When the end of the school year is in sight, it’s time to start planning ways to make sure your student athletes don’t lose the progress they’ve made in their sports over the school year. Just like kids can lose the academic progress they’ve achieved during the year if they don’t keep it up over the summer, they can also lose the athletic progress they’ve made. Luckily, with longer summer days, there’s even more daylight hours to give your kids the opportunity to focus on improving their conditioning so they’re ready to impress at tryouts in the fall.
Why Student Athletes Need A Summer Training Plan to Keep Fit
Sports medicine specialist, Heath Thornton, MD, says one of the key benefits of summer training is preparedness. “If the athlete plans to participate in fall or winter sports, not working out all summer is going to put them at a great disadvantage on day 1 of practice.”
The earlier you start planning for your student athlete’s off-season, the better. Keeping consistency between their school year practice schedule and their summer training schedule is key to their success. Plus, depending on what types of off-season activities are in their training plan, you may need to reserve a spot well in advance.
As Coach Bob Chmiel, a veteran Division 1 football coach and recruiting expert, says, “Much like strength training, summer conditioning takes a great amount of self-discipline, but putting in the time and hard work is really not an option. It’s a must, if you plan on showing up to fall ball faster, stronger, and a better overall player than where you left off.”
Three Tips For Summer Training For Student Athletes
When building a summer training plan for a student athlete, keep these three tips in mind:
- Make a training plan that is diverse – To keep your student athlete from getting bored, don’t let their training plan get stale. An off-season training plan that mixes things up makes for an athlete who is engaged and always improving. Plus, too much routine can lead to overuse injuries during workouts. Try working in activities that might not have been accessible during the school year like swimming or hiking.
- Work out with others – One of the best ways to stay accountable to a training plan is to stay accountable to a workout partner or trainer. Help your student athlete schedule workouts with school teammates, friends, or a personal trainer to keep them on track and working toward their off-season goals.
- Nutrition should be part of a training plan – Just because the off-season doesn’t include games or competitions, that doesn’t mean it’s time to fill up on junk food. Nutrition is an important part of any training plan. Athletes need to fuel their bodies properly for the best results, no matter the season.
There are plenty of resources for building an off-season training plan for any student athlete, no matter their sport.
How Personal Training & Small Group Training Helps Student Athletes with Summer Fitness
Having your student athlete work with a personal trainer in either a one-on-one or group setting will help them improve their performance and reduce their risk of injury. A certified personal trainer will create a customized workout plan that can focus on specific areas of improvement and cross-training that keeps workouts varied. They can create workouts that incorporate weight training and conditioning, which are the pieces of a training plan that will help your student athlete improve their fitness, strength and overall game for the next season.
In addition to in-person training options, a certified personal trainer can keep your student athlete accountable to their training program with a training app. The app can provide a guide for daily workouts to be completed and help both the athlete and trainer track improvements while working toward the athlete’s goals.
While putting a summer training plan in place is a must, don’t forget to include time to relax, whether by the pool or in the air conditioning. The recovery time for student athletes is really important and, after all, it is still summer vacation!
Looking for a personal trainer to work with your student athlete during the off-season? Call us today at 781-643-0002 or email [email protected] and get more details.
Joe Rindone, NCPT is a certified personal trainer and the Founder of Inspire Fitness Studio in Arlington, MA. Joe’s passion for fitness has motivated him to become one Greater Boston’s best personal trainers. An athlete throughout high school and college, Joe has always enjoyed being active. Currently he enjoys road races, working with his boxing coach, kettlebell training and getting out for a round of golf in his spare time.