Many student athletes at Benilde St. Margrets’s do off-season training, whether it’s through BSM or through a club team. Sports are no longer just a 3-4 month commitment, but rather a 9-10 month commitment, and this can be a lot with balancing school and social life.
I often find myself getting burned out, having to bounce between workouts, high school practices, and travel lacrosse. Training year-round has made me a better lacrosse player in many different ways. It has also allowed me to grow into my body through strength training and skill development that I wouldn’t have achieved without year-round training. It also increased my confidence by teaching me life skills such as discipline, knowing when to rest, mental toughness, and friendships that will last a lifetime. I wouldn’t have achieved this without training so much.
BSM high school training for lacrosse starts in the summertime with captain-led practices and camps run by coaches. We go through the fall and winter with practices two times a week and scrimmages on Sundays. The regular season begins in April and ends in mid-June, with travel lacrosse starting shortly after. During my club season, I have gone to the East Coast 4 to 5 times during the summer, traveling and playing in tournaments in the 90-plus degree heat.
The club lacrosse season ends in late July, and after that, I am so burnt out I don’t want to pick up my stick ever again. It has always been my goal to play college lacrosse, and I was able to commit to a school to do so because of all the hard work and training I have done. I am now at the point where I am not sure I can continue playing lacrosse in college because I am so burnt out due to all the stress. I have gone through playing high school and college lacrosse all year round for so long.
There are definitely benefits to training in the off-season in sports, and it is often required if you don’t wanna be left behind skills-wise. There are many benefits to year-round training; you just need to have a good balance between school, sports, and social life. It’s very important you don’t get burnt out or injured, so rest is very important. You don’t want to lose your love for the game like many do from year-round training, so breaks are important when you need them.