Jun 22, 2017
Summer Training Tips

As schools close for the summer, it’s time to give some thought to the next step of your strength and conditioning program. Student-athletes will be engaging in a variety of activities, both related and unrelated to their sport, during the summer months. For some, this vacation may allow for a much-needed break but for others it could be an opportunity to get ahead.

There a variety of options to consider. For example, you may not want your athletes to train at all over the summer. Many of them might be planning on attending a sport-related camp or competition. This means they will already be putting stress on their body and anything extra could lead to overtraining. In addition, it’s important to consider that the types of athletes who choose to participate in summer camps or competitions are often those that already spend an ample amount of time training.

If you are worried about an athlete overtraining during the summer, give them a clear set of guidelines to make sure their bodies have enough time to recover. These might include limiting activity to three or four days a week or doing active recovery exercises and stretches. It may also be helpful to have them focus on perfecting their execution instead of trying to build strength or speed.

If you do want your athletes to have certain training goals for the summer, you should decide whether they should focus on improving areas of weakness or further developing their strengths. Throughout the course of a season you will likely identify any areas where an athlete is lacking. If you want an athlete to strengthen their weaknesses over the summer, give them specific goals to strive for and exercises that will help them get there.

Some athletes may already be very well rounded and could benefit from building upon their strengths. In those cases, help the athletes identify their strengths and give them certain markers to strive for. These may include perfecting a certain skill, setting a personal record, or increasing overall strength. Be sure to give your athletes clear guidelines.

If athletes will be working out without supervision, it’s important that they have shown they are competent with the various lifts. Asking an inexperienced athlete to lift weights without professional supervision could lead to them forming bad weightroom habits and training with poor technique. Make sure that any athletes who plan to get stronger over the summer know how to do so safely.




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