The end of the season is bittersweet for athletes — some celebrate their season’s results while others grieve over the graduation of senior athletes. Yet, for all, it means entering a much-needed break from the mental and physical exhaustion that comes with the sport’s rigorous training and competitions.
However, this offseason is also a challenging period for athletes to stay in shape. The lack of regular practice, structured training and competitive games significantly impacts performance during the season.
Primarily, the offseason results in the loss of technical skills and physical fitness.
“If I don’t practice, the technical details, like dribbling, become a lot harder to do in the game,” sophomore soccer player Arav Choudhary said.
Sophomore track athlete Eric Liang echoed a similar sentiment experiencing similar challenges when maintaining his physical fitness.
“During the track season, I was able to run quite fast. I actually had a 5:18 mile time,” Liang said. “But now, I probably have like a 7 or 8-minute mile.”
While some athletes will still train during the offseason, the lack of structure leaves practice times up to athletes’ self-discipline, which makes consistency difficult to achieve. The difficulty of self-paced training often leads to significant declines in performance as seen by Choudhary and Liang.
To address these problems, athletes employ various solutions. For instance, Choudhary combines individual training with sessions from personal coaches and his club, allowing him to stay fit even when team practices are less frequent.
Other athletes, like sophomore swimmer Kevin Chen, have adapted by swimming occasionally and shortening his break from swimming to recover his form more quickly. Similarly, Lotfizadeh participates in off-season programs organized by his coaches, including morning weightlifting, after-school running and open gyms to improve speed, stamina and strength.
Ultimately, all sports will have an offseason, when athletes risk “falling off.” However, competitive athletes at the school emphasize the importance of consistent training in the offseason. Those who maintain a routine, whether through individual training or structured programs, are better equipped to return to their sport in good form. For high school athletes, learning to balance rest and training will help improve qualities in life including discipline, organization, and responsibility.
“While [staying consistent is] definitely difficult and frustrating, I’ve learned to do better and it’s become easier,” Lotfizadeh said.
