As the winter months come to an end, one sports season ends and another begins. This time period is used for starting new habits to keep an athletes body up to par. There are many ways in which one can maintain a very healthy and active body without participating in a sport.

“An athlete’s off-season nutrition and training program is just as important as their in-season program,” National Dairy Council’s resident Sports Nutrition Expert Matt Pikosky said. 

For many, during an athletes off-season, one may decide to take a break and wind down. This may be popular among single season athletes, but to prepare for an additional season, athletes hustle and push themselves past their limits in order to get back into shape.

“The way that I make sure I am keeping my skills just as good during the off-season is that I regularly ask my friends to play and practice with me,” sophomore Ariana Nikolov said. “I also make sure to watch over my diet. I’m not usually super strict on my diet but just making sure that I have a good balance.” 

Staying in shape is important for every person, not just athletes. These tips can be very helpful to anyone, whether in a sport or not. 

“The word ‘diet’ is often associated with losing weight. But when you think of your diet, it’s more about overall wellness.” Head wrestling coach at Forest Grove High School Chad Beatty said. “That’s where an athlete’s focus should be, no matter what time of year.”  

There are many different ways for one to stay in shape during any time of the year. Keeping  nutrition, diet, hydration and exercise in check are the main requirements. Other methods like managing stress and relaxation are just as important.

“By their very nature, personal stressors can be difficult to spot.” Alastair Davidson, a content specialist said. “Athletes can be carrying baggage or issues from their life away from the team with them into competition and training. Having a positive, trusting relationship with your athletes is important, therefore, so that players can open up to you about potential personal issues.” 

Staying in shape during the off-season does not mean being incredibly strict on one’s body without taking a break. Making sure to watch your diet, stress levels and exercise are just highly recommended. Doing this will highly improve an athlete’s performance.