Conditioning for sports is a key aspect to preparing for an upcoming season. Whether people play team or solo sports, conditioning before the season helps to keep players mobile, improves strength and enhances physical performance.
Different sports require different types of conditioning activities to help each player prepare to be their best. The most common activities for various sports are running, ladder drills and weightlifting. Each player can also focus on special exercises to help them better prepare for the season ahead.
“The more endurance I build up, the more I can do,” junior lacrosse player Brodee Doyle said. “The more I build, the better and stronger it makes my legs, heart and brain while in a game.”
Conditioning before the next season can help to avoid injuries. To prevent injuries, doing all the correct strengthening and stretching activities can help teams have a successful season ahead of them.
“For our team, warming up helps us get loose,” sophomore baseball player Tanner Bormann said. “Nothing is tight in our legs, arms or shoulders to prevent injuries.”
Mental health can positively impact a player. Conditioning can help athletes get into a healthy mindset before playing a sport. This practice can improve focus and resilience in upcoming games or meets.
“When I get up early, I go and work out or something of that sort,” sophomore football player and wrestler Tony Brooks said. “I feel like the rest of the day goes well and I feel more awake.”
On the flip side, conditioning can also hurt one’s mental health. If players condition too hard and do not listen to their bodies about what they may need, it could lead to over-conditioning. Over-conditioning can lead to many negative aspects such as burnout, depression and even pressure put on the athletes, either from themselves or others.
“If anything, conditioning makes your mental health worse,” junior baseball player Sean Dunlap said. “Just going to practice and knowing that you have to run at the end is probably the worst thing ever.”
While sports conditioning can take a toll on the mind and body, it offers many benefits such as strengthening players’ abilities for each season ahead, preventing injuries and helping to alter ones’ mental health. Most of all, conditioning helps build players’ endurance for the next season.
“Conditioning teaches me discipline and perseverance,” senior lacrosse player Brayden Zimmerman said. “Even when I’m tired, I have to keep going.”
