Dr Ed Coughlan: Before you switch on for 2017, be sure to switch off from 2016
Win or lose, when a season comes to a close it is critical athletes experience an off-season. This is not to be mistaken for a break in training, where there is a couple of weeks downtime. A break in training can occur in-season to take stock of progress from a particular training block that may have culminated in a competition or event.
In a typical season, whatever the sport, an athlete should have several scheduled breaks in training to allow the body and mind time and space to breathe easy. To go one step further, if an athlete describes his or her off-season as merely a break in training, they are on a fast-track to becoming injured in the ensuing season. An off-season is one of the most essential parts of an athlete’s continual development and well-being.
