The biggest mistake we see athletes make is performing the wrong type of training at the wrong time. You may make gains, but you’re putting yourself at risk of peaking at the wrong time. So we have provided you with a guide to In-Season and Off-Season training.

Guide to Off-Season Training

LIFT HEAVY!! This is the best time to build functional muscle, gain weight and acclimate your body and joints to carrying a heavier load.

During this time you don’t have to be overly concerned about soreness and overtraining, so you are able to push your body harder. During this time it is OK to work out longer, like 60 to 90 minutes, and with higher volumes in sets & reps. You can also incorporate slow negatives, like eccentric training and isometric holds. Which is great because they are extreme strength builders but are too stressful to perform during the season.

During the off-season you have nothing else at stake, so you can work toward getting bigger and better for the season to come.

However, you can’t neglect your sport—this is actually the worst thing you can do. Even if you’re playing your sport less frequently than you would in season, it’s better than not playing at all. You will still need your body will remember the motor skills and movements of the game.

Avoid too much specialty training, such as instability or isolation work. These have their place, but they should make up only a small portion of your workouts. You’ll already be challenging your body with increased volume and intensity, so you don’t need to go crazy varying your exercises.

Guide to In-Season Training

During this time you should be spending more time on the field than in the weight room. Use strength training to supplement your sport-specific drills and training.

You can lift weights after practice if it’s on the same day. If you have a late practice on night,  then you should work out on an off day or early in the morning. This will preserve your energy and your neurological responsiveness so you can still play your best.

At the start of the season, you can use heavier weights and higher training volume. But as the season progresses, you should taper your training to preserve your performance for the playoffs or important competitions. Focus more on unloaded speed work, dynamic exercises and lower training volume.

Also, the quality of your joints and connective tissue will degrade during the season. To prevent an injury, perform mobility work and foam rolling exercise regularly, and address your weak links. For example, a hockey player might strengthen his groin to prevent a muscle pull.

 

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