There comes a certain point in any sport where offseason training starts to become increasingly important. Staying fit and staying on top of your game, besides being a great benefit, is a great way for athletes to stay busy all year and improve for the oncoming season.

For Jack Caywood, a junior at Free State High, staying fit is not an issue.

Caywood is involved in physically-demanding activities year round, and his constant fitness and activity is a contributor for his success in football, wrestling and baseball.

“I think it’s a big benefit being involved in sports all year long,” Caywood said. “It’s physically demanding. But I also think each sport has different aspects that compliment each other.”

Like Caywood, many athletes would agree that working in the offseason has benefits, especially when it comes to improving and coming back into the new season better than when you left. Chase Hoag, also a junior at Free State High, plays for the Firebird’s basketball and track teams. While he’s active three-fourths of the school year, Hoag has plenty of time off in the fall and summer, but seeing him on his couch at home is unlikely. He agrees that offseason work is helpful enough to at least keep the pace set at the end of the season.

“Even though I’m not actually in season, I know the time I have off isn’t time to be just sitting around,” Hoag said. “When I’m not playing basketball at home or with my friends, I try to run or at least ride my bike, I even lift once and awhile.”

Staying active, like Hoag, can be as easy as running or just getting active with friends. But there are other benefits to getting exercise in the offseason.

In many sports a common and important factor is the mental aspect of the game. It’s not uncommon to see athletes fall apart at the seams, and have a mental break down, caused by a lack of focus.

“Being busy and active in the offseason also does a lot of good for you mentally,” Caywood said. “One of the bonuses is having that focus all year round and not having to re-adjust again at the start of the season.”

Both mental or physical, offseason work is almost always beneficial. Whether it’s for improvement or just staying at a steady pace all year, athletes who stay active often say it makes coming back to each season an easier transition.

“I’ve seen guys slack off in the summer or offseason, and come back to the first day of practice and just seem sluggish,” Hoag said. “I don’t think anyone could guess that just running or at least getting involved in something physical could help you that much. It’s the sluggish guys that sit around all summer with their girlfriends at home and don’t do much if anything. It’s that sluggish stuff I try to avoid when I’m not busy with sports at school.”