Although the off-season may sound like a good time to rest up, for most athletes it’s not. For certain players, some don’t even get an off-season. Whether it’s playing for a club, training for the upcoming season, or playing a different sport.
For three specific athletes in our school, there is no off-season.
During the fall season, eighth grader Mikayla Patterson plays soccer for the Altoona Lady Lions and club soccer and during the spring she runs track.
“Whenever it’s not school soccer season, I play club soccer for FC814, and I run track,” said Patterson.
Patterson wakes up at 6 a.m. in the morning, goes to school at 7 a.m., goes home, gets ready for soccer practice, goes to soccer at 8 p.m. comes home at 9:30 pm, does homework and repeats. Patterson has a tight schedule whenever adding sports into her everyday routine.
Even though Patterson never really has off time, it pushes her to do her best while also getting good training.
Eighth grader Natalie Bumbarger there is no such thing as an off-season. Bumbarger spends all year putting in the effort to get better at her sport. Whether she is at soccer practice for club soccer or training in several different ways, she is always getting better.
Bumbarger said she usually trains a lot during off season.
”My main activity to prepare me is running,” said Bumbarger. “It helps me get in better shape and build leg strength.”
Even though some people may enjoy their off season, and use it as a time to better themselves, some can’t wait for their season to start back up. For Bumbarger specifically, she does enjoy the off season.
“I do enjoy the off season, but I do really miss playing,“ Bumbarger said.
Bumbarger enjoys the off season because she believes it’s a good time to prepare her for her upcoming season and uses it as a time to get better.
Do you enjoy off-season?
