Athletes Share About Offseason Training Programs

— Michael Pfliger, Sports Editor

When the competitive season ends, athletes find themselves wondering what to do now. Some choose to take time off and relax, however others will try to improve and stay in shape during the offseason.

“The big reason is so I can actually qualify for state in cross country because I’ll be a senior next year and I’ve never actually done good before,” Junior Track and Cross Country athlete Michael Storsved said.

Some athletes prefer the flexibility that comes with offseason training compared to normal practice. Seeing it as a time to recover and listen to what their body needs, allows athletes to stay healthy so they are ready for the competitive season.

“When I’m in a season they have dedicated practice times where you have to be there in order to compete but with my offseason running I’m able to play it more by how my body is feeling and adjust as needed,” Storsved said.

Weather and location play a large part in off season training with athletes having to move from their normal practice places to places that might be less suited for their sport.

“With all the snow right now I run at the Y on the treadmill unless it’s a workout like mile repeats or something like that then I run on the track there,” Storsved said.

Many athletes choose to ramp up training during the offseason to be stronger during the competitive season. This often comes in the form of lifting weights or doing more volume overall.

“In season I lift three times a week where right now I’m lifting five days a week,” Storsved said.

Athletes who participate in team sports often train with the team to build a team bond and a more cohesive team culture as well as to receive feedback from teammates on what to do differently.

“I mostly train with my teammates and friends because it’s nice to have feedback on what I could work on,” Junior baseball player Mason Oster said.

Athletes will use off-season training to build a base for the competing season, or to return to basics and dial in the fundamentals to have a better performance in the competitive season.

“Our offseason training focuses more on fundamentals and perfecting skills rather than training against competition,” Oster said.

Coaches are also encouraging athletes to participate in off-season training so they can hopefully be ahead of other teams once the competitive season begins.

“Naturally, training out of season is more encouraged than in season to focus on perfecting skills and learning new ways to be better,” Oster said.

Sports 21

February