains over the season, it is essential to develop a solid off-season training plan.
No matter what sport you are engaged in, we have off-season training best practices which will help keep you in shape.
Stick To A Healthy Nutrition Plan
During the training cycle and active season, many of us stick to strict diets to optimize our performances. However, it can be incredibly tempting to throw all your good nutritional practices out the window when you move into the off-season. Those who do overindulge during the off-season often pack on many extra pounds and have a difficult time transitioning back to the necessary nutrition practices when pre-season training begins.
Instead of throwing away months of proper nutrition and sabotaging your overall fitness, try to stick to an 80/20 nutrition plan. An 80/20 nutrition plan is when you stick to your healthy dietary plan for 80% of the time, allowing yourself 20% leeway to indulge. This strategy should help you maintain your active season nutrition plan and still allow you to enjoy certain foods and drinks which are often off-limits during the season.
Choose Different Sports Than Usual
To avoid burnout, it is important that you choose a different activity to participate in during the off-season. The sport or activity you choose should complement your main sport but not endanger your ability to participate in your primary sport once the season begins again.
For example, take a person who’s main sporting activity is running. It would be inadvisable to join a local soccer league or pickup basketball group. Both of these activities will have the person run the risk of sprained ankles, strained or torn ligaments, and potentially broken bones.
Some good alternative sports to running which will help keep up overall fitness yet engage different muscles are cycling and swimming. You can even use a promo code and pick up a stationary bike if your off-season training takes place during bad weather months.
Take Short, Calculated Breaks
During your off-season, make sure any breaks in training you choose to take are intentional and have a planned end-date. By taking calculated breaks, you will be able to avoid falling into a common off-season trap, where many athletes find themselves unmotivated and unable to force themselves back into training.
We hope our best practices for off-season training help you be successful during your off-season and re-energized when you go back into the active season.
