De-training

One of the largest differences in youth sports today compared to ten years ago or longer is the opportunity to train. There are options for more practice, greater intensity, specialization, advance techniques from highly educated and experienced coaches, awareness and understanding of scientific approaches to athletics and much more. When used correctly, these opportunities can be extremely beneficial. One particular area in the advanced training of athletes that doesn't receive enough attention is the recovery phrase, but more particularly, the "de-training" period.

Rest periods are essential to successful training cycles. One doesn't over-train as much as under recover. Recovery has many layers and is often times the secret weapon to success in a culture that pushes to the extremes. Preparing the body, mind and soul for the recovery phase is a key to getting the most out of it.

De-training is the two or three day time frame (or more) that immediately follows a large competition or the conclusion of a peak performance plan. It takes into account the heavy workload and intensity of a competition and helps you prepare for the recovery phase. It includes a variety of de-programming activities that assure the athlete adequately recovers.

Athletes can come out of a recovery phase without experiencing any kind of recovery. When dealing with the Total Athlete, all three facets must be adequately recharged (body, mind and soul). American athletes complete a cycle or finish a large competition and immediately take time off or "rest." Most of the time, their break has very little foresight. A typical scenario is an athlete competes on Saturday and then stays up late, ingests what has been forbidden for a period of time, sleeps in and catches up on the social activities that were missed while preparing. It makes sense and seems natural because the hard work is done. There is validity to this, however, it's not always the most productive avenue for recovery. Simply because the "hard" work is done doesn't give the athlete a license to ignore the "easy" work. Many of those things that were missed during the hard work can still be enjoyed, but proper preparation should be utilized here, too.

A lot of attention is placed on getting the athlete to peak while very little is placed on getting the most out of the recovery phase. Getting the most from each rest period or recovery phase will enable the next peak to be higher.