During the offseason in basketball, it may seem like there is plenty of time to work on your game and that there will always be time tomorrow – however, this only an illusion. Before you know it, the season will hold you accountable for what you spent your time doing this offseason. The season will not wait for you, no more time will be given for preparation, and certainly, no wasted time in the offseason will be returned.
That is why it is so important that you spend your time wisely and own this offseason. This is not always the easiest thing to do, but you will set yourself up to be successful this upcoming season if you are willing to commit to it.
Here are four keys that will help you own the off-season in basketball!
Make an Offseason Basketball Plan
Before you go to the gym and start training or doing all of the different basketball drills you can think of, you need to sit down and make a game plan. Ask yourself this, “What am I trying to accomplish this offseason, and how am I going to get it done?” The answers to these two questions will help you figure out what you should be spending your time and energy on.
For example, if you want to become a better shooter this offseason, you need to spend time working on your shot. That means you need to budget a set amount of time each day/week to work on your shot. It will be different for every basketball player, but make sure you have a strategy for accomplishing your offseason goals.
The offseason is also a great chance to work on different weaknesses in your game. It is hard to dedicate the needed time to develop specific areas of your game during the season, but the offseason is perfect for turning weaknesses into strengths. Whatever you do, don’t go to the gym without a plan because if you do, you are just asking to waste time.
Quality Basketball Training Over Quantity
It is not just enough to go to the gym every day. You need to go to the gym and spend quality time working on your game. You will get more out of 45 minutes of hard work at game speed than 3 hours of taking turns shooting at half speed with a friend. When you get to the gym or weight room, train with a purpose. Eliminate all of the distractions around you, and spend quality time developing as a basketball player.
Maximize Your Training Time
You may not always have a lot of time in the gym, and there may be multiple things you want to work on. This means that you need to maximize your time. There are many great basketball drills out there that work on multiple skills all at the same time. So if you do not have a lot of court time, find some great drills that will maximize your time and allow you to work on everything you need to work on.
Stay Dedicated to Your Basketball Training
There are going to be days that you don’t feel motivated or start to think, “there is plenty of time before the season starts to work on my game, and I can wait.” However, these days are the most important to your offseason! These are the days that you need to step up and dominate the summer as a basketball player.
Don’t get me wrong, there are days that you need to take a break and let your body recover, but if it is just because you aren’t “feeling it,” you need to fight it and get in the gym. It is hard to work for something down the line that you can’t see, but it will all be worth it when the time finally comes and the season is here.
“You can’t get much done in life if you only work on the days when you feel good.” – Jerry West
