Why In-season Training is so Important for Athletes

The summer is the prime time for athletes to increase their athletic potential via the weight room. Not having school leaves kids with more free time, and most summer sports have a lighter overall load which allows athletes to spend more time and energy on their weight room work. 

That being said, if the athlete is completely neglecting the weight room during the sport season, his or her potential is being severely limited. When at athlete has more free time and more energy to spend in the weight room, he or she makes progress. When the transition happens and the sport season starts, the goal is simply to maintain that progress while keeping the athlete feeling good and ready to go compete in his/her sport at their highest possible level. If this progress isn’t maintained through smart, intentional training, the athlete enters the offseason back at square one. 

Don’t hear what I’m not saying: the weight room should not be priority #1 during a sport season. When talking with athletes and athlete parents, I always tell them that my hope is to see every in-season athlete once a week. If the athlete can accomplish this, not only will his or her athletic abilities be better maintained throughout a long and draining season, but they’ll also enter the offseason at a higher level than the athlete who neglected the weight room during the season. 

Take it from a strength coach who has seen it time-and-time again: don’t be scared of the weight room while your kid is playing their sport!!