The holiday break is an important time for your football players to get rest. The natural inclination is to get in extra reps or practice a skill they need to improve upon, but if your athletes are playing consistently over an extended period of time, it is important to take a break and heal ailing injuries or soreness.

Below are some tips on how to stay in shape during the holidays. To check out the full resource head to devzone.positivecoach.org.

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1. Tread Lightly with Training. Monitor your child’s offseason training to ensure sure slow and steady increases in intensity. injury risk increases when you put too much strain on the body too quickly. A gradual progression will allow the muscles and cardiovascular system to increase the level of condition as training ramps up. A good rule of thumb is to abide by the “10 percent rule:” Do not increase training activity, weight, mileage, or pace by more than 10 percent per week. This will give your body ample time to recover.
2. Rest, Recover, Repeat. Educate your child on the importance of getting a full night’s sleep. Encourage your child to go to bed at a consistent time and to not stay up late. Preach the fact that proper rest and sleep will help replenish their energy to full strength and prepare them for the next competition.
3. Nurture Nutrition Habits. Supply your children with a well-balanced diet to fuel them with the vitamins and nutrients needed to compete at the highest possible level. If you think your child may need a dietary boost, talk to your medical provider about proper supplementation, and always consult your physician before taking any over-the-counter or prescription drugs.

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