Importance of preseason training/training before an event

It’s that time of the year, where Christmas is now past us and we move into preseason training or strive to complete an event (such as the Barwon Heads triathlon) to get the year started the right way!
This blog will cover why building a foundation is so important from both a performance and durability perspective to complete a preseason or training period for your respective sport or event.

Preseason training plays a crucial role in the preparation of athletes across various sports. It is a structured period that occurs before the official competitive season begins. The primary goals of preseason training are to enhance physical fitness, build team cohesion, reduce the risk of injuries, and prepare athletes mentally for the challenges ahead.

Here are some key aspects highlighting the importance of preseason training:

Physical Conditioning/Building a great foundation:

Fitness Improvement: Preseason training allows athletes to focus on improving their cardiovascular endurance, strength, flexibility, and agility. This foundation helps them perform at their best during the regular season. At 13th Beach Health Services, we commonly see patients go from hardly any training, to an enormous amount of load, which significantly increases the chances of injury. It’s imperative to begin your training load with a suitable amount of load, and progressively improve your conditioning, rather than jumping straight into the deep end! Furthermore, the type of exercise you are performing should be specific to the sport you are playing. It’s important to break down movements/skills/aspects of your sport and consider what muscle groups, tendons or regions to train. If you have any questions around this, please contact us at the clinic or check out our social media posts. Our practitioners are sharing tips and tricks to build a good foundation and training muscle groups specific for the upcoming Barwon Heads triathlon!

Injury Prevention: Building a solid physical base during preseason helps to significantly reduce the risk of injuries during the competitive season. Strengthening muscles, tendons, and ligaments can enhance overall resilience and allow an athlete to meet the demands of their respective sport. It’s critical to be training muscle groups that have the most demand for your sport, as you need to have the strength, endurance and conditioning required to get through a season.

If you are unable to build this foundation throughout the preseason period, the likelihood of injury is significantly increased, as well as the re-occurrence of the injury happening throughout the season. If you have any questions surrounding what muscle groups should be trained for your respective sport, please reach out to us at 13thBHS to get you back on track! Our Osteopaths and Physiotherapists have a holistic approach to assessment and understand what is required for you to be at your best for your respective sport. You really can’t underestimate the importance of a great foundation, significantly increasing your performance and durability.

Skill Development:
Technical and Tactical Proficiency: Athletes can use the preseason to refine their skills, work on new techniques, and enhance their understanding of team strategies and tactics. This preparation is essential for optimal performance during actual competitions. Another aspect of skill training is body biomechanics. To perform a skill, it requires movement of the different parts of your body to perform. If an aspect of this isn’t functioning properly, this can either create a problem throughout the season, which may be predisposing an athlete to an injury or performance decline. At 13th Beach Health Services, we have many practitioners who have experience at the top level of competition in different disciplines who can help you get to your best. Preseason or before the competition/event is the best time to fine tune your biomechanics, as repetition and practice is required to implement change.

Testing and Evaluation:
Assessment of Fitness Levels: Preseason is a crucial time of the year to assess the fitness levels of athletes, identify areas for improvement, and create a baseline for health professionals and strength & conditioning coaches to refer to. At 13th Beach Health Services, we provide a thorough examination, treatment & management plans to improve performance, pain levels & functionality prior to the season commencing. Preseason or training before an event is the most important time to have an assessment, as it’s the best time to address and implement changes that will increase performance and durability. If injury occurs throughout the duration of a season, having the ability to refer back to your baseline testing is critical, as it gives health professionals and strength & conditioning coaches a better understanding of where the individual athlete’s norm is. This allows for a smoother transition into return to play.

Establishing Routines:
Preseason is an ideal time for athletes to establish positive habits, both in terms of training routines and lifestyle choices. Consistency in these areas contributes to long-term success. If you are participating in the upcoming Barwon Heads Triathlon for 2024, now is a great time to start establishing routines to facilitate strength, endurance & recovery. If you are wondering where you should start with your training load, check out our Instagram for weekly tips & exercises- @13thbeachhealthservices.

In summary, preseason training is a critical phase in an athlete’s preparation, laying the groundwork for a successful competitive season. It addresses physical, technical, and mental aspects, aiming to optimize performance and minimize the risk of injuries.

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