In-season training 101
To change things around a bit, I’ll write this blogpost in English. While doing so, it will give me some practice since I’ll start training both basketball teams at McGill University in less than a month.
The topic of today’s post is in-season training. Football season, at both the CEGEP and the intercollegiate, either just started or is starting in the next few days, hockey season starts in a month or so, and basketball pre-season games will start on Friday for the McGill Redmen. Players who participated actively in a well-organized strength and conditioning program will be ready for the start of the season but yet, they must retain these gains for a few months at least. Sometimes, it can be a difficult task due to practices, games, tournaments, injuries, school, etc. However, it is the job of the strength and conditioning coach to adapt his programming to the players’ situation. In the following, I’ll address the various points to consider when building an adequate in-season strength and conditioning program.
– Soft-tissue quality
The importance of soft-tissue work can often be overlooked in a training program. However, I feel it will help players recover from their aches and pains. With the repetition of sport-specific movements on a daily basis, in addition to other daily activities, some muscles can become stiffer and limit proper movement of various joints. Foam rolling prior to the weight training session and on a daily basis can help maintain tissue quality throughout the season.
