game on
off-season training
GIVE IT A REST
Knowing how to train and when to rest are key in
helping young athletes get stronger, avoid injuries
and stay in the game.
It may be tempting to keep up a training schedule after the season
but Hillary Plummer, an athletic trainer and doctoral student
at Auburn University’s School of Kinesiology, gives different
advice.
“One of the most important things to do following a season of
play is to take time off from training to recover, both physically
and mentally,” Plummer said. “The body will adapt to the stresses
that are placed on it, and if repetitive forces are applied and the
body doesn’t have adequate time to recover, the risk of injury will
increase.”
Taking time off doesn’t mean being inactive, however. During
the off-season, athletes should focus on addressing weak areas to
prepare for the next season. Even after working with elite athletes
from a variety of sports, Plummer notes, “I am still amazed by
some of the basic deficiencies that have never