The team at RATIO: are massive supporters of pre-season training.
With a long competitive season down the road, players should take advantage of pre - season training. Working hard before the season starts improves overall fitness and reduces an athlete's chance of injury.
Whatever the sport - be it AFL, rugby, soccer, netball or hockey - pre-season training is essential in preparing for the season ahead.
What is pre-season training?
Pre-season training is training that occurs in the timeframe directly before the actual sports season starts. So, for instance, if the sport runs from May until August (the Australian winter sport season) pre-season training will start around March. This is usually in the form of cardiovascular activities and sports-related drills.
This gives the player a few months to get his or her body into prime shape before the season formally begins.
Most clubs and teams have a component of pre-season training. Not only does it bring a level of camaraderie and support between team members before the season starts but, it ensures the body is prepared for the physical pursuits of rugby, soccer, athletics, netball or touch rugby.
The Importance of Pre-Season Training
Preseason training allows you to build solid fitness foundations, improve your technical ability, and ultimately ensure optimum performance.
Pre-season training is important because it prepares the players for the gruelling trainings and games that occur in the midst of the season.
If no pre-season training were to occur, it would be like running a marathon after having spent the past six months not running at all. It will be harder than ever and even if you do finish, you’ll likely have some type of injury due to your body not being properly conditioned or ready.
Pre-season training is just as important as training that occurs during the season, if not more so.
Phases of Pre-Season training
1. Fitness - strength and conditioning
2. Developing skills - ball skill and drills
3. Assessing players - strengths and weaknesses
4. Being game ready (both physically and mentally)
Any sport or physical activity can benefit a child's overall fitness. A great way to build lung capacity is swimming. If you are in a field sport that requires the endurance and lung capacity to keep driving when the fatigue is kicking in, then some time in the pool (chasing the black line) may be just what is required.
So, get ready for pre-season training. Start training, set a routine and make it happen. It doesn’t matter if you are an elite athlete or a beginner to a new sport, you are still an athlete. Remember to protect your muscles and slip on your RATIO: compression shorts. Most important thing, have fun!