Benefits of Preseason Training

As a parent of a teenager, you might ask yourself, “Should I put my child into a pre-season conditioning training?” That is a question I hear every spring and summer. I want to give some sound reasoning for why pre-season conditioning is not only beneficial, but neccessary, to a successful season in any sport.

Primarily, performance is the key to any success in athletics. A season generally lasts

between 14-20 weeks during the year. That means that at least 30 weeks are between seasons. This is time that the athlete is not actively playing or participating in that sport, and often times not really active at all. Off season leagues and general exercise help, but still do not prime the athlete for an upcoming season. Therefore, lag time causes the athlete to stall in the development of their skills. When they start the new season they are, at best, trying to condition to get back to where they left off athletically.

Secondly, injury prevention is also a key to a successful season. Pre-season conditioning gets the body ready for the kind of physical movement and demand the sports require. If an athlete begins the season without the physical adjustment to the action of the sport, then injury is more likely to occur through fatigue or lack of mobility/flexibility.

Lastly, confidence is an important factor in executing movement in any sport. The more confidence acquired through pre-season conditioning, the more likely that athlete will be a dynamic force in their respective sport. Confidence is gained through the knowledge for the athlete that they can handle the physical and mental demands of the sport.

So, a pre-season conditioning clinic or camp can lead to your child’s upcoming season being one where they are progressing in skills from last season, injury free, and with the confidence to be successful. Not a bad way to start a season!