The Most Effective Ways to Prepare for Spring Sports This Winter
Even though winter is upon us, it’s not too early to start preparing for spring sports. You don’t want to show up to the field or the court rusty when the weather starts to turn warm this spring, instead, you are going to want to show up on the top of your game in order to be your best from the start. It’s not a lost cause because there are several ways you can prepare for spring sports during the winter months.
Join an Athletic Club
Athletic clubs will help you stay in shape and give you access to indoor courts where you can practice your game. This works well for those who love to play tennis. Many athletic clubs offer racquetball where you can continue to work on your form all winter as you prepare for the spring. Other clubs may even have full regulation courts in their gyms where you and a partner can keep playing all through the cold weather months.
It may also serve you to possibly join a tennis club that has several indoor courts. This way, you can continue to play tennis and join tournaments. Many indoor clubs have winter tennis leagues that you can become a member of and play competitively until outdoor tennis starts up again in the warmer months.
Go to the Batting Cages
If you can find an indoor batting cage go to it to keep your batting swing on point. Batting cages will enable you to keep your skills sharp even though you are unable to be out on the field. If your area does not have batting cages, you may want to try and invest in batting tees. Batting tees can be set up in your yard either in the front or the back or you can take them to the park.
It may be a bit chilly outside, but you can swing the bat into a net, or you can find an empty field and hit the ball to friends. You can take turns and when someone else is hitting you can work on your fielding. This will keep you sharp until the spring league starts up and when you get back on the field you will be in top form.
Swim
To keep your body in shape, take up swimming this winter. Many athletic clubs and gyms offer indoor swimming as part of their membership, and by taking a dip three times a week you will keep your body in shape and strong for spring sports. Swimming is one of those sports where you use your entire body for the duration of your workout, and it will keep your endurance high.
Swimming builds stamina and strengthens all the muscles of your body. You will also work on your speed in a way that will help you move faster because you will learn to go as fast as possible in the water, and when there is no resistance on land, you will amp up your speed to new levels, and speed helps in just about every sport there is to play.
Do Yoga
During the cold months, going into a hot yoga studio seems like a good idea. Yoga is one of the best practices an athlete can work into their regiment. Yoga makes your body as flexible as it can possibly be and that helps when you are competing against other athletes by giving you a better reach in sports like baseball and tennis, and making quick moves on the field and court without sustaining an injury. Yoga also gives you balance, which helps with everything you need to do to perform well.
Yoga also helps you ground your mind and your body together, which helps you think more clearly and keep a sharper mind while you are performing. There are yoga studios just about everywhere, so sign up for one this winter in order to give your body the recharge it needs to be the best. If it’s possible, keep yoga in your routine all year round in order to constantly be in the best shape you can be in.
Eat Well
After the holidays, it’s a good idea to maintain a healthy diet. In the winter, our instincts tell us to eat more in order to store fat for the winter, but that could weigh down your performance. Continue the eating habits you need for the spring so that when it arrives you are ready and not having to start a diet from scratch.
