Written by Coaches and teams are always looking for a competitive edge. This edge comes in many forms, to include better technique, newer and higher tech equipment, uniforms and other clothing that has less drag or resistance, and ways to make athletes faster, stronger, and more agile. Getting athletes to practice and getting that competitive edge is incredibly important to coaches and teams.
However, overtraining athletes is not a competitive edge. Athletes need rest, not only for their muscles and body, but also for their mental and emotional health. Athletes need a continuous cycle of training and rest, not only daily and weekly, but seasonally and yearly. Athletes’ rest in not only as important as practice and the training cycle, but may be more important.
I know it is hard for some coaches to give rest and breaks because there is so much to teach and opportunities to make athletes better. But athletes muscles will not have time to rest and recover, brains will not have time to focus, and emotions will remain high. And one more hour, day, week, or months of having your athletes and teams in the pool, on the field, court, mat, or pitch, or in the gym sounds incredibly tempting for any coach. But, you want athletes to always be at their peak mental, physical, and emotional performance, and in order to do that, they need appropriate rest. Be the leader that the athletes and team know you already are and give them the rest they need.