The off-season is a time to recover physically and mentally from a long and arduous season. There are nagging injuries that may need initial rest but must also be addressed from an active rehab perspective. This is especially true if there are specific underlying causes. Many injuries “disappear” over the summer only to “reappear” in September because they haven’t been properly addressed.

Research has shown that fatigue, both mental and physical, may contribute to the risk of injury. This said it is imperative that a scheduled break is part of the off-season. This doesn’t mean crack open the sun tan lotion and beach chairs. Alternative activities such as hiking, cycling, and tennis provide an “active” rest from the demands of soccer while maintaining a baseline fitness.

Now for many players, provincial teams and spring leagues don’t allow for an immediate break from the game. This means the break should be taken later in the summer but should not be neglected prior to the start of the next season. There is always a point of diminishing returns when training for anything and it’s impossible to maintain quality training year round.

Remember the 3 R’s of your off-season: