"Off" Season

Summer "off" season means finding that time between hanging with old friends you have not seen in awhile, summer jobs (part or full time), tanning, laying by a pool, catching up with your family, catching up on all the lost sleep during the school year (that we all know we missed), eating, and having time for fun to fit in your daily workout routines assigned by coaches and trainers.  Its not always easy.  Sometimes you get frustrated and not because you are tired but because fitting it in can be tough.  There is also the muscle exhaustion, but that can be nothing compared to the mental frustration. 

If you ask me there should be a rest week every 6 weeks of summer training.  Not that many athletes will completely rest but just to give the illusion to athletes that they can rest if they need it and do what exercises they like or want to do. 

Being a college athlete is a job; whether you want to think about it like that or not.  Working out, taking care of yourself, and eating right is a full-time job all year round.  "Off" season does not exist, you are always in season. 

Before I entered my freshman year:

• I got up at approximately 10 am 
• Ate some breakfast
• Biked to the gym (2miles)
• Lifted weights for approximately an hour 
• Biked home (2miles) 
• Ran a few laps around my block (.6 miles each lap) 
• I would typically grab a little lunch 
• Finish the workout off with shooting outside for an hour.

• I would then go and swim in my pool as a cool down. 

By the time I was all done it was typically 3 in the afternoon.  And then I would be off to work at 4.  If I had the 8 hour shift that day I would take one of the activities; in order, to be at work by 2.  There were also days that I worked overnight shifts (10pm to 6am).  When I got out of work I would often run when I got home (because I had the energy), shower, and then go to bed for about 6-7 hours.  On those days I would typically do a pool workout and shoot (cutting out the weights). 
I worked a lot that summer both making money and working out.  I made a decent amount of money, as well as, gaining a lot of new muscles. 

Before Sophomore year, I was debating playing another season. The season had been filled with drama and the trainer had told me to lose 10lbs.  I was mortified and so angry.  It was the straw that almost broke the camels back.

I needed to find my passion for the game again and worked all summer to find it.  I worked a different camp each week.  Starting with Cornell, to Hoop Mountain, to refereeing to local tournaments, then it was off to Cortland Camp, and then Skidmore, and finally U of R. I was able to find my passion and remember what it felt like to be a kid again and just play the game because you love it and it is fun.  I shot a lot that summer and was able to improve my moves to go along with increasing my leadership skills.

I found my passion again for the game was re-energized to work hard.  I put all my focus in August into getting into the best shape of my life.  In the month before school I lost 5 pounds and in the next six weeks before season I lost another 10 pounds.  I felt great and was in the best shape of my life.  I was happy to be apart of the team again.  Unfortunately during the season, I had a lot of health set backs that through me for a ride I wasn't expecting.  But life is all about those moments that you don't expect. 

Now we have a new summer workout plan that includes 3 days a week of strength training, 2 days of speed and agility, and a 15 week 5k program (designed for us to run a 5k as a team at the end of the summer).  I have completed every workout; thus far and plan to continue. 

College sports are a job, but the discipline you learn through them, pays off in the end.