Most High School Football players are done by this time of year and getting into off season mode. It’s time to think about what you need to improve on and set some goals for the upcoming year.
The moment you think you are good enough is the moment your opponents catch up and get better than you. This off season, if you are just going through the motions in your workout, or perhaps not doing anything at all, then you will surely get passed by others. This is fine if you are not going to compete anymore, but if you’re planning on competing next season… it’s time to get off your butt.
Most people look forward to next season for the chance to do better. They look forward to the opportunity to turn some losses into victories and victories into repeats, and the off season is when those tweaks are made. If you put in the same amount of work as you did the year before, then you can expect the same results… unless your opponents are working harder. If your opponents are putting in more work this off season than last year AND you are putting in the same amount of effort then you will likely do worse.
“The best way to improve the team is to improve yourself”
-John Wooten
Do I have to?
So why bother? I mean by that line of logic, if you work hard but your opponents outwork you, then you will also do worse. How do you know how hard you need to work to be able to do better? There are so many ways to work hard and still come up short, so why not just take it easy instead?
Well, that’s the difference between someone who wants to play, and someone who wants to win. Ultimately you need to ask yourself if you are in it for the selfies and participation trophy, or if you are willing to work hard for the chance to win games and dominate at your position. The one thing that is certain is that we all have the same amount of time, it’s up to you to decide what to do with it. If you are serious about improving your performance, then you need to come up with a plan to attack your weaknesses. Even if you are in a winter sport, you can still find time to work in some drills that don’t interfere with your current sport.
Off Season is for everybody
The off season is a great time for coaches to lead by example and improve their knowledge as well. Coaches fill in many hats, so whether it’s fundraising, public relations, or sport specific, it’s time to sharpen those skills.
Personally, I just renewed my NESTA Personal Trainer Certification and added CPPS level 1 certification to my credentials. I’m also planning on attending at least one Football Clinic to keep current with what other schools are doing in their programs. You can never know too much no matter what your role is.
I’m putting the direction of the Off Season Football program on paper and planning on preparing athletes to the best of my ability to survive and thrive in 2016. This is all in addition to my day job and family life, there should be no doubt about my dedication and desire to win. How about you? What are you doing to get better this off season?