I have been asked countless times, “How do I get better at my sport during the off-season?” or “How can I get better at my sport in a short amount of time?”
My best and most honest answer is to practice, practice, practice!
There is so much skill work and personal development that comes from simply picking up a ball and practicing skills you know, and skills you don’t know. Professional athletes become good enough to play at the highest level by putting in individual work when no one is watching.
If you have the equipment for your sport, such as a ball, a stick, a bat, shoes, etc, pick them up and take them outside (or inside, but be careful!) and start playing. Challenge yourself with your control and hand-eye coordination. Work on your speed and agility. If you need help coming up with ideas on how to practice, there are a lot of YouTube videos that demonstrate drills that you can do on your own.
You don’t always have to play on your own, however. Find a friend, sibling, and/or teammate who plays the same sport as you and practice together! That makes training a lot more fun, and you can learn and teach each other new skills.
Another way to get better at your sport and raise your sports IQ is by watching high-level matches. Search for a professional-level game for your sport and find a player that plays your position. Watch them throughout the entire match and take note of how they move around the playing field/court. See if you can hear what they are saying and how they are communicating with their teammates.
Continue to find ways to push yourself and stay involved in your sport, even in the off-season. The time you put into your training and development will have a noticeable impact on your level of play when your season comes back around.
