The season has come to an end in many sports: soccer, basketball, baseball, volleyball... Young athletes have endured a long stretch that began back in September. Intense effort, sweat, ups and downs, it's all now behind them. So, what should coaches do with young athletes during the offseason?
When I played basketball years ago at Lake Oswego High School, our season started in November. Before the official start, we weren’t allowed to hold training sessions. The season ended in March, sooner for those who didn’t qualify for the state finals.
But times have changed.
In many sports, the season now stretches much longer. Young athletes often train in the same sport from September through the end of June. Considering that pre-season typically begins in early or mid-August, the true off-season is now just one month: July.
I recently heard about a coach who began intense conditioning training for the upcoming season immediately after the current one ended, with athletes aged just 13–14. The only good thing about this is that it inspired me to write this article.
With such a short off-season, it's crucial that young athletes get time for rest and mental recovery. Without proper physical and psychological regeneration, the risk of burnout rises significantly, leading to a drop in performance and long-term consequences.
If you plan to hold training sessions shortly after the season ends, they should focus on fun and injury prevention, not on intense conditioning or running drills. Instead, give young athletes true time off, encouraging active rest. Let them hang out with friends, play informal games, swim, bike, or skate. If they can’t go without sports, let them try something new.
For years, after basketball season, I allowed my sons to do one or two weeks of individual tennis training. Not only was it great for developing quick footwork, but it also introduced them to the experience of an individual sport, something they can enjoy recreationally for life.
The off-season is too short to waste. It must be used wisely to allow recovery of the muscle-tendon structures taxed during the season and, just as importantly, to refresh the mind. Only a well-rested and recharged young athlete will be physically and mentally ready to tackle the next season.
Today, with competitive seasons running nearly year-round, it’s more important than ever to properly periodize young athletes’ training throughout the year. Thinking you can compensate for a year of constant competition during a brief off-season is like believing your dentist can fix a yearlong of bad dental hygiene in one visit.
At Mozaiq Sports, our mission is the progressive, optimal, and long-term development of young athletes, especially when it comes to their motor abilities. This can’t be achieved by cramming conditioning into one or two summer months.
—Igor Macner, author of Formula for Success in Sports 1 & 2
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