Athletes often have trouble sticking to a training schedule during the off-season. That is why off-season coaching can provide the structure and discipline an athlete needs to stay on track throughout the slow months. Off-season coaching can increase athlete happiness while preventing injury and burnout. Here’s how athletes can maintain their fitness goals during the off-season.
- Prevent Panic In Athletes
Many athletes look for help from coaches only when they are in their critical training cycles. With a little coaching, athletes often rush their training during crammed training practices. When a coach offers training during the off-season, athletes will have less chance of getting hurt and will build their fitness goals slow and steady.
- Attack Weaknesses
Most off-season workouts are unstructured, but this gives the athlete a chance to work on high-level skills with no rush. This is the time to work on small weaknesses and areas that need improvement. These improvements may range from strength, recovery, technique, nutritional needs, and more. Many athletes stick with their strengths without a coach to guide them and ignore areas that need improvement.
- Prevent Overtraining
While some athletes slack off during the off-season, many take this time as a challenge. They train at a high level that may be too intense or too frequent for their individual needs. Some athletes don’t allow themselves to take necessary breaks when they are on their own. This can cause burnout and injury if the person is left without proper supervision. Coaching during this time helps athletes focus on their long-term goals instead of their short-term ones. It also helps prevent injuries from occurring from athletes who push themselves too hard.
- Stay on Track
While some athletes train too hard, others tend to lose their motivation and focus when the off-season hits completely. Unless an athlete needs to recover from an injury or other issue, taking months off from their sport will set them back when it’s time to get back to it for real. It will be much easier for an athlete to stay in shape during the off-months than it will be for them to struggle to get back to their original fitness level after slacking for a few months. A persistent coach can make sure an athlete stays on track even when they may resist.