Off-season for me was always a love-hate relationship. I
absolutely loved getting a chance to focus on my own game…I hated not being in
season and playing games. But let's focus on the love part for now. Whenever a
season ended, the sight of the next season quickly came into my mind. I would
take a few days to analyze the concluding season, create my goals for the
off-season/next season, and plan out my workout schedule. I loved this part.
Yes, type A and all that, but I loved it for more than the scheduling and
planning aspect. I loved it because I knew I was going to get better! There was
never a doubt in my mind that my off-season schedule would result in me
becoming a better basketball player and athlete. How did I know? I had proof I got better! I kept track of every shooting, lifting,
running, and stretching off-season aspect I took part in and the numbers didn’t
lie. From the first to the last day of the off-season, my numbers improved.
That love
of getting better, brought a certain level of excitement to the off-season that
made it an enjoyable experience every summer. Probably one of the best
off-seasons I ever had was the summer between my freshman and sophomore year of
college. I had had a taste of college ball, I knew what I needed to do to get
better, and I had a locked in focus on accomplishing the goals I set for
myself. That summer I found myself with a plan that was going to help me excel
on the court. I followed the lifting and running program my college strength
and conditioning coach set and averaged over 700 shots a day in the gym
(remember, I recorded everything). Every day I felt better than the day before
and I was excited to get back to school and show my improvements.
My days
consisted of a skill workout, lift, run, and stretch. The morning was my time
to improve and on most days my workouts were finished by noon. It was a time
commitment I was willing and happy to make in order to get better. Sure, there
were days that I absolutely didn’t feel like going to the gym. And, even though
my body was telling me I may have needed a break, I still went through with the
workouts.
That is the one negative aspect of my off-season workouts I wish I would
have done differently. As much as I was enjoying getting better, there was this
constant time induced pressure I felt, always looming over me. I knew: If I
didn’t improve…I wouldn’t play. Which meant I looked at off days as steps
backwards and I couldn’t afford that. Had I listened to my body more, I think I
could have seen even bigger gains by allowing some muscle and mental recovery
time. I learned from this mistake and later in my career I became more aware of
what my body and mind needed. However, all in all that off-season led me to big
gains and it showed to others as well.
The next
season started and I had earned a starting spot for the first few games before
a leg injury ended my season. While that injury was a devastating blow at the
time, I can look back on it all now and still recognize the positives of that
off-season that occurred and the goals that were accomplished. Better
basketball player? Check! Stronger and faster? Check! Positive outlook for the
upcoming season? Check! But most importantly, I became a better person.
Self-discipline, hard work, commitment, and goal setting all occurred that
summer. All of which continued to improve and grow over the next seven years of
my basketball career and are now benefitting me in multiple aspects of my life.
I hope you
have a great off-season. Learn, practice, grow, and enjoy!
-Cat
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