Athletic Trainer’s Corner- December 2019
R&R
In the soccer world, when the holidays are approaching, so are the tournaments. Games and travel time seem to pile up along with school projects, midterms, and special events. It goes on and on, many call it the grind, but holidays can actually be a perfect time for our athletes to take time off. True time off, where the athlete can relax and decompress, can actually be beneficial in their development—not only as a player, but as an individual. But how can this be possible with already chaotic schedules? It starts with being ok with taking time off. Encouraging this to our athletes can help them realize that they don’t need to stress and that they can breathe, without actually saying “Don’t stress”. Second, is actually setting time aside for it. It doesn’t need to be an entire week of rest. Even though it would be nice, it’s not always realistic. Taking a day or two here and there though, can be.
Taking time off is both good for the mind and body. It can be a great relaxant and recharge for the mind. It can also be a way to lower risk of overuse injuries. As I have mentioned in a previous blog, sleep for our athletes is very important and can help reduce the risk of injuries. But this goes past getting quality sleep. Recovery is needed for the body to recharge and repair itself and this can go as far as helping the brain as well. Every child is different though. What may work for one, may not work for the other. Some athletes need the complete rest and detachment from their sports and school, other athletes may need rest from high level, high intensity activities, but still do go on casual hikes or relax with yoga. Whichever your child is, allowing them to have this time to decompress can not only help them mentally, but physically.